The Anxious Wait is Over!

Our local pheasant numbers have been low for the last few years. A few years back we had eight hens and several cocks competing for dominance but for the past two years we have had only two hens and one cock and no surviving chicks from the two which appeared for a very short while …

The First Glimpse

It was to be expected, at least hoped for, that one of the pheasant hens which have been absent from the garden for some time would make a reappearance at some stage and it happened today. It was for a few moments only and I can only hope that the food that is put out …

Stamina with Style!

Still looking good after a long day. The amorous activities are long under way before we reach the kitchen in the morning. Nothing deters this pheasant in his pursuit of the remaining two hens in the garden. It is our presumption that the other resident hens are already sitting on nests, perhaps already hatching eggs, …

Snowdrops and the Photobomber.

I went out into the garden for the first time in several days today. The snowdrops were coming along and I wanted to take a few photographs of whatever was in flower. Galanthus 'Martha McLaren' with snouts showing above ground and a promise of a good display in the New Year. The first shot was …

This is certainly Winter…Looking back at the Week in the Garden.

Waterford, southeast Ireland, 5th December 2020 Winter weather has certainly come in with a blast over the last week. Earlier in the week, this change in weather was very welcome, a longed-for improvement from the heavy wet conditions we had for so long. It was great to be able to work in the garden again …

A Game of Two Halves…and a lookback at the week.

Waterford, southeast Ireland, 21st November 2020 There were moments during the week, moments which gave hope that the gloom, fog, mist, rain and downpours might desist long enough for us to do some gardening. We managed a walk on Wednesday, a full day in the garden on Thursday, and half a morning on Friday. That …

Six on Saturday, 17/07/2020

The big event of the week was the arrival of this pheasant hen with seven chicks. These are wild pheasants and have been part of our garden scene for many years. We used keep a few hens and the availability of easy food attracted the pheasants and several generations of them have been reared in …

Have I Told You Recently…?

A conversation overheard in the garden this morning:- Says he, "Have I told you recently...how beautiful I am!My beautiful scarlet face and ear tufts are simply the best...And, have you seen the length of my tail feathers? They really are quite exquisite...Ah, I see you are impressed.Let me show you again how beautiful I am.So, …

A Touch of Winter

Yes, we've had a few days with a touch of winter. We're not really into winter here in Ireland; we don't have the dramatic changes of season experienced in countries further north or in central Europe; it's not something we want to experience but it is a good source of grumbling material, something to complain …

Falling in Love Again

I am the most unmusical of men but lyrics from years past come regularly into my head and are parroted, most likely in an inaccurate form, all day long. This dreadfully annoys my poor wife and would annoy our youngest son all the more were he at home for both are sticklers for accuracy in …