Talkback: Nature in the garden - Talkback

rogerT2

30/11/2011 at 18:50

We have lots of goldfinches and today we were invaded by starlings after putting out a fat block. But where have the blackbirds gone to? We have none and usually have 2/3

Shilah 1

08/12/2011 at 22:15

it's been the same here in Devon ,but my MR & Mrs Blackbird are just coming back in the garden.

zara

10/12/2011 at 04:32

We have 2 wild rabbits that have been regularly visiting our garden during the last 9 months and they do a great job of edging the lawn.They have not done any damage to any of our plants.

Ron

10/12/2011 at 07:42

We find that chopped up apples keep Blackbirds from straying too far.

Botticelliwoman

10/12/2011 at 08:53

yesterday evening I was walking the dog across our cricket and football fields and there were blackbirds everywhere. I don't think I've ever seen as many together. The foraging must be better out there than in the garden!

Patrevlil

10/12/2011 at 11:14

can't believe your wild rabbits are so well behaved zara! Since we moved here to Lincolnshire five years ago we have been plagued with rabbits. They were lovely to look at in the beginning but the novelty has definitely worn off now. Of course they were here before us but it's so upsetting to have new plants dug up and eaten or destroyed.I now surround all new plants with wire until they are well established.I also find that rabbits don't like euphorbias so I've planted quite a lot of these. It's become trial and error.

gardengirl6

10/12/2011 at 21:00

I love to see birds, bees and butterflies in the garden, but I don't like the damage done by foxes, squirrels, and badgers. Unfortunately they can be so destructive!

Ron

11/12/2011 at 08:37

Patrevlil, I sympathise totally but am old enough to remember myxomatosis. I think Nature knows best. Short-term netting works and there are plants that they don't like to eat, foxgloves look good in any garden. Good luck.

Luke Arnos

12/12/2011 at 16:29

Long-tailed tits. Animated lolipops.

pansy2

12/12/2011 at 22:50

dozens of blackbirds in my garden but I have only seen one goldfinch so far but the weather here is still very mild. They will (probably) be back when it gets really cold. I grow teasels and evening primrose for the birds, they really like the seeds. What other seeds attract them? I should say that the fields here have been growing sunflowers, maize and wheat so there is still loads of stuff out there for them.

Patrevlil

18/12/2011 at 16:53

Thanks for your sympathy Ron. I too remember myxomatosis and it was awful. I certainly wouldn't wish anything so horrible on the rabbits. I used to have squirrels in my previous garden and I thought they were destructive enough but they weren't a patch on my neighbourhood rabbits! I'd love to grow some vegetables but I know what I'd be letting myself in for. In spite of the havoc they cause it's so cute when you see the babies and I really don't mind when I see them eating the grass if only they'd stick to this!

moonchild2

01/01/2012 at 19:47

the blackbirds have been absent from my garden for several weeks but are back now, there was a pair of them today that didnt fly off when i went to the shed for potataoes for my dinner, he was keeping her in his sights i wonder if its the mild weather making them think about finding a mate. dont birds have a period in autumn when they have moulted and keep themselves hidden for a time until their plumage grows back again?

Tootles

01/01/2012 at 20:24

I was lucky enough to see a wonderful gaggle (??) of geese flying overhead in the classic V formation yesterday. Not seen that since childhood days. What a treat.

antique14

04/01/2012 at 15:04

Nature in the garden is all very well but, I have lost two very expensive dwarf apple trees this autumn/winter to rodents (voles or mice) they were planted in half oak casks and the offending varmint has burrowed up through the barrels and eaten the trees from the roots up. I live in the country and I am used to protecting plants from rabbits, pigeons etc but this really has had me beaten, plastic or clay pots from now on.

SkyeSteve

04/01/2012 at 19:44

I've never seen blackbirds in such large numbers as I have this past year. They had a field day with my no dig potatoes in spring. No matter how often and how high I piled the straw/grass cuttings they managed to get through....I just gave up in the end. Now, since I planted my garlic and onions in autumn, I've watched them pulling the bulbs out. Belatedley I've covered them but I'll do it sooner next year. This autumn Ive planted a lot of daffs and tulips, but now something is pulling a lot of those bulbs out. I suspect mice/voles in this case as the bulbs in pots that our 4 legged friends can't get at are still intact. The interesting thing though is that the tulips seem to be a lot more popular than the daffs! Anybody else experienced this?

DAT

19/03/2012 at 20:45

i can go intoG arden and pick 24 Tulips in full bloom is this a record, they are in pots against a wooden fence, also at at least another 40 in bud

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