6th January 09 Much of the wood was frozen and crunchy underfoot, most unusual. Birdbaths frozen solid. Some of the tree ferns look rather forlorn. C.medullaris appears to be okay but the very large and beautiful fronds of C.robusta have collapsed. C.cunninghamii looking a bit wilted. Doubt the small C.princeps will survive, wish I`d protected it now. There may be a few fatalities this year. Good number of birds at the feeding station, watched them until my feet became very cold.
9th January 09 The tree ferns are exhibiting more damage today. C.cunninghamii fronds have gone right over. C.smithii is withered and the C.medullaris don`t look too happy either, with some of their fronds hanging down and all the new unfurling crosiers rotted.
12th January 09 Tree ferns looking worse than ever today. All the C.medullaris fronds have now collapsed. Looks like a disaster zone.
20th January 09 Goldcrest searching amongst the dead tree fern fronds, nice that somebody appreciates them! Bluebells starting to come up.
28th January 09 Felt very Springlike today. Pair of great tits inspecting No 7 Pine Tree Hall.
13th February 09 C.medullaris now displaying damage to their crowns, hope it`s not fatal.
23rd March 09 Fed some of the bamboos. Peepy landed on my hand at the feeding station. Long tailed tits back and forth to the nuts. Thought I heard a bullfinch and suddenly there he was, right in front of me on the feeder, seeing off the chaffinches. He must be one of my birds from last year because he was so tame. Thrilled to have him back.
25th March 09 C.australis is growing.
14th April 09 Tall C.medullaris is growing. Robins courtship feeding.
17th April 09 A wren has built a nest onto the trunk of the tall C.medullaris, tucked amongst the old hanging fronds. He did the same last year but I don`t think it was used.
26th May 09 As I approached the feeding station I caught sight of a fox, she saw me and ran off........then I noticed the cubs, four of them happily playing, oblivious of me. After a while they went off after mum. Utterly enchanting.
20th June 09 Male bullfinch came in carrying a fecal sac in his beak which he placed on a twig at the feeding station. This is the news I`ve been waiting for, confirmation of young in the nest.
15th July 09 Male bullfinch with three juveniles.
25th October 09 It`s half term, bringing with it another spate of vandalism. Birds feeding station smashed to pieces again. Dismayed to loose the large Droll Yankee squirrel proof feeder, which ensured there was always a good supply of seed for small birds. Another nest box gone, it had been in constant use as a roost since I hung it 9 years ago. Hope whoever was in residence has found another home. Caravan windows and door smashed, not going to repair, a ruined caravan will be better for wildlife. Nearby I could see that an attempt had been made to start a fire next to a group of tree ferns, being damp it did not really take hold, but managed to burn all the windbreak netting.
31st December 09 Looks like we are in for a cold spell, wrapped the C.medullaris in fleece and sandbags.
Garden Notes 2010
January 2010 This little chap in the Sequoia sempervirens follows me everywhere, and doesn`t seem to mind having his photograph taken.
Here he is again, posing on some old Dicksonia squarrosa fronds.
18th January 10 Bambusa multiplex "Alphonse Carr" is doing rather well.
22nd January 10 Bluebells coming up.
16th February 10 Female bullfinch at the feeding station this afternoon, which perked me up quite a bit.
6th July 10 Haven`t spent very much time in my garden of late since allowing all of my birds to disperse. Certainly not happy about encouraging wild birds to use nesting boxes that might be thrown around the wood at any moment, so I let them go ........
Decided to pack up painting for "a living" and concentrate on growing ferns. A friend gave me several Vitapod propagators, which are absolutely brilliant, and they are already full to bursting with young tree ferns. Some will be for sale next year, others will be planted out in the garden here.
9th July 10 The tall Cyathea medullaris, pictured below, has now reached 9' 6". Dicksonia berteroana growing nicely. New growth of Lophosoria quadripinnata is way above my head, and it hasn`t fully expanded yet. Thought Cyathea dregei was dead after last winter, but not quite, it is growing two very tiny fronds. Went to check Himalayacalamus hookerianus, found it doing well. On looking up, discovered I was being watched by two fledgling great tits from their perch amongst the bramble ( which is also doing well) so innocent, made me wonder how long they would last!
My tallest Cyathea medullaris pictured in July 2010.
