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EGG-CITING DISCOVERY!

This isn't the first egg I've found buried whole in my planters!

It's the work of a fox, who being very dexterous can handle, bury and dig up eggs without breaking them.

I'm just glad I didn't break into it with the trowel!



Where on earth it's finding the eggs .. but there's evidence to be found around the garden.



There's no farm nearby, or who keeps chickens? .. a neighbour must be putting them out especially for the opportunist thief.



It stores them away for the next time it's hungry.

I wonder where it's next cache will be found?

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LATE SUMMER FAVOURITES AND A 300TH POST GIVEAWAY

This is my 300th post so I'm having another giveaway!

The giveaway prize will not necessarily be influenced by my love of the garden, leaving it open to everyone.

If you'd like to enter, comment on this post and I'll pick out a winner at random on Sunday 11th September.

Good luck!

This year the Sweetpeas have been very slow to flower, and slow too to even climb up the poles.

Maybe because they're Elegant Ladies, and can be seen here proudly showing themselves off with a 50p jelly-mould!

Monty Don suggests Sweetpeas are to be picked every 10 days.

I guess I should take his advice.



Big 'n blousy Gladioli.

I've never ever grown these before, so I took a chance in planting some up in large pots.

I stole the idea from Carol Klein, after seeing her do the same in her own garden at Glebe Cottage.

They're doing really well, and come as a highly recommended addition to a late Summer garden, and the good thing about having them in pots is you can move them around when you so desire.

It seems the odd spike may become a little top-heavy, like the one above which flopped over in today's blustery conditions.

I snipped it off, and it's now looking drop-dead gorgeous indoors!



Another new discovery for me this year is Helenium.

It's orange colour is just perfect at this time of year.

I definitely plan to introduce more to my garden next year, and hopefully divide this one if it gets through the Winter?



Dahlia, an old favourite of mine, especially the dark-leaved varieties.

I confess to having bought five new young plants this year.

I'm by no means an expert gardener, and all becomes hit 'n miss when it comes to overwintering them.

This year I made the mistake of placing a couple out in the borders, later discovering I'd inadvertently given the resident earwigs the go-ahead for a good nibble - also all five were sprayed with a washing-up liquid solution to rid an infestation of blackfly.

All were rescued in the nick of time and somehow all managed to survive their ordeal, and each in turn are giving a lively display of colour.



Another plant now an array of flowers is the Japanese Anemone.

You'd be forgiven for thinking its pastel tones would fail to fit in with the bolder shades of late Summer.

I've small pockets of space around the garden to grow a small selection of vegetables.

Today I've picked a generous trug full of Runner Beans and another 1lb in weight of Raspberries.

No sign of any Summer Squash as yet, and the Tomatoes are slow to ripen.

I watched that Blackbird in the photo be such a good father to his broods this year, and have helped him out with a few sultanas here and there!



I've seen, and heard the foxes again on a number of occasions.

The neighbour's terrier lets me know when he and his sibling are around.

It goes ballistic!

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URBAN FOXES

Over the last month or so, I have seen what appears to be a young fox on a number of occasions just chilling in our garden border, lapping up late afternoon sunshine.

I do know that foxes have used our garden in the past. Evidence of tunnelling on the banks, holes dug in the soil, and calling cards left.

I once found a buried parsnip!

This fox looks a little undernourished, but it must have a food source close by.

Chickens!



Inbetween scavaging, this fox enjoys Basking.



Scratching!



Preening!



Sniffing!



Then sensing me from behind the curtains. It scats!



Now this is another fox, which appears older. Possibly a parent of the above?

The other evening we caught it peering in from outside the front door - the next day I disturbed it lying in a flower border close to the property, and today I opened up the back door and it was looking over from the garden bench.

The audacity!

This one doesn't seem nervous at all. For a wild animal it seems very tame, and casually trots away up the steps to the top of the garden. Where the grass snake lives!

What is your view on urban foxes?

I would not leave food for them, or water, but to be honest I can tolerate them around our garden, for now anyway.

Foxes belong in the countryside, but it looks like they are in and around our living space to stay.

Once I get a whiff of any major damage around the place, Ill turf the Renardine out the shed.

So any urban foxes who happen to be out there.

Beware!

o

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GREENBOTTLE

They may not have a lot going for them, but a Greenbottle's metallic suit of many colours is nothing short of spectacular ...



and they appear to be good swimmers too.

o

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ORIENTAL POPPIES AND BEES

I've had the day off work today, and early this morning I took a leisurely walk around the garden, dilly-dallying with the camera. Lou if you're reading, I was in my nightie!

I noticed bees around the Oriental Poppies buzzing in the most crazy way outside and inside the flower head.

They were loving the rich velvety centre ...



and the silky-smooth crepiness of the petals.

o

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GREEN SHIELD BUG

Adult shield bugs will hibernate in leaf litter and emerge in May to feed on plant sap.

Just looks like another leaf!

o

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... a Millipede's million feet disappearing underground.

o

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SUNLIGHT AND SHADOWS

It's been a sunshiny and shadowy kind of morning in my garden.

I can only think of one benefit of inheriting 1970's style concrete slabs, and that is the great shadows that cast upon them in sunlight.

Achillea seadhead above.



After upturning and brushing out the wooden planters in readiness for the new season ahead, this poor Housespider's life has now literally been turned upside-down.

I do hope it doesn't try to seek refuge indoors!



A white feather blows gently along in the breeze, but manages to sit still just for a second, long enough for me to take a snap.



A shadow of Ornamental Sedge in high contrast.

o

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FOOD FOR BIRDS

Throughout the winter months there will be many resident blackbirds around the garden. Leave a few apples on the ground, they will soon be found, and enjoyed.

At this time of year with the breeding season ahead, each male blackbird will become highly territorial, and will be seen, and heard, vying for the attention of the female. The winner usually being the dominant one.

The apples, and the copious amounts of rain we have been having lately, will too attract slugs. Notice the tiny black one on the terracotta, a real menace to the gardener!

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PRIMROSE - I can't live without you, Early youth, Young love
POLYANTHUS - Pride of riches

I like to have some primroses or polyanthus in pots at this time of year, and I am not alone, the woodlice do too!

This year I opted for a mixed tray of white and a pink/orange colour, and I have made an interesting observation. The white flowers have been untouched and the pink/orange have been nibbled to death! Does this mean woodlice are repelled at the sight of white? I need to do more investigation? Has anyone else noticed this?



Great feast for the woodlice community in my garden, hundreds of them! Although extremely annoying in this instance, I really don't think woodlice do too much harm otherwise, so I will continue to invite them into my garden as a friend!