Natural Gardens

23/06/2024

Before and after! How does something so magnificent and large emerge from such a tiny hole in the shoulder of the nymph?! But then I guess us ladies have the same during birth. Nature is truly breathtaking

23/06/2024

I think a Southern Hawker dragonfly emerging this morning, what a treat, and there’s at least 10 all about to fly! Not the best pics as it’s a bit blowy out there.

15/06/2024

Step into my parlour said the spider to the fly.
This is a flower crab spider predating an unknown fly. 🪰 🕸️

23/03/2024

Set up and ready to roll at today’s Bishops Waltham Eco Fair. Looking forward to advising and inspiring people to garden alongside nature. I’m also one of the days guest speakers talking loud and proud about wildlife and sustainable gardening. Im also delighted to be singing the praises of and

07/03/2024

07/03/2024

Second batch of frogspawn in my small garden pond. 🐸I think they’ve literally just hatched en masse, as they’re all tightly batched together. Love the bubbles too

07/03/2024

Toads, ladybirds and voles in today’s border. A reminder to take a gentle hand when cutting back or weeding in early spring. The toad was happily chillin’ under the leaves which I deliberately leave as habitat and a natural mulch, the vole nest taking advantage of deschampsia and the ladybirds on Veronica stems. If I’d rushed through this with big boots and spades I’d never have spotted them. I covered them over and left them in peace

07/03/2024

Wildlife gardening in a small space. It’s amazing what can be achieved with not much room. Small barrel pond (recycled), a couple of stumps, some gorgeous spring planting and all in all a feast for the eyes and more importantly the wildlife. The pond doesn’t have much wildlife within it, but the birds adore it. Bees simply love the hellebores, crocus and narcissi, and in a week or so the anemone blanda will take over. Rabbit customers own! 🐝🌺🐞🪲🕷️🕸️

25/02/2024

Here they come! And so far so good with the frost this year, it’s always like running the gauntlet with magnolia flowers!

25/02/2024

Tadpoles already! I first spotted (or should I say heard) this frogspawn in my own garden pond on 26th January, the earliest yet. I’ve lots of newts too, so they’ll not go hungry this season. One of the reasons frogs and toads lay so much spawn, as there’s a high predation rate 🐸