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IN OUR GARDENS 2026

Just wandered round the garden with my camera.

The Gaillardia (Indian Blanket flower) is a complete surprise. I grew some from seed last year. Got lots of foliage but no flowers. Today I found this one solitary bloom.
 

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Thanks Don. We get them frequently here, I think it’s because we’re near a wooded area.
They love an old tree or to eat from a hanging fat ball.
They fell out of favour with me some time back as they raided a nearby blue tit nest…
They make me smile, they really are like the Woody Woodpecker carton, hammering with their beaks!
 
I had a rare visitor in the garden yesterday.... a Bullfinch. Such a handsome bird so i hope he comes back. I`ve never seen one before, maybe they`re frequent further south?
 
I’ve seen them here in Staffordshire Smudger but I have to admit not as much as I used to.
I know some of the finch families have fallen prey to a bacterial disease lately.

I never see thrushes here now and yet when we moved here 30 years ago they were a welcome visitor with their pretty spots and beautiful birdsong.
 
Just a thought! In 1940's 50's our garden fences were "see-through" palings or chain-link and we saw and knew our neighbours now we have six foot fences and hedges we may hear our neighbours but certainly don't see them to chat to, much more private but is it better?
 
devonjim said:
Just a thought! In 1940's 50's our garden fences were "see-through" palings or chain-link and we saw and knew our neighbours now we have six foot fences and hedges we may hear our neighbours but certainly don't see them to chat to, much more private but is it better?
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Depends on your neighbours Jim. A big hairy overweight naturist then a 6 foot fence is essential. As the saying goes... You can choose your friends but you can`t choose your neighbours.
 
A bit of a surprise for me this summer. This Amaryllis was given to us as a Christmas gift, but the soil that it was supplied with in the box turned mouldy in the pot, so I just left it outside throughout the winter thinking it was going to die. To my surprise the bulb sent up a shoot in the spring, so I decided what the hell and planted it in my raised bed to see how it would do, and this is the result! It’s still sending up new growth even now.

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devonjim said:
Just a thought! In 1940's 50's our garden fences were "see-through" palings or chain-link and we saw and knew our neighbours now we have six foot fences and hedges we may hear our neighbours but certainly don't see them to chat to, much more private but is it better?
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I would hate to have to see my neighbours every day, plus they have a vicious pitbull type dog, at least we feel safe!
 
lmr3103 said:
Good news in my garden. A couple of weeks ago I lamented the fact we hadn’t seen a thrush here for years. Guess what we spotted this morning… a young one. I felt so pleased ! I hope it thrives.
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I sat in the garden a couple of weeks ago and a baby starling went to our patio and hopped inside the house, it was mayhem trying to catch it and pray the dog didn't get it! My son caught it and it made such a racket the poor thing was terrified!
 

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Lemonella said:
I sat in the garden a couple of weeks ago and a baby starling went to our patio and hopped inside the house, it was mayhem trying to catch it and pray the dog didn't get it! My son caught it and it made such a racket the poor thing was terrified!
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With birds throw a towel over them and wrap them up lightly. The dark settles then down then you can take them into the garden and release. I had a Magpie in the bathroom the other day. How it managed that Im not sure. As I do feed the birds, I do know they will come into the house sometimes so it must have flown up the stairwell and into the bathroom. It was fine when I released it again.
 
davedgibson said:
I lived in Aylesbury Crescent in Kingstanding when I was a kid, and I always remember every garden was separated by a Privet hedge.
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davedgibson said:
I lived in Aylesbury Crescent in Kingstanding when I was a kid, and I always remember every garden was separated by a Privet hedge.
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There was always a privet hedge in the front gardens too. One of our neighbours used to cut shapes of birds into his! It wasn’t called a posh word like topiary then though !
 
Lemonella said:
I sat in the garden a couple of weeks ago and a baby starling went to our patio and hopped inside the house, it was mayhem trying to catch it and pray the dog didn't get it! My son caught it and it made such a racket the poor thing was terrified!
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Poor thing, starlings are so noisy at the best of times!
 
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