tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post2310809439839076855..comments2024-03-20T05:26:50.167+00:00Comments on Blue Borage: Birds, Bees and Gardening in Some Winter SunshineWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-47250108196546084232014-02-06T13:05:10.087+00:002014-02-06T13:05:10.087+00:00Goslings sound very exciting, Sarah. We've onl...Goslings sound very exciting, Sarah. We've only raised some once and they were adorable. We're getting eggs here too, although we're taking them away because we can't support anymore geese here.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-16817540121125573202014-02-05T18:59:54.342+00:002014-02-05T18:59:54.342+00:00Lovely post and pictures we are getting some eggs ...Lovely post and pictures we are getting some eggs from our geese in the last week . Hopefully our new gander will help produce some little goslings.hensintheorchard.blogspot.com https://www.blogger.com/profile/05221267678600004135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-50737819525366428842014-02-02T18:23:18.215+00:002014-02-02T18:23:18.215+00:00I'm glad you enjoyed the sun today, Helen. We ...I'm glad you enjoyed the sun today, Helen. We had some here, too - quite an event after all the rain! We have clay here as well, and so we have lots of heavy, wet mud everywhere. It's no fun for gardening at the moment. Hope your local bees find the snowdrops!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-39235000742799934422014-02-02T18:18:11.429+00:002014-02-02T18:18:11.429+00:00Gosh, look at that egret - that's amazing! Gl...Gosh, look at that egret - that's amazing! Glad to hear you've been getting a little sun - we had some today and I'd almost forgotten what it looks like! Spent a good couple of hours out in the garden, but being on clay here it wasn't much fun! Haven't seen any bees yet, but am keeping an eye out. We have lots of snowdrops ready for them!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-46758265008668207392014-01-26T10:31:21.712+00:002014-01-26T10:31:21.712+00:00It's been a lot colder over here the weekend s...It's been a lot colder over here the weekend so the bees have all disappeared again (although I did see a lone bumblebee out on the mahonia on friday). My hellebores are just starting to flower so that gives them something else in the garden at last and I did see a hint of colour in some of the crocuses, too, which I'm excited about!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-50021814726787608642014-01-26T09:46:27.428+00:002014-01-26T09:46:27.428+00:00Beautiful photos, the light -on the rare occasions...Beautiful photos, the light -on the rare occasions when there is sun instead of rain - is so beautiful at this time of year and you have captured it, and the hint of spring, really well. I've not seen any bees out and about here yet, but then one of my mahonias was brutally pruned last year to save it, and the other is still too small to flower, so not much to interest them apart from a few snowdrops and hellebores.Janet/Plantaliscioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15605580157193047780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-43639570455467761452014-01-24T20:33:13.033+00:002014-01-24T20:33:13.033+00:00I'm so pleased to hear that these bulbs surviv...I'm so pleased to hear that these bulbs survived and are coming through. It is exciting seeing the first green shoots and hints of a change of season - even though it happens every year. <br />I'll be watching for nests, too - hopefully we'll have plenty here.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-70261931958290327372014-01-24T00:46:40.138+00:002014-01-24T00:46:40.138+00:00I found some crocus tips pushing through the earth...I found some crocus tips pushing through the earth today. We planted hundreds of bulbs last Fall. I was worried they might rot as it is very wet but at least these have survived. I have been watching the birds flit in and out of the laurel hedge and the scrub at the edge of the forest. I'm glad they have found a home here.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12830177691014290662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-3905660212810376952014-01-21T10:17:31.761+00:002014-01-21T10:17:31.761+00:00I'm sorry to hear about the snow, Tammy. I'...I'm sorry to hear about the snow, Tammy. I'm not sure winter has finished with us yet here either, even though it's still quite mild. I have to remind myself it is only January. I suppose any cold weather will knock back everything growing here.<br />But like you, I'll put out lots for the birds.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-73605041222018469052014-01-21T10:12:44.125+00:002014-01-21T10:12:44.125+00:00Hello Chloris. I think I first saw the little egre...Hello Chloris. I think I first saw the little egrets in Cornwall, too, right on the shoreline. Then I saw them on the coast here - so I suppose it isn't surprising that you would see often them in Suffolk. It is such good news they are spreading north and doing well. I agree that they look exotic, they do look a bit as though they belong on a lagoon somewhere tropical.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-39292806540891670482014-01-21T03:45:09.756+00:002014-01-21T03:45:09.756+00:00Winter may be passing for you but it's on full...Winter may be passing for you but it's on full bore here with 7 inches of snow headed our way. 90% of my garden is completely dormant and I keep my feeders stocked with seed to help out the birds. I love the goose yelling at the sheep. Very brave and funny. The sheep looks like he could just care less. :o)Casa Mariposahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647089868277238456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-38561447231634934422014-01-20T22:37:46.211+00:002014-01-20T22:37:46.211+00:00I enjoyed your post and what fantastic photos. I p...I enjoyed your post and what fantastic photos. I particularly loved the little egret. I first saw these lovely birds in Cornwall some years ago and now they have spread further and further north. I see them regularly in Suffolk now. I always think they look far too exotic to be part of the English countryside. How clever to get such a good shot of one.chlorishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02037607962980090244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-16197505522955090862014-01-20T13:17:15.389+00:002014-01-20T13:17:15.389+00:00I think you do get egrets in the US, Christina - a...I think you do get egrets in the US, Christina - although slightly different to the one I saw (which was a little egret). I do envy you your sunshine and warmth, although a drought isn't good news. I hope you don't get one. I live in a dry area of the country here, and some years we have water restrictions after a shorter period than 3 years, although I can't imagine we'll have one this year because we've had so much rain over the winter.