As a gardener and wildlife lover following the seasons is important to me. I celebrate seasonal festivals throughout the year to acknowledge the importance of nature in my life.
During the winter solstice I take time out to observe the sunrise, reflect on the past twelve months as well as think about the year to come. I also go for a walk to collect greenery for my home and give presents to the local wildlife. This year I planted some Heather and Mahonia for any winter foraging bumblebees and made fat balls for my bird feeder.
I am glad that even in tier 4 I can still go for walks amongst nature and visit my allotment for exercise; for me these are essential for healthy body and mind.
Last week I checked on plant growth on my plot. I currently have seedlings and cuttings safe in a small greenhouse; all remain healthy and continue to grow. I also noticed buds on my fruit trees along with borage still growing in the beds.
On monday I also witnessed a Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) hover above a road (More information on Kestrels can be found at the RSPB). I don’t get to see these amazingly beautiful birds often enough. It was a magical sight on the longest day of the year which began with me watching the sunrise at Stonehenge (online) while at home and listening to bird song; plenty of positivity on a gloomy day.
Last Sunday five Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) came to visit the Rowan tree outside my flat. Seeing these lovely finches is a rare occurrence for me, I tend to hear their wheezy call rather than see them; although even this isn’t often. The Greenfinch call can be heard on the RSPB website.
Along with Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) the greatest decline in bird numbers over the years has been in Greenfinches; due to the parasite Trichomonas gallinae. This parasite was first recorded in the UK in 2005 and believed to be transmitted via bird saliva around food and water sources especially in gardens. Greenfinch are social birds that often rely on garden feeding stations and bird baths. It is incredibly important to keep on top of good hygiene around these areas, if you feed birds, in order to prevent the spread of this parasite. Clean bird feeders, tables and bird baths thoroughly each week and fill little and often is the best strategy to combat it’s spread. For further information see the BBC news report on the Trichomonas gallinae parasite.
On a more positive note from last week, it was lovely to hear the occasional gentle buzzing of a Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) around Mahonia japonicas which are currently blooming; it is such a relaxing sound.
Unfortunately the bee was camera shy.
This plant is great for bumblebees and will flower well into spring. If like me, you prefer not to have spiky plants in your garden then there is a Mahonia for you. Mahoniaeurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis ‘Soft Caress’ (see the RHS website) is smaller than Mahonia japonica and as the name suggests can be handled without risk of skin being punctured. Along with Heathers (see my post from 18th November this year What Present Would you Buy for Bees?) this plant is on my list of must buys.
It is always nice to see flowers begin to bloom while others, that have performed throughout the year, wain. On one walk last week I came across a patch of Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) flowering.
It usually blooms between June and September so it must have been having one last flourish. Common hogweed is from the same plant family as Ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria) and Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris). All three native umbellifer plants are great for pollinators like hoverflies, Soldier beetles, some butterflies along with short-tongued bees, because these insects need flat flowers in order to gain access to pollen and nectar. Common hogweed is a tall wildflower growing up to six feet in damp conditions along waysides, open woodland, next to riverbanks and amongst rough grassland. It is also called Cow parsnip and had some other interesting names in the past, including Limberscrimps (in Cornwall), Wippul-Squip (Northamptonshire), Cowbumble (gloucestershire).
Gardens also continue to show signs of life at this time. The phrase ‘putting gardens to bed’ in winter is often a misnomer and rarely happens. They are never entirely in hibernation as something is usually awake, even if it is only visiting birds. Plus winter or spring flowering plants begin to bloom and grow now. Last week I noticed Hellebores starting to flower
along with Snowdrops (Galanthus)
and Daffodils (Narcissus)
peaking through the soil.
A bird that is easier to see these days are Ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri). They were particularly prominent in one garden I worked at last week where a group kept flying between several trees, before eventually settling within a Eucalyptus tree.
Two parakeets silhouetted in a Eucalyptus tree.
These birds and trees were introduced into this country from warmer areas of the world, yet both species can cope with the colder uk climate.
The evergreen Eucalyptus tree leaves are a bluish green colour when mature. Eucalyptus oil is obtained from the mature leaves, known for its antiseptic properties together with a distinctive aroma. Immature leaves are more rounded and a bluish shade. The tree flowers from July to October and are especially liked by bees and other pollinators.
Ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri) are parrots that originated from Asia. The history of their introduction to the UK is explained by the RSPB here.
These birds have successfully breeded in this country for years to become a familiar sight in the south-east, particularly urban areas of Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex; their range extending further and further from London. Although they can be observed (and more often heard) throughout the year winter, when the trees are bare, is the best time to see them perched upon branches; unless you are lucky enough to have them visiting bird tables in your garden. They eat a variety of food, having developed an omnivorous diet as they naturalised over here (even though they remain vegetarian in Asia). While they usually eat seeds, fruit, nuts and berries they have been known to feast on scraps left out, including meat scraps. In fact it’s believed they can survive UK winters because they feed from bird tables.
Ring-necked parakeets are very social and can be seen in large flocks containing hundreds of birds. This can make them very noisy and therefore a nuisance in some peoples eyes. Yet whatever your opinion on these birds there is no denying their beautiful colours which seem to become more vivid at this time of year. Even on bleak days beauty exists; sometimes you just have to amend your focus to see it.
At this time of year eating food containing vitamins C and D (the latter also obtained via sunshine) can help keep you well and fight infections.
One great source of these vitamins is Rosehip syrup. Haws can be foraged now; further information on how to collect and use rose hips can be found on the Woodland Trust website.
Another fruit especially helpful for obtaining vitamin C are Oranges.
Last week I found a fungus with the common name, Orange peel fungus (Aleuria aurantia); it’s called this because it looks similar to discarded orange peels.
This fungus sits flat, directly on soil, gravel or grass (having no stem) between August and November in the UK. They were so bright that I noticed them from across the garden. I loved their vivid cheerful colour, as well as the shape as the folds enveloped each other; reminding me of flowers.
Bee in the Moment 