In the Garden

 In the garden we've been pleased to see blossom on the small plum tree.  We planted this one after we had to take down the old plum tree at the top of the garden because it was diseased and was becoming unstable.

The new tree has grown from a plum stone taken from the fruit of the old tree that we had planted in a small pot a few years ago.  

It was planted in the garden before the old tree was taken down.

A few days later (below)

A couple of blog posts ago I mentioned that a badger or badgers - we have more than one visit - dug up some Tulip bulbs and ate some of them.  We rescued the rest and put them in smaller pots.  They have to be moved into the greenhouse each evening and out again in the morning but it's been worth it as they are now flowering.

The flowers in the smaller pots were originally all in the big black pot you can see at the top of the photo.

A Woodland Walk

It's raining again today but over the Easter weekend we did have a couple of rain free, mostly dry days when walks could be taken and some garden tidying could be done.  The garden wheelie bin was full.  We now have to pay for collections and had done so a few weeks ago but hadn't received a sticker for the bin.  It was due for collection on Tuesday and we put it out not knowing if they would take it without a sticker.  Thankfully they did.  The sticker arrived in the post about three hours after the bin had been emptied.

On Saturday, as the sun was out and the sky was blue we decided to walk in our local Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Reserve at Hem Heath woods.  We parked at the World of Wedgwood (V&A Stoke) and  had a morning coffee in the Six Towns Cafe Bar before heading into the woods.

In just a few weeks time these woods will be full of Bluebells but for now there were Lesser Celandines along the paths.

We walked down to the pond listening to the birds.  A Woodpecker was heard but not seen and there was song from Robins, Wrens and Blackbirds.  

 

Some of the paths were very muddy but we had changed into more suitable footwear to tackle them.

We didn't see any waterbirds but we did see signs of Flag Iris.  This will look wonderful in a couple of months time.

 

On the way to the pond we passed many trees that had been chopped down.  There has been a programme of work over the winter to tackle the presence of Ash dieback disease on several of the Trust's reserves including this one.

It was sad to see so many trees had been felled.  The Trust have taken down those trees considered to be a high risk to safety.  Mostly along the paths.

Ash dieback is a fungal disease for which there is no cure.  It was first discovered in Europe in 1992 in Poland and reached the UK in 2012.  Symptoms of the disease are dead branches, blackening leaves and discoloured stems with diamond shaped leisions where fallen leaves were.  This causes the tree to weaken and drop branches and to eventually collapse.  The disease is spread by the wind.

On a happier note there are these beauties to look forward to in a few weeks time.

 

Definitely something to return for.

 

The photos of bluebells above were taken on previous visits.  A walk amongst them has become a yearly ritual.

Tulip Tree

 The Tulip Tree (Liriodendron) at the top of the garden is fast losing all its leaves.  It’s been looking spectacular, changing from bright green, to acid yellow then deep orange before it’s leaves began to drop and whirl and descend in a bright cloud towards the grass below.  Brisk gusts of wind lift the leaves and toss them around.  Many of them land in the hedges and shrubs, others float on the pond.

I can’t imagine how tall the tree is now.  Hard to think that we brought it home from the garden centre in the back of a car and that it remained in it’s pot for a couple of years whilst we decided where it would live.

 

The Liriodendron is part of the Magnolia family of trees.

It got the name Tulip Tree because its flowers vaguely resemble tulips. 

Apparently they can flower once they have reached fifteen years in age. Ours hasn't flowered yet.

Photos above and below were taken early this morning when even more leaves had fallen.

The tree is native to North America and was introduced into this country in the 17th century.

 

Our tree must be around twenty years old. When you compare it with the one below in Trentham Gardens,  it's still a youngster.

I'm having problems with my laptop.  It seems to be on a go slow. Not sure what the problem is as it has plenty of memory.   I may have to buy a new one. 

All for now.  Take care.

November Trees

It was all about the trees on our walk earlier this week.  They were so beautiful I just couldn't stop taking photos.  Each view seemed more enchanting than the one before as they had one last flourish before preparing themselves for winter.

All photos taken at Trentham Gardens and Estate.

I hope everyone has a lovely weeknd.  Take care.

Blogtober - Day Twenty Six

I woke in the night to hear the wind whistling through the trees and around the window gently swishing the curtains.  I felt the breeze across my face as we always sleep with a small window open unless it is very, very cold. 

Leaves were strewn across the top lawn this morning.  Now as I write this the wind is quite strong again and they are blowing all over the garden.  They will have to be collected and composted.

