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| Pulmonaria in flower |
Already into February; the garden is moving slowly forward, and the birds are thinking of nesting. They may get a shock later this week as we are forecast to have frosty nights, but there have been a few sunny days and things are looking up!
The snowdrops are now joined by the first winter aconites, and the pulmonaria, in its sheltered spot under the apple cordons and against the stone wall, is starting to flower too. I managed to cut back the clematis down by the dump corner, a great tangled mass of stems around the honeysuckle; it actually came away fairly easily, and there were nice shoots low down that it could be cut back to. The honeysuckle had a pruning while I was at it. Underneath, the sedum (what is now called hylotelephium) has been tidied up; it's not in a good place there, much too shady, and some of it might better be moved to the old herb bed.
The sparrows are refurbishing their nest in what we call the Penthouse, the space under the eaves above our bedroom (we sometimes hear them hopping around when things are quiet in the early morning). Bits of grass and the odd feather have been taken in there, and there has been some squabbling that looks like early mating. A couple of pigeons have definitely been seen in flagrante, and a woodpecker was drumming for a mate one day. The robins have been feeding on the patio at the same time, if not exactly 'together', maintaining a respectful distance, but it's only a matter of time before they pair up properly.
The family of long-tailed tits comes regularly to the fatball feeder, and a nuthatch appeared there today. The song thrush is still coming to the garden, enjoying baths in the pond, and it or its mate has been heard quietly singing in the lane.
