Cocoa and Mum The balcony has been quite busy, this last blustery month. The weather has felt most wintry and not at all how I’d expect May to be. Coal Tit Fledgling But the balcony has been very encouraging, and not just with the plants. Over winter we added birdfeeders, and in April a birdbath,… Continue reading Nature Notes: May 2021
Category: Garden
Nature Notes: April 2021
One of the good things to come out of this pandemic has been having the time to enjoy our balcony. We’ve always had a few large plant pots – they were here when we moved in – with our cherry tree and a Pink Flamingo Salix, but over the last year, M has added to… Continue reading Nature Notes: April 2021
Nature Notes: March on the Balcony
The balcony’s beginning to get colour again. Aside from the pale green buds on the magnolia, and the few Pied Piper leaves poking through the soil, the cherry tree is almost in full bloom. It’s very cheery to see the blossom again. Fuji Cherry TreePied Piper M’s been quite busy with the balcony this past… Continue reading Nature Notes: March on the Balcony
Nature Notes: February on the Balcony
It’s been chilly this month. Chillier even than when we had the snow. But at least the last week or so has begun to remind us that Spring is indeed on its way, with sunshine, warmer temperatures and crocuses in the park. It has been very windy in recent days, but early spring sunshine has… Continue reading Nature Notes: February on the Balcony
Nature Notes: January on the Balcony
We began January with snow, and we’ve ended it with more. I’ve been a bit concerned that the plants might freeze, but they seem to have survived, so far. All the snow is not to say we haven’t had some sunny days too. I’ve even been tempted out for a lunchtime walk around the park… Continue reading Nature Notes: January on the Balcony
Nature Notes: Christmas on the Balcony
There isn’t much to say in the way of what’s happening on the balcony – the only differences with November are that I discovered a fairly large, half-ripe strawberry on the Alpine strawberry plant (which didn’t produce any fruit this summer), and the birds have found the bird-feeder we put up a few months back.… Continue reading Nature Notes: Christmas on the Balcony
Nature Notes: November on the Balcony
There’s not really a lot to say – there’s nothing much happening on the balcony at the moment. It’s been quite a wet and windy sort of month. We had to take the ledge-box off the railing, before the wind blew it off. The trees have lost their leaves for winter and the flowers are… Continue reading Nature Notes: November on the Balcony
Nature Notes: October on the Balcony
Ah, October. When the clocks go back and the evenings darken. When, ideally, I would go into hibernation until spring (waking up for Christmas, of course). The weather is being especially dark and gloomy right now. Very soggy. The cherry tree, whose blossoms first inspired me to track the months on the balcony, has gone… Continue reading Nature Notes: October on the Balcony
Nature Notes: September on the Balcony
One of the side-effects of not having done anything very much since lockdown began back in March is that time has a different meaning. This was, in part, why I started taking photos of the balcony, to track the seasons and their effects on the plants we have. I’ve been in my home-office for six… Continue reading Nature Notes: September on the Balcony
Nature Notes: August on the Balcony
The summer heat has definitely cooled this month, despite it beginning with a heatwave. That broke with a few fantastic thunderstorms and heavy downpours. It’s a much more manageable sort of temperature now. I’m not sure the plants necessarily appreciate quite how blustery it now is, though, especially the wildflowers. They seem happy enough, with… Continue reading Nature Notes: August on the Balcony
