Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi Folks,
It's a lovely day and I've been living too much "in my head" these past couple of days. So i'm going to step back and head out into the garden for a bit.
The herbs are recovering from winter, the bluebells are coming through and I still have a few late daffodils. There's a clump of ferns I use for a kind of meditation (a bit like tratak but feeling for a flow between myself and nature) and, although they're only just starting to unfurl, I may well do that.
i also just noticed that last month's Gardeners' World mag is starting a new series about "growing yourself healthy" - i.e. using it to reduce stress, sleep better, increase happiness, maintain an active mind and promote a health gut. That seems like a tall order but I do genuinely find that gardening takes me to another place in my mind where I can relax and focus on nurturing my immediate environment. Which I think is a useful start.
Apart from my "horticultural therapy" i'm hoping the cat will join me and provide a bit of pet therapy too. Pizza and wine therapy might come later. :)
Anyone else?
Yes, I do sometimes find I have to watch from the window. Either that or stay in one position in the garden for quite a long time. Only one or two wasps here but some leafcutter bees have moved in to the rotten fence. They've come back for 3 successive years now.
Yes, small tortoiseshells seem to be dwindling in recent years. They used to be the most common butterfly when I was growing up in the 60s and 70s.
Last year I got small tortoiseshells, red admirals, peacocks, orange tips, commas, speckled woods, a host of different whites and just one small copper. This year I'm better prepared though so we'll see if I can attract a greater variety.
I have two wild rabbits living in my garden. Occasionally there is a wilde deer passing through. Lovely. As long as I watch through the window. They all disappear if I go outside :(
But there are wasps in the rooms, coming through open windows, do you have wasps? Yuk
I saw a small tortoishell the other day! Not in the garden but where I walk the dogs. I'm always butterfly spotting. I was so chuffed because they are in decline.
I have a small garden but most of my spotting is from being out and about although I do find Peacocks on my budlea. Makes my day....
I’d be interested to know which butterflies visit your garden.
More gardening today. There's a small animal run in my garden that was used by the previous owner for her guinea pigs. Well, now this little squared off part is overgrown and the fence around it nearly falling down. Making do with it until next year when i'm hoping to get all the old wood and a couple of self seeded buddleia taken away, but for this year I'm planting insect friendly plants and making a little "nature corner". I know it's not exactly natural cos of my interference, but I'm planting annual wildflowers and moving in biennials such as foxgloves and vipers bugloss from elsewhere. Also adding in some nasturtiums for caterpillars.
Will this be my best year yet for attracting butterflies?
Thank you.
I am Asperger's so there's nothing we cannot do if we choose to.
Oh, wow! That's a vast improvement!
Pleased with the car though....
Just got to fit the new rear light when it arrives.
Yeah - just had to repel a swarm of bees looking to set up a new home - super-energetic buzzies as they're scoping out any gaps into the house - quite frightening - probably a very high risk of being stung!
I attacked them with a can of RAID - spraying them right in the face as they got too close to me - my Ninja moves training kicking in.
10 mins later, I won - they lost and flew off in a huge cloud of bees.
Something new every day.......
Oh, that's so disappointing. I admire your ability to fix it - not a skill I have - but do hope you're at least left with a little time for something else this weekend.
I love this time of year being out & about - the birds are busy and the bluebells are carpeting the woods.
Unfortunately, my wife bashed her car against a concrete post a couple of days ago - not bad enough to claim on the insurance and too bad for one of those chips-away guys to fix for a sensible price - so my weekend is being spent filling, sanding, painting & polishing while stood in the driveway.
No takers yet apart from the cat. But I've seen a few early butterflies and there are plenty of birds around. I think just noticing small things like the blossom can be very uplifting.
You’re garden must be looking lovely! I walked around outside and the blossom fluttered down gently in the sunshine giving me such joy! Then the friend I was with needed it all picked out of her hair. I saw a blue tit up close at the bottom of my road. I love spring! Hope your family are enjoying all your work and sitting out there relaxing.
Another gardening day beckons. I filled a small pot with forget-me-nots and bluebells and put it on the low table out there to make it look more welcoming. The cat is joining me already - he likes an early sunbathe and thinks the garden chairs are for him, but am hoping to tempt others out.
Jenny Butterfly said:Apart from my "horticultural therapy" i'm hoping the cat will join me and provide a bit of pet therapy too. Pizza and wine therapy might come later. :)
YESSSS!!!
So calming. Thanks. I’m off out now.
Yes I basically just like to be where the green things are. Apparently when I was a baby I used to smile and chuckle every time my pram was wheeled under a tree in the park. :)
My husband is the same. Sometimes I can't reach him with words but if we just go out and walk near some trees it invariably lifts his mood. Not a cure all, of course, but it feels like a little shift in the right direction.
Today I've been pottering again, and watering a little patch of foxgloves to see how big I can persuade them to grow this year. Get's me outside today and gives a little hope for tomorrow.
Good idea JennyButterfly! Today the park looks rather inviting. Thanks!