GARDENER'S WORD

The weather forecasters got it right.  Today we have had more snow, although so far it's only a few centimetres deep.  The sky is blue, the sun is shining, and it's beautiful out there.  However, we have a warning that more is on the way.  I made myself busy this morning, after the disaster that befell the complete bird feeding station yesterday when the upright metal pole broke in two during strong winds.  I made some fat balls for the birds.  I just melted half a pound of lard and stirred in bird seed, raisins, and niger seed.  Once the lard began to harden again, I pressed handfuls into balls and put them into a special plastic feeder for fat balls .  I also hung out a bird feeder on the cross bar on my hammock/swing .  One thing is for sure, the swing won't break in half.  Snowy garden in January 2015  Whatever you do, don't give birds salty food or porridge.  It's dangerous and can be fatal.  See the RSPB websit...

Although I have no doubt that many places elsewhere are suffering far more severe weather than here, high up on the Pennines of West Yorkshire, this is the third time this year that snow has been forecast.  It was only last week when a road-gritting lorry couldn't make it around the estate where I live and I watched it reversing back down the road.  My question is, how is it that weather forecasters manage to forecast bad weather with such accuracy but not so much with good weather?   While the snow is on its way, the wind has been busy causing damage.   Bird feeding station I came home today to find that the metal centre pole of the bird-feeding station has snapped in two.  The feeders were lying on the ground, seed spilled in all direction.  No doubt the birds will be happy to clear it up.  I've seen a little red-breasted Robin tucking in already.  I love the birds visiting my garden.  Last week, in the morning, I found e...

If I had hoped that the snow would melt away before today, I was hoping in vain.  We have had, and are having, more snowfall here on the Pennine Mountains, about 875 feet above sea level.  It's about six inches deep in my garden already.  And more is forecast as on the way.  Oh, great!  It's hardly blocking the doors and chimney, I know, but I do feel sorry for the birds.  At great risk to life and limb I went out to clear the snow off the bird feeders (ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a tiny little bit but I was virtually swinging off the washing line as I tried to keep on my feet) and to place a dish of water on the feeding station.  I know it is likely to freeze over eventually. Great Tit on a snowy day A robin has been visiting my garden regularly since the snow came, as well as a number of other birds, particularly thrushes.  The thrushes like the home made fat balls , of which I have none.  So, that's a job for me to do....

In the winter of 2013/2014 we were spared snow here on the Pennine Mountains of West Yorkshire, apart from a slight flurry which came and went with the blink of an eye.  But not this year.  This is our second good coating of snow this year.  Although I love the sight of it, I don't like the chaos it can cause on the roads, and so I stay in.  My garden today is covered in white and the sun keeps coming out and melting it a little, then more snow falls, and it melts a little more, then night time comes, the temperature drops, and the snow stays put.  Snow in my garden, 18 Jan, 2015 It's better, of course, than the horrendous gale force winds we've been having on and off for some weeks now.  Thankfully, so far, my fences have remained in place and upright.  I keep feeding the birds.  My cat, Alfie, keeps watching them through the kitchen window because there is little else to do for a cat who refuses to play and is as fussy about the weath...

I know that we are in winter now and that the shortest day is only just behind us, but the spring bulbs in my outdoor pots and troughs are poking through the compost and encouraging me to 'nil desperandum' when the snow (which has just gone) and the gale force wind and rain which are now howling and lashing are doing their best to push me into the doldrums.  Under the front window, in a long trough, I have planted tulip and iris bulbs saved from last year and I cannot wait to see them in flower once again.  I particularly love Iris Reticulata 'Harmony'.  Iris reticulata 'Harmony'   I was lazy last year when winter was approaching.  I haven't protected many of the perennials and the Japanese acers that I knew that I should have protected.  There just seems to always be too much to do nowadays so I have left them to thrive or not survive.  I'm surprised to see that the penstemons are full of luscious green growth and show no sign a...