Yes it's that time of year again when plant orders start to leave the nursery,Spring just around the corner,people planting up their gardens. So don't forget to plant a few (or a lot ) of wild flowers,the wildlife and your garden will benefit.
The heron was back at the National Wildflower Centre pinching the frogs,well not pinching,hunting and was quite successful while I was watching with a brace.This tells us two things, 1.Herons are nesting and mating at this time of year so the the chap or chapess has to keep his or hers strength up. 2 Frogs are entering the pond to spawn, so be warned frogs the heron's about
In the recent bad weather the wildflowers in their pots suffered extremes in temperature and in water,as the photos show the plants were half frozen so the rain water could not drain away, but we grow them well here at the Wildflower Centre,these plants can survive anything nature can throw at them, it's just gardeners that they're are wary of.The plants in the photos are Leucanthemum vulgare, but you knew that :))
We put up a living willow fence(well I hope it lives) around the small pond at the National Wildflower Centre.The willow used is the same as the willow that is used for biomass,I was told it is known as Q83,the main problem is not to allow the willow to dry out.I decided to reduce the height of the willow to the height in the photos to reduce windrock which could be a factor in it failing to root. All being well if it takes the branches that will shoot up can be interwoven eventually making a really secure living fence or feature.
