Nothing is so Beautiful as Spring…
So much to see and do in the garden!
Spring by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Nothing is so beautiful as Spring –
When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.
What is all this juice and all this joy?
A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning
In Eden garden. – Have, get, before it cloy,
Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.
Hello Creative Souls,
May is in full swing and today as I type this new post, the sun has finally made an appearance. My rose bushes all have buds, the allium are about to pop in the borders, and the papery blue iris, that remind me of a Monet painting, gave an awesome display. There are cabbage white butterflies fluttering around the veg beds and the buzzing of the bumblebees. The garden is a feast for the senses after a long and very wet winter and early spring. I think I can speak for many of us when I say, it has been rather depressing at times, even the most optimistic of people are craving some much needed sunshine and time outdoors.
With the sunshine, comes a zest for life, a craving for renewal, a wanting to get outside, to get things done. I feel motivated and inspired for some change, to get creative and to start new things, so, stick around, grab yourself something to drink and read on to find out what I am up to this May and beyond.
The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.
- Harriet Ann Jacobs
Spring Garden Preparation
It has been a busy spring so far, preparing the rather muddy borders in the garden, there has been a lot of weeding this year, pulling out so many tiny thistle seedlings that have self seeded all over the place. I have planted some gladioli and lily bulbs, which I chose for the colours, a mix of apricots, cream and purples, and I couldn’t resist their names, one of which is ‘Apricot Bubblegum’ and the other, ‘Purple Art’. The ground was rather soggy and hard to work with, however, the task is done and now all I can do is wait in anticipation.
The fruit trees all had a lovely display of blossom this year so I am hoping for some fruit. Pears, apples, plums and green gage would be amazing so keeping everything crossed for a good harvest.
I went too early this year on the veg beds, getting too over zealous in sowing seeds in the raised veg beds. I do have radish, but apart from one plucky carrot seedling, the rest has failed. Hey ho, that’s the joy of gardening and I still have time to try again.
One success will be my strawberries, which are quite happily flowering in my trug against a wall and in full sun, where they seem to thrive. Every year I get quite a few strawberries which I have little choice but to share with the blackbirds.
Garden Birds and a Clever App
Earlier this spring I was stood in the kitchen one morning, making myself my first cup of tea of the day. I was staring out of the window when I saw a blackbird. I thought to myself, ahh that blackbird has a white bib, I wonder why it has white feathers on its chest? I tried to take a photo but the light wasn’t great, I was still half asleep and the photograph didn’t capture the best image through the glass. Later that day, my neighbour sent me a photograph of said bird, equally confused as to why this blackbird had a white bib. I forwarded the photograph onto a wildlife expert in the family, who knew what the bird was straight away. A rare sighting apparently and one that I was very excited about.
The bird is called a Ring Ouzel and according to the RSPB:
Ring Ouzels are slightly smaller and slimmer than a Blackbird. Males have distinctive black plumage with a pale wing panel and striking white breast band. The Ring Ouzel is mostly an upland bird, where it breeds in steep sided-valleys, crags and gullies, from near sea level in the far north of Scotland up to 1,200m in the Cairngorms. Breeding begins in mid-April and continues through to mid-July, with two broods common. Nests are located on or close to the ground in vegetation (typically in heather), in a crevice, or sometimes in a tree. The young are fed a diet of mainly earthworms and beetles.
This rare sight inspired me to set up my wildlife camera, which I have located opposite the bird feeders. The camera won’t capture the ground birds, but it will capture all the birds that come to feed throughout the day on the feeders.
One of my first jobs of the day (normally before feeding myself) is to top up the bird seed. They love sunflower hearts, mixed seeds, peanuts and mealworms, this time of year my little feathered friends get through quite a bit of food. It gives me great pleasure to sit quietly in the morning in the garden room watching them, flitting to and fro, in and out of the trees, busy, busy, busy, with their feeding routine.
I see quite a variety of birds, including the greater spotted woodpecker, goldfinches, wagtails, black collared doves and dunnocks, to name but a few. The robin tends to hang around outside the back door patiently waiting for his mealworms each morning. There are a pair of returning blue tits in the nest box, which is such a delight when you see them flying in and out of the box, hearing the titters of the chicks inside.
I love the morning birdsong during spring, especially the blackbird, robin and wren. I recently downloaded an app on my phone called Merlin. This app listens to the birdsong and can identify the birds in the area. It’s a remarkable app, which throws up some pleasant surprises. Just this morning it identified a dunnock, chiffchaff, song thrush and a blackcap. So many birds, some of which I can hear but can’t see.
My New Art Project
All this bird action gave me a fab idea. My studio is currently in the attic, which is a wonderful cosy space, however, when the weather warms up I don’t want to be stuck upstairs in the attic, so for the rest of the spring and summer I have decided to set up a temporary studio in the garden room, where I can have my spotter, binoculars and wildlife camera at the ready. I am starting an exciting new project in my sketchbook, where I will draw and paint all the birds that I see in my garden, so far, I have counted at least 20 varieties and I know there will be more. I have decided to dedicate a new sketchbook to my garden birds project and will use a variety of mediums. My favourite mediums being gouache and coloured pencils.
So watch this space dear reader, I will share with you how my new project progresses and the artwork that I create in my sketchbook. In the meantime you can find me over on YouTube and if you haven’t already then please like, comment and subscribe on YouTube and right here on Substack.
I would love to hear about any unusual bird sightings and what bulbs you may have planted in your garden.
Your support is greatly appreciated.
Stay naturally curious this spring, until next time…
Clare 🐦⬛ 🪺
A lovely, descriptive narrative Clare. A great painting opportunity to be in such close proximity to the wildlife. You sound as if you have created your own Garden of Eden!
👏👏👏 Lovely Clare and so glad you are enjoying the Merlin app. I will also keep a watch for feathered visitors and keep you posted x