Whether it is the mild day or the fact a new storm is on it’s way, but we have even more frogs in the garden pond today. Hard to count but at least 200 now!
Frogs
Froggy Friday
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Monthly Archives: February 2020
Lens-Artists Challenge #85 – Treasure Hunt
Sunrise
Sun!
Something cold
A bird
bluetit
A bicycle, or two
bikes
A seascape and mountain
Bertra
A church
Abbey
A boat
Boat on Lough Carra
Knitting / Potrait
Spinning
Silent Sunday
Mossy Towers (there be fairies)
West of Ireland Roads
County Mayo, in the west of Ireland, is criss-crossed with numerous roads. It is estimated that the county council are responsible for over 6,200 km of roads — 136 km of national primary roads, 271 km of national secondary roads, 590 km of regional roads and 5,275 km of local roads. Many of these local roads are single track, narrow roads as in the photographs below.
West Mayo
Clare island
Clare island
East Mayo
Inishbiggle
North Mayo
Inspired by Lens artist weekly challenge –Â narrow
Silent Sunday
frog ii
Six on Saturday
Well it has been one stormy week. It hardly seems that storm Ciara finishes and we are now getting Storm Denis. I don’t think I have ever seen the place so wet.
- These tete-a-tete daffodils are standing in water. I have never had water standing in this bed before and this is the second time in a week.
tete a tete daffodils
2. Earlier in the week between the two storm it got very cold and we woke to semi white – not snow but frozen hailstones. The garlic is just showing through.
Garlic
3. Despite the cold weather the frogs have decided to spawn anyway – first spawn appeared today. We have not as many frogs as other years (about 50), but it may be due to the fact that there is water everywhere and they are spoilt for choice as to where to spawn!
Frog spawn
4. I disturbed a pair of bullfinches feasting on the buds of one of the apple trees so they moved to the blackthorn in the hedge instead.
Bullfinch
5. In other years this willow would be buzzing with earlier pollinators. But this year and last year’s early spring means it is coming out before the pollinators emerge. This is one of the problems with climate change – when nature gets out of sync with itself.
Willow
6. Winter Purslane – self seeds itself in the greenhouse and polytunnel and is a great addition to winter salads.
winter purslane
With thanks to The Propagators Six on Saturday for hosting.
Wildlife Wednesday
Bluetit
Silent Sunday
frogs are back!
Future
We cannot tell what lies ahead of us, we cannot predict our future and maybe it is just as well. What we do know is the world is changing, as it has always done, but now it is in a way that frightens me. I fear for my children’s future in a world where climate change will dominate everything. I fear for my children’s future in a world where political leaders still fail to heed the urgency of the crisis.
So let us do something positive for our future, for the future of our children, let us try as suggested by Ann-Christine (Leya) to –Â do something today that your future self will thank you for.
- Plant a tree. While they are growing trees will store carbon, and provide habitats for insects, birds and other wildlife.
Oak tree
2. Grow some of your own vegetables. Cut down on those food miles and enjoy so really fresh food.
Broccoli
3. Don’t buy compost containing peat. Peatlands are being destroyed throughout Europe to provide compost for gardens, parks and the horticultural industry. Yet peatlands store about half a trillion tonnes of carbon, twice as much as is estimated to be stored by the world’s forests (from The Garden Jungle – Dave Goulson). I am guilty of buying peat compost too (peat-free is hard to source here), but I am determined after reading this statistic not to buy any more.
Peatland – Ballycroy National Park
4. Have a compost heap – no room – then start a wormery. Picture below is of my newish hot composter, but we also have wooden pallet compost heaps (of which I cannot find any photos!) in the garden.
Hot composter
5. Plant some flowers for pollinators. Pollinators are so important for pollinating so many of our food crops. But flowers also provide food for other insects too.
bumblebee
6. Leave an area of your garden to grow just a little bit wild, and be chemical free!
Grass and wildflowers
Also joining in this week’s The Propagators Six on Saturday – slight variation on the theme this week, as Storm Ciara prevented any photos being taken today:)
Wildlife Wednesday
Shags
Murtagh's Meadow 