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-24904033145271377152014-01-20T01:33:23.829+00:002014-01-20T01:33:23.829+00:00Hi Wendy, I truly enjoyed reading your post! Every...Hi Wendy, I truly enjoyed reading your post! Everything screams countryside and it must feel so nice to be able to live in a place like that. You pulled up some wonderful photos as well. I love the one of the egret. I am very bird clueless, but I could swear I have seen one like that here in San Diego at the coast. Could that be the case? How exciting that you are a beekeeper! I hope your bees do well this year. We have sunshine here in Southern California this winter with no end and it is very warm already, which seems to be nice, but we are facing a third year of drought in a row and it is very likely that we will get water restrictions. I am really concerned about what will happen to the garden. Oh well... Warm regards, <br />Christinaorganicgardendreamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122516730008378516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-85551030437924806612014-01-19T20:11:55.939+00:002014-01-19T20:11:55.939+00:00That is interesting that you've seen an egret ...That is interesting that you've seen an egret recently, too. I believe they're becoming more common. I've certainly seen more on the coasts over the past few years. I agree they are beautiful and elegant and such a pure white colour.<br />There are some birds I just can't get. I spent all summer trying to photograph marsh harriers and have got lots of brown blurs!<br />Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-22290586488114019022014-01-19T15:44:01.309+00:002014-01-19T15:44:01.309+00:00Fabulous coincidence - I saw an egret while out wa...Fabulous coincidence - I saw an egret while out walking with my daughter last week. I was so unsure I had to look it up. Very beautiful and elegant bird. Love the blackbird photo too. Somehow I really haven't cracked bird photos even though I have got better at plant photography. Yours are always so clear and close!Elizabeth Musgravehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09473705107636868753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-65001999448659361982014-01-18T11:57:22.742+00:002014-01-18T11:57:22.742+00:00The daffodils are coming up here too. I'm hop...The daffodils are coming up here too. I'm hoping that, with the mild winter we're having, they'll be flowering earlier this spring.<br />It would be wonderful if all bees did well this year. They started to recover last summer (after the terrible year previous to that) - so another good year will really give them a boost.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-57510723284376162572014-01-17T20:08:05.214+00:002014-01-17T20:08:05.214+00:00Hello Wendy!! I really enjoyed your bird photos -...Hello Wendy!! I really enjoyed your bird photos - there is such a wonderful variety of birds where you live and the egret is especially beautiful! I have been out on sunny days pulling weeds but there really isn't a lot to do right now. All of my daffodils are coming up and I am so excited! I wish your bee hive a lot of luck this year - they are so important to our environment. Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14294624848003071390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-45766087578041098422014-01-17T19:21:46.693+00:002014-01-17T19:21:46.693+00:00I think the egret looks very strange up in the tre...I think the egret looks very strange up in the trees. I'm used to seeing them on the shoreline, so they don't look as though they belong there at all. And I agree, they certainly don't blend in with their surroundings, they really stand out amongst the bare branches.<br />I'm so relieved about the bees, although the most 'dangerous' time is still to come.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-8055159251777028642014-01-17T18:26:17.981+00:002014-01-17T18:26:17.981+00:00A beautiful post Wendy-I just love hearing about y...A beautiful post Wendy-I just love hearing about your garden and animals. That's a fantastic picture of the blackbird. The egrets legs are just like the twigs around it-but that's the only camouflage. Interesting to hear about your bees too.SeagullSuziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15857680854262709165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-43539536853391579622014-01-17T17:13:21.860+00:002014-01-17T17:13:21.860+00:00We have a sea of mud around the animal houses at t...We have a sea of mud around the animal houses at the moment, but it is amazing how it recovers and becomes grass again. It was the same last spring. But the poor chickens hate it!<br />I suppose the wildlife is responding to the slightly longer daylight hours. I'm noticing the change a bit (on sunny days), but the birds will be very aware of it. I know I should be used to it by now, but I'm always amazed by the annual cycle of nature.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-3188281506462063282014-01-17T17:06:01.524+00:002014-01-17T17:06:01.524+00:00Thanks Julie. I'm always fascinated by wildlif...Thanks Julie. I'm always fascinated by wildlife!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-5486912845891530232014-01-17T17:05:25.467+00:002014-01-17T17:05:25.467+00:00The robins have really started to pair up, haven&#...The robins have really started to pair up, haven't they? I love the way the blue tits fuss over their nests. I imagine if it does suddenly get cold i.e. if we do have a period of cold weather, they'll pause for a while. I hope they don't start nesting properly only to be knocked back by cold weather.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-85520032572173480072014-01-17T17:02:36.531+00:002014-01-17T17:02:36.531+00:00I'm sorry about your land line problems, Em. I...I'm sorry about your land line problems, Em. I'm not surprised it's getting you down, especially if you're not getting much response from the phone company. This sort of thing is so frustrating.<br />Most of my bulbs are still not showing here, either. I suspect some of them have been eaten!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-83096619695938993162014-01-17T16:58:50.290+00:002014-01-17T16:58:50.290+00:00I think the behaviour of the birds is the first re...I think the behaviour of the birds is the first real sign that spring is coming. It does make me realise how quiet it's been over winter, now they're all so active and noisy again. <br />The lovely blackbirds didn't even to seem notice me, they were just flying backwards and forewards totally absorbed in those crab apples!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.com