A Bee-autiful weekend!

In a week where much attention has been made about the plight of our bees with various insecticides  we are pleased to report that we have over the weekend identified six species of bees using the garden, seven including the 'honey' bee. As mentioned in the blog last year we are determined this year to pay a lot more attention to the bees which use our garden.  Apart from the more common bumble bees at this time of the year we have identified this weekend other species, which although not particularly  that rare, are using the garden.


 The Red Mason Bee - this one is a male as it has a white tuft on the head

The Tawny Mining Bee

The Ashy Mining Bee

This one was busy by our greenhouse

Other wildlife interest today included a Comma Butterfly sunning itself on the wall and a large Slow Worm found in the compost bin.

More mundane garden jobs included the restoration of a picket fence by the eco-loo and the painting of the new fence between us and the residential home.  This has had a wonderful effect of redefining the garden boundary. We are grateful to our neighbours for allowing us to paint the fence green in this way.

Proof that Winter is over is the masses of delightful blossom in the garden. The pear tree, the blossom on the apple trees and the cherry trees are all looking great now as fresh flowers burst into view

Pear blossom

Apple  blossom

Cherry blossom- perhaps the most delicate!

Finally next door the nesting Herring Gulls were sorting themselves out.  Two is company, three is a crowd but what is five!

Judging from the noise - five Herring Gulls together is not a good combination!