January 2018 – afewgreenthoughts

First Snowdrops

It’s been a tough week. So when I ventured into the garden this morning to hang washing out, I was heartened to see that the first snowdrops had appeared.

A small yellow flower had just pipped them to the post though; I think it’s a double primula. It looks a bit bedraggled and sorry for itself, but the colour is startling and most welcome in all the gloom!

And here’s another snowdrop picture, taken this afternoon in Derbyshire. Just because I like them!

Siskin

I bought some sunflower hearts a few days ago, to see if goldfinches liked them as much as I’d heard. Within five minutes, they had attracted a siskin: a first for this garden!

I didn’t have a camera with me at that point, but I’ve managed to take this photograph of a siskin* on the nyjer seed feeder. They obviously enjoy eating that too.

I’m afraid the picture was taken through glass, so the quality isn’t of the highest, but I’m hoping for more opportunities.

*To add to some that I included in a previous post: Visitors.

Looking Ahead

Recovery continues: today I ventured outside to tackle the ~~wilderness~~ garden.

I planted some allium bulbs, which have been hanging around the house for some weeks. It seems terribly late, but I hope to salvage something from them. When I’d finished, my fingers felt as if they’d turned to steel!

The photographs were taken at Alnwick Castle Gardens last year. A wonderful place for ideas and inspiration!

Visitors

The flu seems to be receding a little. I managed a trip out to the shops and replenished my stocks of bird seed for the garden feeders. The goldfinches will be happy for a while with this nyjer seed! Here’s a picture of a goldfinch from a few days ago, when it was snowing:

I’ve also heard that goldfinches like sunflower hearts, so I thought I’d try some of that too. Within minutes, they attracted a siskin. The photos aren’t amazing, but I thought I’d include them anyway as I like the patterns on its feathers so much.