Heathers / Aspen / Willow

Diary

Posted: Monday 17 March, 2025

by Rosemary at 8:33am in Agriculture Comments closed

Monday 10^th March

Back to windy this morning.

Tuesday 11^th March

Murdo here today, so Dan’s been outside too. They spent most of the day in the orchard, taking down the branches of the damaged tree and cutting them up – some came back as firewood, some went on the bonfire - strimming paths and burning some rubbish (but not all).

bonfire Bonfire.

haven Wildlife haven and aspen.

Last job was to take the moss off the roof of the West Range, under the Lime and the Turkish Hazel, and trim the ivy.

roof West Range roof tidied up.

I bought twelve heathers to finish planting up the heather bed. I love the "Snow Queen".

Final heathers in place.

Wednesday 12^th March

My goodness, it’s dry. Not complaining. Last year we were waiting for the flooding to recede. We need John the Tractor to come and get our tractor going, so we can get harrowing.

We’ve always seen Great Spotted woodpeckers here, but this year, ones’ decided to nest here by modifying one of the existing nest boxes. So Dan’s ordered a woodpecker box. And a hanging drinker, to avoid the postage.

nestbox Woodpecker home improvements.

Thursday 13^th March

Murdo was back for a second day this week. That’s all the aspen in; with plenty of cover left for wee beasties. And there was a tidy up of the front garden. Dan had to work in the afternoon, so Murdo made a start on harvesting the willow

Dan spotted Elsa up a tree today.

Elsa Elsa up a tree.

Tonight, she’d encouraged two of her mates to roost there with her. Just as well I did head count before shutting them in. And they weren't too high for me to reach them.

hens Roosting hens.

Friday 14^th March

I gave Smokey a bit of a brush tonight – just to get some nesting material for the birds. Mickey got his mane done – he doesn’t have much of a coat, compared to Smokey.

Smokey Smokey floof.

I planted the heathers - after giving them a good watering. In fact, I watered the whole heather bed. Unusual for March!!!

The festive season is now officially over. Eight and a half months until I get another Snowball.

advocaat End of the festive season.

Saturday 15^th March

Glorious day – cool out of the sun, but wonderful in it.

I had a walk round the fields with the dogs, to have a look at the ground conditions. John the Tractor is coming next week, so we’ll get harrowing. The weather’s forecast to break next weekend. Cooper came with us and tried some bunny hunting.

Cooper Cooper, bunny hunting.