Welcome to my World! Come on in...

Gardening exploits, random rants, manic musings & everything in between from North Kent in the UK! This is my world, you are most welcome to join me...!

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Some of my “scratchings and doodles”!! Looking forward to my #drawing and #painting #artists course in February… maybe then I can start to get better!! 😉

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All change...

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Some of my first "doodles" trying to find #myownstyle of #sketching and #drawing... #creative #findingmyself #art #selfexpressions

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at My little patch of heaven

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at My little patch of heaven

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My happy place... (at My little patch of heaven)

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at My little patch of heaven

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Red Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) taken by my good self at a re-introduction project at Snaizeholme in the Yorkshire Dales. I visited this place during a stay in the Dales at the end of last year on recommendation of the National Park Authority and did not regret taking their advice!! The squirrels here are so accustomed to people that they will feed from the hand and as such afford wonderful photo opportunities to those of us who are in awe of them. A truly moving experience...

[8856simon]

Fountains Abbey dormitory and transept. A 21st century image of a scene that inspired an 1797 masterpiece by JMW Turner.

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"Looking Up!" Autumnal beech trees at Fountains Abbey, Ripon North Yorkshire…an inspiring and thought provoking place.

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My Favourite Places - Western Scotland

[8856simon]

Everything in the garden is blooming marvelous!! Roses are going bonkers, the Iris has put on a magnificent show and the veggies are all coming along nicely thank you very much!!

Have been busy replacing the fencing and have built a pergola in an area of the garden that is a sun trap. I want to use it as a framework to grow some climbers to hopefully make the area a bit more inviting and usable. Not too sure what to grow as yet but a visit to the RHS Hampton Court Flower show should sort that one out (that or I'll come home even more confused than ever!!)

One highlight has been the picture I managed to get of a Stag Beetle. I'd seen a couple of males flying around the garden late one evening and grabbed the camera in the hope of getting a couple of "nice" shots. What I got was beyond all I expected!! The beetle was there on the outside of a bush. As I was trying to "set up" a shot, it opened it's wings. I hit the button and hoped! What I got was far better than I could have hoped for!! For clarity I have changed the picture to black and white with a focal point around the beetle... Hopefully the right categories are available for the 2015 CountryFile calendar (other calendars are available!!).

[8856simon]

Some wildlife photos I took on a recent visit to the In-Laws cottage in France. I am especially pleased with the shots of the Greater Spotted Woodpecker because this bird seemed to have a sixth sense and knew when I was trying to get a picture. It would either put itself in a position where it was significantly obscured as to make the shot nonviable or it would just disappear completely!! Frustrating, but makes the shots I did get that bit more satisfying (Gotcha you little ***...!!!)

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Rose buds fit to burst!

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This year the Lilac (Syringa Vulgaris) is absolutely stunning! And the scent....WOW!!!

When we first took on the garden some 3 years ago this shrub produced ONE bloom in our first year here. I dunno what I'm doing but I must be doing right!!

[8856simon]

A weekend trip to Poole resulted in a fantastic day spent wandering around Brownsea Island. With scouting being a big part of our family's lives the pictures of the bust of Lord Baden-Powell and the "scouting stone" were mandatory!! I did spot a couple of plants I am unable to identify. The tree has leaves similar to a Rhododendron but the flowers are definitely NOT like anything I've ever seen on a Rhododendron! The yellow flowered plant is not like anything I've seen in the UK before!...at least not outside!! Any suggestions as to what they may be????

The absolute highlight of the day has to be the Red Squirrels!! Such cute little things and always worth the wait to see them in the flesh!! 

[8856simon]

Been a while since I uploaded some pics of the garden. This little lot were taken around the same time as a previous shot that didn't come out so good :-(. 

Got a load of jobs on for this weekend! Lawn to be manicured, strawberries to be planted out and loads of yummy stuff to sow...parsnips, carrots, wild rocket, radishes.

My biggest success of the last couple of weeks has to be a Delphinium that is loved by pigeons and slugs alike! Thanks to a 2 litre cola bottle acting as a shroud like one of those cones the vet puts around a dogs neck to stop them scratching certain parts, it is now 18 inches high and looking a picture of health.