Month: Aug 2020

Posted in nature

🎵”It’s a Beautiful Da(hlia)…” 🎶

Posted on by BITM

Actually there were lots of beautiful Dahlias at the Autumn festival I went to last Saturday. In fact even the weather was beautiful during the afternoon.

The Dahlia originates from Mexico (where its the national flower) and Central America. A perennial that grows from tubers, it is part of the Asteraceae family which also includes Daisies, Zinnias, Sunflowers and Chrysanthemums.

Because they’re not hardy and prefer light, free draining Soil, Dahlias are often lifted and stored somewhere dry over winter in the UK.

However, in southern counties, where gardens contain favourable conditions (with no heavy, soggy soils in colder climates) I have known people keep them in the ground. Sure enough the following year they reappear without fail. The lack of harsh winters in recent years no doubt enabling their survival.

Apparently Dahlia tubers can be eaten in the same way as Sweet potatoes (originally they were grown as a food source by the Aztecs). They can also flavour drinks when roasted. See Alys Fowler’s piece for the Guardian newspaper)

Over the past few years the popularity of Dahlias has increased; I must confess I am one if their fans.

I love the flowers vibrant colours but prefer the plants with single flowers, which are great for pollinators too (although I have caught sleepy bees having a nap amongst petals of other Dahlias as well; see below).

Unnamed variety from my Allotment with a Buff-tailed bumblebee snuggly sleeping inside a petal.
Formby Art: Bee seen relaxing on this Dahlia at the festival.

Some of my favourites on display last Saturday were:

Honka: Apparently popular with butterflies.
Pooh
Blueberry Hill
Carstone Firebox
Preston Park

I was also impressed by the wonderful bug hotel within the Celebration garden at the garden centre.

Posted in Allotment

Allotment Love

Posted on by BITM

It was National Allotment Week between the 10-16th October this year. Started in 2002 by The National Allotment Society, it is a way of increasing awareness of allotments and their positive impact upon people’s lives including their mental and physical wellbeing. Just as gardening generally and being amongst nature do as well. All three certainly add fulfilment in my life as well as improve my health mentally and physically.

Apparently during this Covid-19 pandemic, applications for allotments has increased as more people have become interested in growing their own produce as well as gain therapeutic rewards from it.

I had been on the waiting list for my local allotment site for a year. I finally received and accepted an offer for a plot just as lockdown occurred; having initially been furloughed, I spent my hour exercise each day clearing and developing my new plot. It gave me purpose, hope and stability at a time when I couldn’t connect with people or gardens at work. It also enabled me to remain in the moment and observe nature continue as normal when so much upheaval was occurring in the world; helping to keep my anxiety at bay.

The downside at this time was that my partner couldn’t help me until lockdown eased, when at last we could work at the allotment at a social distance. Eventually we were able to form a support bubble and work together on the allotment properly and spend quality time with one another.

I love my little plot. It’s a place where I can grow cut flowers, edible produce as well as support local wildlife. I aim to work with the land in an organic permaculture, no dig method; taking care of rather than try to control it.

Practically, this journey is still in its infancy and yet I have come so far already.

Socially, I have met lovely fellow allotmenteers.

While in a personal note, I look forward to continue growing along with the plants I tend to.

Week one after the council strimed the long grass.
The latest photo of my beautiful Allotment.
Posted in nature

Nature’s Bounty

Posted on by BITM

During this current heatwave cooler early mornings have been my saviour. Last Saturday I was awake early, as usual, so managed to get lots done before the heat became too exhausting. Long gone are the days when I used to be a night owl. I walked to the allotment just after 8am and noticed nature’s bounty was almost ready to harvest. Not only were Blackberries and Hazelnuts nearly ready to eat but other edibles too. Some of the edibles mentioned below require cooking before they can be eaten; a link for further information is given for each one. Also it’s important not to harvest too much when foraging, please leave some for the wildlife, thank you.

The things I saw were,

– Blackberries

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/bramble/

– Hazelnuts

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/hazel/

– Sloes

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/blackthorn/

– Elderberries

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/elder/

– Hawthorn haws

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/hawthorn/

– Acorns

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/09/are-acorns-edible-and-other-acorn-facts/

and Rowan berries

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/rowan/
Posted in nature

Too hot to handle

Posted on by BITM

Last Friday was a scorcher. Anything above 22 degrees celsius and I start to wilt, so the 37 degrees endured that day was certainly too much for me. According to the Met Office the warmest temperature on Friday was 37.8°C, the third hottest day on record in the UK. I am fairly sure the top two hottest days on record were also recorded in recent years, which make me wonder about their impact on wildlife.

On Friday I tried to work in the shade as much as possible, while remaining hydrated (cooling techniques also used by mammals and birds). Like humans a few animals perspire to cool their bodies, namely primates and horses. These mammals also pant to keep cool (enabling cooler air to replace the expelled hotter air). Other mammals and birds use this method as well. In fact on extremely hot days I have often observed Magpies (Pica Pica) and Corvids walk around with their beaks open.

One of the Jackdaws (Corvus monedula) panting to cool down during the hottest part of the day last Friday.

In the past, I have even witnessed Magpies lie forwards on the ground wings spread out, allowing colder temperatures to reach a greater surface area. Having access to water, especially on hot days, is also important. Along with drinking the water, it allows them to have a dip; fluffing up wet feathers to enable a breeze to cool them down.

It is important to leave fresh drinking water out for hedgehogs (Erinaceinae) too. Of course hedgehogs also wonder about in the evenings and night time when it’s generally cooler.

Unfortunately last week some negative news about hedgehogs was reported; they have been added to the Vulnerable to Extinction Red List of British mammals produced by the Mammal society (please read the report on their website).

These snuffling garden helpers need our help, whatever the weather. For information on how to help them check out the websites below

– Hedgehog street

– The British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

Lastly, I went to check on the European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) on the allotment at the weekend but there was no sign of it. Therefore I will assume it was a male moth and had flown away safely into the night.