New Season Bramleys

New season Bramleys are now being picked,

not too many as they are still growing.

But enough to make a pie or two.

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Recommended Reading - The Thrifty Gardener

The Thrifty Gardener - How to create a stylish garden for next to nothing

by Alys Fowler

I liked this book a lot though if I'm honest it hasn't much to offer the experienced gardener other than some recycling inspiration. But Alys Fowler has a nice way about her, you've probably seen her on Gardeners World, her passion for gardening shines through the pages and she does inspire.

I think this book would make a super present for a first time gardener.

My copy came from The Works for only £6.99 so it would make a fairy economical gift.

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Bees, Butterflies & Thistles

Out walking we came upon a huge patch of thistles full of butterflies and bees

,including this rather tatty one,

all enjoying the sunshine

and the nectar.

It occurs to me that quite a few of my posts have included bees.
And we all know that bees need help.

Then I see an article featuring Britains only professor of apiculture in the weekend paper, (Telegraph Magazine).

And Professor Ratnieks tells us, "In the long run, the problem is a lack of flowers."

Something we can all remedy don't you think?

Mr Fothergill's the seed merchants have recently published their own Bees Top Ten which includes:

Foxglove - Foxy Mixed

Clary - Blue Denim

Agastache - Golden Jubilee

Salvia farinacea

Cornflower - Blue Ball

Cynoglossum

Dahlia - Miinon Mixed

Marigold - Sunburst Mixed

Sunflower - Hallo

and

Fothergill's own Wildflower Mixed seeds

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Smell the Privet

Have you ever smelled the Privet?

If you are used to surburban privet hedges you might not even have seen the privet flower.

But walk the lanes on a sunny day and that

oh so destintive smell of blossom is probably at this time of year Privet.

A sort of cross between fresh mown grass and that smell of rain with a hint of honey.

Just gorgeous.

And as you can see beloved by the bees.

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Kestrel

During our daily dog walk we usually pass close by this nest box,

it's currently home to a Kestrel family.

One of whom can often be seen perching on the electricity pylon

whilst the other stands guard at the doorway.

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what we are doing,
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Bees & Birds

Bees first - are there more around this year?

Or is it wishful thinking on my behalf?

They are certainly enjoying the hollyhocks.

Now birds, well chickens to be exact - we have chicks!

Photographs here

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The Chicken Daily

In order to journal the doings of our little flock of chickens I've started yet another blog

The Chicken Daily

If you are at all interested in chickens I'd love to see you over there,

also if you know of any blogs featuring chickens

I'd appreciate it if you could point me in their direction.

Thanks awfully.