Bumblebee visiting the winter flowering honeysuckle today before the rain started

Now then, David. That would be a Queen bumblebee - but which of the common spring species?

Spring Bees - Discover Wildlife

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/identify-wildlife/how-to-identify-spring-bees/

Roger

Buff-tailed, I reckon

WEATHER LORE CALENDAR

If bees get out in February, the next day will be windy and rainy.

Thanks, Dew. Buff-tailed sounds good.

A corespondent has send me the following links about hedgerows.

Benefits of healthy hedgerows:
https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/the-benefits-of-healthy-hedgerows

Hedge lifecycle
https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/hedge-management-cycle

History of hedgerows poster
https://ptes.org/hedgerow/a-history-of-hedgerows/

Roger

Theres something very chathartic about picking up all that winter crud and detritus into the mower box and looking out onto a 'clean' lawn in the spring.

All eyes on the models at the minute as we enter march. I'm hoping a reliable stint of mild weather emerges so i can germinate and plant out some of the more 'sensitive' species by the months end (although its starting to look potentially cold in the FI timeframe).

Hopefully by the middle of the month the outlook improves and can move on to something a bit more conducive to gardening - I don't think I could take another April like 2021!

Had the mower serviced last week and today mowed the lawn on bridge sunshine! Call me Mr Smug! Not too greedy a cut, just a tidying up so it's ready to grow. The planned wild area I am leaving a bit to see if it need a light trim to make management easier long-term. It was a great success last year. Lots of native species. We are pleased to see Cudweed on the list again this year.

Roger

Good article worth reading, about ornithologist research at Wytham Woods in Oxfordshire. I couldn't believe how many caterpillars are brought to a nest of tits with an average number of nestlings ......

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-61314226 

Yes, llamados - I read that earlier today and thought it very interesting. Ties in with the local picture here.

Did you also notice:

Flying insects splatting on cars have dropped by 60 per cent in UK

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2318621-flying-insects-splatting-on-cars-have-dropped-by-60-per-cent-in-uk/

Roger

Right I'm off for the day. It'll be be one of those days that when I return the garden will seem to have junglified in a few hours.

I wonder whether this is the start of a weather pattern change from dry to wet? If it is I'll be no doubt moaning in a few weeks about wouldn't it be nice to have some dry settled weather. 

Very interesting - but I will have to battle against my learned expectations of how a lawn and garden should look.

Fortunately, as discussed before, we have several lawned areas. The main one seems particularly keen to become a haven for wild plants.

I like my lawned areas so I’m not prepared to turn them over to nature, however, I do have 2 wild areas where wild flowers grow. One is full of foxgloves and nettles and the other has various wild flower varieties that I seeded a few years back and now just let it do it’s own thing. The rest of the garden has some order to it but I always try and ensure that the flowers that grow are attractive to bees and insects.

TWO tomato plants outdoors. One with buds and the bush tomato has flowers.

All my potted bulbs need drying off. 

I treat the lawn in two ways. The first part and most public I mow regularly but on a fairly high setting to there is depth to the sward that allows variety of species to flourish. The other is in its 2nd year on "No Mow May" and is looking promising, with several species progressing including Yellow Rattle and Cowslips. Lots of insects. When I finally strim this I will remove the "Hay" after seed has dropped and leave the aftermath a manageable length for future mowing.

Off to Wednesday exercise class now....

Roger

A good leek in June sets all in tune.  Weather Lore Calendar. 

Sounds like a good plan Roger- and this May the growing was optimal locally.

Garden looks, smells and sounds great right now and I've just harvested the first crop of broad beans, garlic and (admittedly smallish) early potatoes for a tapas dish for tomorrow.

Happy we have water measurers in the north pond again.

You will already know of course about yellow rattle's unique 'relationship' with grass: can be useful, depending on plans!

Interesting links for gardeners: Butterflies and burying Beetles.

Big Butterfly Count 2022
https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/

Half of British butterfly species on new Red List
https://butterfly-conservation.org/

Phoresy: mites hitchhiking on burying beetles
https://rcannon992.com/2020/03/15/phoresy-mites-hitchhiking-on-burying-beetles/

Roger

Not really gardening but it seems to be a developing fly ant day. The seagulls and other birds are having a feast aloft.

We've not had flying ants here yet. Here's an informative article.

In defence of ants

https://theconversation.com/in-defence-of-ants-186220

R.

Done.

Also done - there were dozens of winged ants on my patio door earlier!