February pretending to be November

(image~ stock photo from web)

Well that's we Brits grumbling and moaning again! We thought we'd seen the last of the snow that was here for weeks but over the past couple of days it's come back and it's as cold as ever. Ah well, we wouldn't be true Brit if we didn't complain a little, especially about the weather. It didn't help that our central heating boiler began playing up, leaving us without heating and hot water. Ma little tootsies were numb and eyes a'bleary. But the heating firm was very good and came out and fixed it......... in the evening!

Looking out at the world today, it seems more like November than February. Everything is shrouded in mist and a covering of snow. There are jobs I could be doing in the garden such as tidy the potting shed but I don't want to disturb any hibernating creatures that may be in there.... it's not an excuse, honest. We had a hedgehog ambling about the garden late Autumn and he could be tucked up fast asleep amongst the plant pots and shredded paper. After my blunder last year with the family of frogs, I'm leaving well alone. And what about all the spiders and other wee beasties that shelter in the greenhouse and under branches and stones..... nope, the tidying up can wait until we're well into Spring. Everything should be wakening up then and I'll have an easy conscience.

Don't think I'm sitting around looking at gardening catalogues all day.... no, I'm still being kept busy feeding the waiting birds at regular intervals throughout the day and our Deppy's too, re-filling the birdbath, reading Stephen King, vacuuming, reading Stephen King, dusting, reading Stephen King, studying my Open University course (just in cast my tutor's looking in!)..... and reading the latest Stephen King novel that hubby bought me (I've either done something wonderful to deserve that or he's harbouring plans that need my approval. I'm not sure yet which it is).

Our Bob

Here's one boy who isn't complaining about the snow. This is our fifteen-year-old Bob. Just lately he's becoming a bit reluctant to go on his walks and he doesn't want to go far before returning home, but he's like a pup when it's snowing. He loves it! So he's a happy chappy just now.

...... a couple of cheering quotes:

"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of Winter lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream."
Barbara Winkler

"Surely as cometh the Winter, I know

There are Spring violets under the snow."

R.H. Newell

And now I'm off to read some Stephen King!

And I said, "No more pets!" Huh!

It looks like my plans for a wormery is about to be put into action. Reading the latest edition of Permaculture Magazine (click here to see mag), there's a link to a wonderful do-it-yourself homemade wormery that even my budget can run to. The shopping list consists of a few plastic boxes, a water butt tap, some old newspaper and a drill. The species of worms to introduce to your wormery are Brandlings and can be bought at fishing tackle shops, but I've found they are naturally attracted to compost bins so I'm going to vacate some from there into their new home, where they will be well and truly spoiled with all sorts of tasty tit-bits.

Here's the link for the d-i-y wormery. The instructions are very easy to follow, in fact I think..... no, I know I will be able to make this myself without hubby's help. There are clear drawings, diagrams and a sweet little cartoon piccy of a worm.

We have.....

No bones

No shells

No teeth, as well ~

No lips, no beaks

No chins, no cheeks

No horns, no claws

No talons, jaws

No legs, no wings....

No fancy things

Like fins or scales,

Or fluffy tails

Or blubber like the big blue whales.

We're soft

We're small

Not much at all.

We're nondescript ~

But we're equipped

To eat your dirt.

It doesn't hurt

Us.... not a bit.

In fact,

We like the taste of it.

We toil in soil.

We've got true grit!

by Elaine Magliaro

Wanted to share with you

The Rookery in Winter at dusk

Spider Tribe's Bardic Blog

I've recently begun following this blog and the poetry of the participating members is an absolute joy. It's well worth a read. 'Urban Dusk' by Claire is the most recent post. I think it's incredible. Amy Claire Rose also writes poetry for the blog. She is extremely talented and I had to look twice at her age..... 12 years! Click here to read their poetry.

Jackdaws and Rooks

Crows

Stunning artwork by Lemon Street Gallery

I'm a recovering Scoleciphobic.....

