Joys of Winter

I've also thought that the Joys of Winter thread has become rather quiet of late, and then this afternoon, lots of buzz and activity. Lovely. Do you all have sunshine?

I would like to see a 'sunshine' emoticon.

Butter YES! That is until it set over yonder islands. We are now into dusk-time. Bloshy cat is waiting on the doorstep. I must away to prepare his supper. Bye for now

My first spring flower just appeared. (not counting the wallflower that's just been going non stop since early autumn) a low growing, cream comfrey that the early bumble queens love. The rate things are going they'll be out there one day soon. Very very mild here today. jogging with vest top and thin trousers. It can't be january??!!

My cammellias are in flower as are my roses and new leaves forming on them.the fuchsias still have flowers and the passion flower is covered with green leaves and flower buds! What is going on? This is on the Bristol channel coast.

It has been a milder winter than the last two. Could still get cold again. February is often the coldest month. Time will tell.

There's a beautiful jay visiting the garden - so shy for such a big bird. Yes, flowers are making a concerted effort to bloom. All very odd!

Pair of jays, very possessive blackbirds, blue and great tits occasional longtailed, robins, magpies and of course hundreds of gulls. Oh and also a heron and buzzards plus assorted raptors.

Supernana... 'wild violets in a mossy bank, half hidden from the view' always remind me of my lovely Mum and Sunday afternoon walks along the Anglesey lanes.
We did get to see the starling murmuration last Friday and the lovely young woman from the RSPB was so enthusiastic and entertaining. She did say they only have a million this year, it was 6 million last year!
Next month the bitterns start booming so we'll go again!

Heard the barn owls 'hoo- hooing' to each other this evening when I closed the shutters. What a couple of teenagers!

Took the scythe out this morning
To tidy up a flowerbed.
Gardening is like that on our hill.
By golly, mint stems are tough!
Even the ditch blade,
Specially strengthened Austrian steel,
That copes fine with dock
Was struggling with mint.
So now I'm wondering if mint stems
Would make good rope.
I often tie my wood bundles
With young bramble, or with string
Made out of nettles.
With my double gloves this morning,
Wool inside for warmth
and waterproof outside for dry-th ,
I scythed away and double-filled a wheelbarrow
With rushes, mint, dead iris leaves and grass.
Then I threw down some chicken food
So they would scratch about where I had been
And loosen some more dead stuff
For composting.

I can smell the mint, bagitha!

You have spurred me on to get out today and do a similar job - maybe my sinuses will improve with a blast of the cold stuff .

Pretty determined plant mint. Its those just below the surface stems they put out in their campaign for world dominion. The strange thing is that the whole of the Uk is not covered in the stuff...

I've had difficulty in establishing mint here! I dare not put it in a veg bed, but the rest which hasn't been improved is thick Oxford clay, and either concrete hard or soggy according to the weather....I have one lot growing but not flourishing!
I'm reminded I have some digging still to do, but I have started on painting the outside loo, which is the one bit I haven't touched in this house yet, and I must do that first...I think it's a spring cleaning effort.

I could never get mint to flourish in Oxfordshire either. It grew, but it didn't make a bid to take over the world. Everlasting sweet peas, on the other hand......

Must be why the world isn't covered - too much clay. I will remember about the everlasting sweet peas.....

Must get down to the allotment and start to tackle the raspberry canes and the blasted bindweed that grows amongst them. Nearly go it under control last year then I turned my back on it and wheeeeeeee it was off again!

I have my mint in a large pot to contain the roots. In my last garden it was taking over, despite being on clay, so I left it to the next occupants and just brought a root with me.

I have my mint in a large pot to contain the roots. In my last garden it was taking over, despite being on clay, so I left it to the next occupants and just brought a root with me.

Double clicked again, sorry.

we've all done that annobel, double clicked. I have tried mint in a large pot, but i think it gets just desperate after a while and needs repotting.
I have a redpoll or two on the nyjer seed this morning. Which is most definitely a sign of winter. I think they know it is going to get colder by the end of the week and are heading south.
They certainly "know" on a day by day basis if the weather looks threatening or not. If it does they are down our greasy spoon bird cafe in droves, stocking up on calories. Levels of seed in feeders plummet. On fine days they are more adventurous about where they feed and eat a lot less round our place.

Mine certainly needs repotting, and this year I will have two pots of mint - or more. I can supply the family. When I stop feeling dizzy...

Oh dear Annobel - I do admire your ability to just keep on, even though I know what an effort it must be for you.
In my garden my fuchsias still think it's summer, there are an abundance of flowers still. The allotment has no idea what season it is; I'm picking raspberries that should have finished by October.
My grandson returns home tomorrow and then I really must give the garden and allotment some serious attention, it's all looking sadly neglected.

Have just erected my fancy new rain gauge (xmas pressie) which I can view from the kitchen door, but as soon as I'd finished the sun came out. Perhaps I have put the kibosh on the predicted rain, it and will be wall to wall sunshine for a while!

I'm not really 'keeping on', GA - vegging out most of the time, though I have strolled round the patio today to get some fresh air into my head. If I overdo it, i go back, if not to square one, perhaps about two or three! Now I really must get round to clearing the dishwasher...

Annobel as my eldest grandson would say - *Respect!' Take care.
Bagitha I enjoyed your word picture. Well done.
Sweet Peas - Sweet William - Wallflowers - Peonies...all bring back fond memories of my lovely Nana.
We've just returned from duties at 'Bleak House'...utterly depressing but very necessary. Time for a mug of good strong coffee.