The leaves across the lawn are mostly from the Tulip Tree (Liriodendron) which has grown so tall now.  We bought it about twenty years ago and brought it home from the garden centre sitting in the back of the car.   It stayed in its pot for a year or two before we decided where to place it.

 

 Hard to believe it was so small.  It hasn't ever flowered yet.  I hope it will. Apparently it takes twenty to thirty years to flower.  I guess the weather conditions have to be right too.

At the top of the other side of the garden a ring of fungi has appeared around the birch tree we planted last year.

You can just about see them in the photo above.
 

A variety of birds are returning to the garden
 .  As well as Goldfinches this week we spotted a Greenfinch and a Chaffinch.  Also Great Tits, a Robin and a Dunnock. We regularly have seven Collard Doves call in the early morning for food.  They wait, sitting along the top of the greenhouse roof, eyes on the back door.  Blackbirds seem for the moment to have disappeared. I hope they return.

Still Here

I'm still here.  I've not been using my laptop very much as a couple of weeks ago I had a small operation or proceedure to remove an area of skin on my right forearm. This has left me unable to do a lot of things as I'm right handed.  The wound is feeling easier now and the stiches come out on Friday. Hurray!  Biopsy results will be a little longer. Apologies if I haven't commented on your posts for a week or two.  I will get around to visiting you all again.

A few days ago we visited the small M&S in Stone and they had a bucket of bunches of Daffodils for £1 per bunch at the end of each till area. I coudn't resist a bunch of these, bright and cheerful signs of Spring, even though we have a way to go yet.  Further in the store I was half amused and half bemused to see rows of Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies for sale and also, in the bakery area - Hot Cross Buns.  Sigh.

On Sunday morning we walked to the local park. 

 

The sky was grey, almost colourless.

The air was still, not one jot of a breeze. It was very quiet too as the cool temperature discouraged most early morning dog walkers.

The winter trees were stark and rather beautiful.

The path turned towards home.

Where a bowl of butternut squash soup was warmed and enjoyed.  Just what was needed after a  long walk in the damp, chilly air.

Red Tulips almost as cheering as the Daffodils.  

 

 

I'll be taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch over the weekend.  We've done it for years and as is usual I expect the numbers of birds visiting the feeders won't be as high as earlier this week. This always seems to happen, they just don't want to be counted.  We've had lots of birds on the feeders over the last few days, last week we were filling up the feeders twice a day.  Robins, Blackbirds, Sparrows, Dunnocks, Blue tits, Long tailed tits, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Collard Doves and Wood Pigeons being the most frequent visitors and Golfinches and Sparrows the most numerous.  I wonder how this will change over the weekend?  I'll report back next week.

Trees and other things

Yesterday we went for a short local walk quite early in the morning.  It was good to get out in the fresh air even if for just a short while.

I've been busy trying to de-clutter.  Lots of old paperback books have been placed in boxes, they are probably too old even to pass on to a charity shop.  The pages are brown, dry and flaking, spotted with age, the covers are scuffed at the edges, some torn.  I notice some are priced at  three shillings and sixpence, others at five shillings,  Old money, old books who on earth would want them?

I have boxes of notebooks from the last thirty years or so.  In them I find dotted amongst the pages, research I've done for leaflets and exhibitions at the museums I've worked in.  Family history notes from Local History libraries and Archive offices.  Stories and poems I wrote when I attended Creative Writing Courses, all side by side with recipes, lists of things to do, holiday planning and itineraries, lists of what to take on holidays and present and card lists for both Christmas and birthdays.

The family history notes have been extracted and I'm filing them into paper folders under each family name.  I can sort them again from there.  I think I have most of the information in my latest family tree files  I am typing up the stories and poems.  Some of them I remember, others I don't.  I must have written them as they are my notebooks and my scribble.   Everything else has been shredded.

Days are drifting by.  Last Tuesday when we had a long and lovely Zoom chat with friends I was convinced it was Saturday.  When Saturday finally arrived I was convinced it was Sunday.  Today I am aware that it really is Monday - and so it goes.

We have taken out a subscription to Netflix.  I've watched three good films already. 

'All is True'  'Collette' and 'Hope Gap' All very different but all beautifully filmed with good, strong casts.

 

I've not talked much about the trees but they still remain stark and beautiful, casting wonderful reflections in the pond. The ground was wet and muddy underfoot but the air was dry.

 

On the way back from the walk I spotted this wonderful shrub overhanging a garden wall all those bright red berries ripe for the birds to eat on these cold days.

The last few days I've been finding it hard to keep warm.  Homemade creamy parsnip soup and roll helps to lift spirits and warm cold fingers and toes.

I hope everyone is staying safe and warm.