New Growth

The Sun actually stayed in view all day yesterday which gave a chance to have another look round the garden to see what was showing signs of life and what had succumbed to the harsh Winter. Quite a number of plants were showing signs of new growth.



Japanese Tree Peony  - background

Raspberry canes -  top left
Blackcurrant bush - middle left
Prunus cerasifera - bottom left

Pear tree - top right
Rose - middle right
Japanese Acer - bottom right.

Amongst the casualties it looks as though I have lost three out of the four lavender bushes which is a shame as they attract so many bees and butterflies in the Summer.

Macro on Monday - Guess What

Last week it was certainly a photo of a worm and Glo deserves the gold star for suggesting a red worm. They are also known as tiger worms because of the coloured banding.  Eisenia Fetida are used in wormeries for turning kitchen waste into a rich compost and the specimen I photographed came from my wormery. I was surprised that they had survived the winter. When I looked near the beginning of the year I couldn't see any but there are now scores of them enjoying what they like most - rotting vegetable matter.




On to this week's puzzle picture: Guess What.



Clue: not the part to attract butterflies and bees.

No prizes - just for fun.

Brief Encounter

Last night H the hedgehog was feeding as we were getting ready for bed. When I let Bobby out he had a quick look at H and lost interest when the Hedgehog didn't move.

H scampered off as soon as he felt it was safe to move but soon came back - several times. As I checked the night's redcording I was amused to see H had moved the food dish a couple of times to make sure he wasn't missing any tasty nibbles.



It has been another damp, cloudy day here with no sight of the Sun. I guess it's part of the ConDems cut backs.

Friday at the Flicks - Goldfinches, Greenfinches

There have been plenty of Chaffinches here all Winter but other finches have been much more scarce this year. Usually there has been the occasional single Goldfinch visiting and even less often there has been a couple so it was very pleasing to see a little group of five arrive one day.



Even scarcer this year has been the sighting of Greenfinches and it was quite a surprise to spot this pair quietly digging in to some free food.



Have a great weekend observing the wildlife around you.

Hungry Hedgehog

H continues to visit the feeding area several times every night. This from one of last night's captures from the video camera:



At the moment s/he has all the food to itself as I haven't seen any others about. The dish has kibbled peanut, crushed unsalted peanuts and dried raisins. Also available is a dish of water.

The Great Tit continues to use the nest box as a roost every night and most days I spot both birds making a brief visit during daylight hours.

Reading Test

Too dull and dismal for photography again today so I though I would pass on the following which a friend sent to me.


Only great minds can read this

This is weird, but interesting!

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to rsceearh at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! 

I found no difficulty reading it but I put that down to years of deciphering what 5 to 11 yr olds assume to be correct English spelling. lol. It did give my spell checker apoplexy though.

Photo Scavenger Hunt - February

Here are my twelve photos for the February Scavenger Hunt.
All taken in my village.
Click on the thumbnails to enlarge any photo.



Looking left to right from the top:

A Bridge  (footbridge over a ditch)
A Round Clock (my garden clock)
A Musical Instrument (church organ)
Something with stripes (bar code)
Something Heart Shaped (graffiti)
A Big Lorry / Truck (filmed trying to use my driveway to turn)
Something Red (artificial roses)
A Park Bench
A Postbox
Newspaper Headline
Eyes (Bobby nodding off)
My Shoes (fitted with ice spikes)

Original idea from POSTCARDS FROM THE P.P. where each month a new list of twelve things to find are listed.