WILDLIFE GARDENS AND PONDS

I've got some shorter stem Alliums in pots - first time for me. Don't have any other summer bulbs. Something to think about in the future

 

Does anyone have or thinking of having a grass or wildflower meadow ??

 

I have tried in the past...
At the top of the garden (where I plan to put the wildlife pond - butyl liner delivered yesterday!!) the soil is pure sand, and there is absolutely nothing there. Not enough goodness even for grass to grow! So I tried sowing wildflower mixes, but nothing came of it. Probably just ended up with well-fed birds!
I still have some wildflower seed mixes, so will try again. Wondering about sowing in a seed tray, and then planting out small "squares" of seedlings?

 

I grew some wildflowers in a pot of rich compost last year and they did very well . I have several areas in the garden where I could direct sow seeds. I've currently got a tray of Poppies and Cornflower seedlings, so I'm going to try both.

 

That B....y Sparrowhawk attacked a Starling today. We came around a corner of the house and surprised it. It had the Starling facedown on the floor and was pulling its feathers out . It let go and flew off. We tried to pick up the Starling but it fluttered under the hedge out of reach. We get watch over it for a couple of hours during which time that horrid thing came back twice trying to get it. We scared it off. Eventually Starling came out of the hedge and we caught it. It's been literally plucked and there was some blood on my fingers but very light. Not sure if it's from the plucking or another injury. I didn't want to stress it further by handling it too much. . Poor little bean is very shocked. Got it in a pet carrier in a quiet room. The wildlife rescue here is over stretched but they say what I am doing is the right course of action and to wait and see if it makes it through the night. Is there anything else I can do?

 

Apart from poppies, I've only been able to start wildflowers off in a seed tray and then I've planted them into large pots. I wouldn't mind having a wildflower meadow but it would have to be a small one!

 

Just potted up a Myrrhis Odorata and Veronica Longifolia "First Glory". Both are meant to be really good for bees.

Veronica...



Myrrhis Odorata.....

 

Ooooh, they look lovely, where did you get them from? They look like they are quite tall plants ?

 

I took another pic today of the pond - I always take pics of projects as they develop. Peered hopefully into its depths and was again disappointed . Not even insect life yet. Water is still very cold although some of the marginals have started growing .

I made a log pile close to the pond day before yesterday. I also have several pieces of thick, sawn wood, varying lengths, that I'm trying to think of a use for around the pond area.

 

I'm impatient @ARMANDII . I keep reading about other people's ponds and wish I could fast forward a few months. I'm also still not convinced about the preformed, think a liner would have been better, still think it looks like a dog basket full of water . However, I do have some left over liner from making the Bog garden, so I could ( in theory ) make another, small pond in back garden

 

I also change my mind a lot as well as being impatient

You may recall I did want a liner and we dug a pond with that in mind. When it started becoming difficult with getting levels right, etc, R decided a preformed might be better. I agreed, admittedly, but I tend to think a liner might just have been easier to disguise around the edges. I'm sure it will look fine once everyone starts growing and the wildlife won't mind it's not a liner pond - I hope

 

Cover the edges Luci if it bothers you, i might get this one tomorrow look at picture 8/9 with a little bit more care and some better stones you could make a better job and you would never know it was preformed
Durable Plastic Preformed Garden Pond | in Rotherham, South Yorkshire | Gumtree

My ponds dead at the moment Luci as soon as it warms up wildlife will be flocking to your pond mark my words