Scoleciphobia is the fear of worms and it seems damned unfair that someone destined to become a gardener should be born with or have developed this affliction! It's true..... from as early as I can remember the sight of a worm has caused all sorts of reactions like trembling and panic attacks. I used to hate having to walk to school when it was raining and the pavements were covered with worms. You can imagine the hilarity this generated amongst my friends and, especially, my older brother who chased me round the garden one day threatening to put a poor worm down my blouse! I took refuge in the bathroom and stayed behind the locked door for almost an hour.

You'd have thought my father would have known better...... I used to spend most days in the garden with my dad from being a toddler. I have a vivid memory of me happily playing with some mud and a bucket and spade when, in amazement, dad turned round, "Look at the size of this!" Of course, he was chortling with laughter as he held a monster of a worm about six inches from my face. I ran in the house screaming and mum gave dad the riot act.

"Ye'll make her ill, ya stupit buggar!" (mum's from Glasgow)

I grew up loving being outdoors and cultivating the little plot that my parents allowed me to have all to myself, but many gardening activities were halted when confronted by an innocent worm. When I think about it now, it's incredible how I've continued to enjoy gardening and how I didn't give it up altogether at an early age. In fact, it's downright puzzling. For a scoleciphobic, I'd have thought the natural route to take was avoidance.

Anyway, thank goodness I didn't shun my life in the garden, along with all the earthworms I would encounter throughout my life. In fact, slowly...... very slowly, I have come to accept their presence. I can look at one without running indoors. I can even hold one, as long as it's not too big! I suppose I have controlled the phobia myself by exposure therapy, but it took an awfully long time.

I even rescued one a few years ago from being run over on the road. I was taking my daughter to school and on the path was one of the biggest worms I'd ever seen. No way could I pick that one up, but it was heading towards the busy main road! I waved daughter off at the school gate, hurried home and returned with a trowel and carrier bag. I didn't dare look to see if anyone was watching or I would have chickened out with embarrassment. After scooping it into the carrier bag, I carried it home and put it into the safety of the compost bin.

Having my phobia under control is wonderful because I have begun to enjoy seeing the worms while gardening and welcoming their presence. There's nothing stopping me now..... my next step is...... a wormery!

Dandelion days......

dandelion

My favourite part of the garden isn't where the roses grow, or the lilies and irises. It's not even the herb or vegetable patch. It's a small section set aside for wildflowers. There's ivy sprawling over a rotting tree trunk, bright blue speedwell, plantain and dandelions. It makes good groundcover for the creatures that live in the garden. Often, while strolling down the path in the Summer, I've caught sight of a frog sheltering from the sun under the ivy leaves.

This year I want to add more groundcover and introduce wildflowers into other sections of the garden, even under the roses, irises and lilies! Wildflowers are so pretty. I love to see patches of speedwell growing in a lawn and masses of golden dandelions. I have to admit to feeling deflated when the local council comes along with their mowers, leaving sqares of uniform green instead of the cheery yellow blooms.

Clover is another favourite. The scent of white clover is as intoxicating as a lily and red clover reminds me of my childhood, when my friends and I would search for what seemed like hours for the illusive four leaved plant.

red clover

I was delighted to come across an eBay seller who's offering wildflower seeds and sedum plug plants at bargain prices. Click here to see her items. I now have some fantastic plug plants nestling in the propagator and red clover, white clover, birds-foot-trefoil, dandelion and self-heal seeds to set away. Mind you, the dandelions aren't just for the wildlife...... they're also for our salads and I'm planning on making dandelion wine . Hubby doesn't drink but I like wine and if I make it from dandelions then I could possibly convince him it really is for my health.

Sedum cauticola

Sedum spurium

Sedum weihnstephaner gold

"Blessings on thy sunny face,

In my heart thou hast a place,

Humble Dandelion!"

Helen M. Johnson