Today is the first day of autumn

It's also my birthday, but that's not what this blog is about. So what did I do today? It was a rare occasion where I had the house to myself, so I spent the day in my garden. Firstly I set up my compost bin (I also have a green cone, but I set that up a few weeks ago), which until a few weeks ago had leaf mulch in it, then spent the rest of the day cutting things back and filling it!!

First flowers of the year

The first flowers of the year are snowdrops (ref: 001) these flowered in March last year, but have flowered earlier this year as it is still only February.

February buds

Buds are appearing on plants and bushes throughout the gardens for example on the viburnum (ref: 006), the lilacs (ref: 21, 22, 23), clematis (ref: 042) and the honeysuckle (ref: 066).

January shoots

It may still be cold, but the plants are still growing. Shoots are popping up everywhere in both the front and back gardens, for example bluebells (ref: 012) as in this picture and daffodils.

Feeding the birds

It still pretty cold in the garden, with the weather ranging from pouring rain to heavy frosts, so the main focus so far has been the birds. The fat balls were reasonably successful, but it wasn't until i started buying the suet blocks that the birds really started to take notice.

January 2011

It is now 2011 and i have identified what plants are in the garden. It is now time to make some decisions about what will stay and what will go. The left hand side is well established so all i need to do is tidy it up and put a straight edge along the lawn. The right hand side is a different matter, alot of it will be removed and the path will possibly be taken up, although that may have to wait until next year, so this year will be all about removing the grass and weeds that have grown up between the gaps. The only job i have done in the garden so far is cut back some of the brambles.

Snapdragon

Ref: 092 Snapdragon
Month: October
Location: Back garden
Notes: Other snapdragons that have been found in the garden have flowered earlier in the year. This one was hidden among weeds and overgrown grass.