In the garden @seedsandflowers - Tumblr Blog

December

I went on a Night Walk last night. I wore underwear, a T-shirt, my long winter dress, a scarf and a warm coat. I also had a woolly hat, and socks with boots.

I managed to survive the cold. The rain and wind had ceased for a time. It is difficult now to avoid the storms. They happen all the time. But when the rain finally stops, it can be quite pleasant.

This is a photograph of a Beech tree. The leaves stay on the branches all Winter. They do not blow away. They are also such a pretty colour, and help the garden to look less bare.

November

It is suddely cold. October was mild. I did not even need a coat.

I dread going out to collect the washing. If it rains, the drops are icy.

At night, I try to keep warm. I have invested in new, warm bedding.

The wind seems to change direction all the time. It makes it harder to stay warm when outside. I have to wear my Winter coat. We have to feed the birds in the garden, as it is so cold for them at the moment. I spend more time thinking about keeping warm. *** ***

April It has been so hot, then suddenly freezing. I go from being too warm to being very cold.

I cannot put away my winter coat, as it is cold when I go out. Last night, I was so very cold. Today, we had heavy rain, then sun. The snails are climbing up the garden walls, which means more heavy rain to come.

It is so changeable.

Snow

It did not snow today, but the snow still lies on the ground. The water tubs in the garden are a block of ice. Everything has frozen over.

It is not too cold in the house. I am able to wear a T-shirt.

It does look pretty from my window. We are feeding the birds to help them survive this spell. I can watch them as they flit around.

The wild geese

The Wild Geese flew overhead at 3.30 in the afternoon.

This is the second time that I have heard them this Autumn. The first time was eight in the morning a few days ago.

They used to rest near the house, but after new houses were built, they stopped doing that. They keep flying over the house, and I love to hear them call out to one another.

Finding Space

I have struggled to find space, as we live in a small house. So, over the years, I tried to sit in the garden.

There have been challenges. I have had to contend with cold weather, insects, getting mud on my dress and shoes. I have had to adapt to each challenge. I had to have a coat for the garden, which could get dirty.

I built a small wooden house, which I insulated against the cold. I would sit there with a coffee and a book.

I grew up watching Television. I think for my generation, a garden can be a foreign concept. We prefer to stay cosy inside.

As a teenager, I went to Discos and Pubs. I never sat in the garden. Or I sat inside, and watched television. But, as an adult, I needed space. So now I try to use the garden, as a place to relax.

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Birds

I have been feeding the Birds in January. I checked and they are allowed cake, so I gave them the cake we had not eaten. At first, I made the mistake of putting it in a bowl. Only one bird could access it at a time, leading to fights.

Now I scatter the crumbs over a large surface area. They all come down, and feed near one another. They still fight on occasion, but they are learning to share the space.

Rain

The storm struck last night. In minutes, a flowing stream appeared in our back yard. I had to splash through it to get into the house. I was amazed to realise how a stream can appear from nowhere. Do we ever think how water works? How it can appear, disappear, change shape while we are inside, in front of our screens?

Later, I listened to the Radio, and found out that England and France were once connected by Marshland. People lived on this land, they fished and killed the birds for food.

Then the Ocean came, and swept all of this away. If the water is low, traces have been glimpsed of that old World.