Garden Insects

I’ve taken some short movies of the garden using my phone, so don’t expect anything spectacular…

The aim was to show the number of insects buzzing around the Aster, there are often butterflies too but I tend to scare them away, especially if I’m standing and moving. For flutters you’re best remaining very still and having patience; I love how Bees just don’t seem to care, they’re on a mission and nothing will stop them getting their nectar/pollen.

Sadly it isn’t translating too well, as the video is quite small so you can’t really see them buzzing around. Also I find the phone tends to blow out the colours a bit; i.e. high contrast and saturation… Blacks are very black and colours are very strong.




This one shows Hoverflies enjoying some California Poppy blooms


I’m trying to figure out how to make it automatically play in HD, however when you click play you will then see a 360p pop up on the bottom bar, if you click the little arrow next to it you can then switch to HD instead should you fancy seeing the videos in better quality.

My heart goes out to the victims of the current looting around the UK, especially to one guy who'd been punched or attacked, was on the floor and then looters came to 'help' him. Instead they mugged him. It still makes me cry just thinking about it; so horrendous to watch.

2011 Liz.
All rights reserved. Content created by Liz for Gwirrel’s Garden.

Late Summer

Mornings are much cooler and the days are reaching nice, warm temperatures. These I can live with, I've had enough of hot, muggy, grey days. Last week we had a corker, it was so heavy and horrible, I just don't know how people put up with it for long periods of time… as the day progressed I gradually felt more light-headed and sick. Finally 4pm came and I virtually ran out of the office, OH was meeting me and we went for a meal, the restaurant was air conditioned and almost immediately I felt much better.

I have some more catching up to do; I've been sparse on posts this month and haven't really even mentioned any of the veggies I've grown.
The tomatoes have begun ripening a few weeks ago, I cannot remember their type but they were supposed to be an early variety… I wouldn't really call this early! Anyway, I also have some gardener's delight and a cherry which was given to me by a colleague, they are by the back door of the house and are also now ripening. I want to try a Heritage variety next year, does anyone have any suggestions?

Our Rosarie de l'hay has had a second flush of flowers, I am so very pleased as the perfume… it's to die for. If I could effectively collect it in a bottle to smell all year, I would.

This summer I have seen lots of these around:

We’ve also had this visiting, I've never seen quite such a huge Hoverfly before…

The Gatekeeper had its eye on me…

But soon went back to eating

Meanwhile another can be seen on the Coneflower

Crocosmia takes over at this time of year

And I've been using it in vase arrangements… Photos will be posted another day.

A (Carder??) Bee, very fluffy it is, too!

One of my Rudbeckia has opened double, not complaining though…

A tiny moth I know I've seen before, and know they do not have a common name, only a long latin name so I won't waste my time attempting to find it again…

Cherry or Gardener's Delight by the kitchen door… Others on the plant are turning orange.

Does anyone know what this Cotoneaster is?? It has the strangest growing habit I've ever seen and I cannot say I'm a fan of this 'messy' look. It was here when we moved so I have no idea what the previous owners planted.
I think I'm going to have to get rid, it clearly wants to grow much too large for the space they gave… And to think they'd originally also planted Portugal Laurel right next to it, madness.

The 'early' Tomatoes… I *may* have already eaten a few... For testing purposes, clearly.

Where did October go?

It's been rather warm recently up here, there's been little need for the heating to be turned on - as in, I haven't had it on!

I've also noticed far too many Ladybirds, and it would seem I'm not the only one as a colleague at work apparently had a swarm of them on one of her walls over the weekend…

The bulbs have been planted… Well the ones I intended on planting have been, I now have a load left over that I had been waiting for my mum to decide on which she wanted. So that's another 100-150 to plant! Argh. I may have to give some away to colleagues, I just can't see myself planting them all… But they're Alliums and Crocus, I can't give them away as I love them too much!

I think I know what I'll be doing this weekend… (as well as sowing some seeds kindly donated by Cheryl :) )

What are everyone's thoughts on the Christmas tv adverts?

The Argos one… It's driving me insane…

I.must.listen.to.stop.the.cavalry.

no…not…yet…

I wonder how much longer I can hold out for? I usually aim to only listen to songs once we're into December…

Some of many Ladybirds hanging around this weekend…

And the 'almost' fantastic shot! If only I'd been a split second faster…

The sweet peas are loving the recent wet weather…

And even the Raspberry has new flowers!

Hoverflies, Bees and Flies are out in force taking in the October sun

Pretty Cyclamen brighten up otherwise dark areas.

The Cosmos took quite a beating in the rain and wind of Saturday morning, but there are many buds still to come.

I even discovered we have a white one!

The large cherry next door looks wonderful and overnight the wind blew off almost all the leaves! Phil bagged them up for me for leaf mulch… Again, so kind :)

The Aster's days are numbered…

My rose shrub, "roseraie de l'hay" is losing its leaves (not only to Autumn, it would seem!)

And something has had a nibble at the Pyracantha berries.

The American Wistera has lost most of its leaves... I can't wait for its flowers next year...

Aubrieta has grown a lot since I planted them as babies…

As too have the Foxgloves. Both have crept up on me, I didn't realise they'd grown so much.

Cotoneaster berries ready for harsher weather.

And the baby Maple is looking lovely… Just imagine once it's larger…

Coreopsis is cheerful as always.

And... Just how long is this Strawberry going to produce fruit for???