Monday 11 March 2013

Unwelcome Visitors

I was able to venture out into the garden last Tuesday on what was forecast as "our one day of Spring' and it certainly was.
Since then it has been cold and very, very wet with this week bringing blizzards and biting North Easterly winds from Siberia.
There are icicles hanging from the garden shed and ice in the borders


Before getting to work in the garden it was obvious that some unwelcome visitors had been at work
Here we see the remains of a shrub scattered across the grass
Unwelcome visitor - Fox



and here some dead shrubs
unwelcome visitors - severe weather for too long 


and here broken Terracotta pots
unwelcome visitor - Ice
plus the Magpies's who have pulled out most of the ice-plants 



and here the pond minus about 70 fish
unwelcome visitor - the Heron that visits daily this time of year


However, no time to fret lots of work to be done on this one
 sunny and Spring like day
Not sure when I will be able to get out and do the masses of pruning that is still to be done  


Grateful for small mercies!
The blizzards were horizontal today

21 comments:

Terri said...

We did have some heavy frost this year that froze the outside leaves of the avocadoes, and even though we covered it (with a bed sheet) our lipstick vine died back, too. No other troubles. Our local animals don't do damage. They do eat our fruit.
I never considered where your cold came from. We have Chinook Winds from Canada - those are cold. Our rains sometimes come from the Pineapple Express - from Hawaii. Thanks for the view into English gardening. You do have your troubles.
Hugs

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Yes, it seems that Spring is really never going to get here and stay. No blizzards in my part of the world today. It is raining and I'm thankful that it isn't snow, but March isn't over with yet. Like you when the time finally comes I'll have plenty to do too.

Anonymous said...

I know, I can't get out in the garden because of this weather. I've got so much to do!

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

Those terrible unwelcome visitors! Nothing to do but work at getting it in top shape again.

CherryPie said...

It looks like a lot of work is needed after the winter months.

My garden is in need of a lot of TLC.

Lorrie said...

Spring cleanup in the garden usually results in evidence of a few unwelcome visitors. I like the way you've written this post - very catchy. Hope spring returns for more than a day, soon.

Cathy said...

Oh, Barbara, All the damage! And your missing fish. I was out in my garden today cutting back things that needed to be cut back. I'm still raking leaves--the ones that waited to come down last Fall after it got too cold to be outside. The only reason I like working in my garden is that I love being out of doors--but not when it's COLD. So I have to wait until more moderate temperatures arrive before I'll venture outside. Hang in there. Spring WILL arrive for more than one day soon.

Gracie Saylor said...

Having dominion over the earth is challenging, isn't it, Barbara :-)

Our blizzards have stayed up on Mt. Hood so far this year. I do love being able to view the snow from where I live near Portland,OR, USA, without having to slip and slide in it, or shovel it out of the way!

I recently pruned our two tiny Joseph's Coat rose bushes and took up some of the dead vegetation in our little front garden and my children have been trimming some of our larger trees, but we too have lots of gardening to do. Our daffodils are now about 7 or 8 inches tall, but they still have not bloomed.

Blessings to you and yours as you combat the throes of Winter/Spring,
Gracie

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

That's a lot of destruction! Poor fish; I feel sorry for them. And your beautiful pots all shattered. I guess the animals are all hungry, and winter has put an icy grip on the garden. Hopefully warmer weather will arrive soon for you.

La Petite Gallery said...

I feel for you Barbara. We also have had big storms on the coast and much damage to plants. Spring
fever is in the air, I am looking at Stargazer and Casa Blanca Lily's to plant. The ground is still too hard. It is too early to put out the Grub killer for the horrid Japanese Beetles. One step at a time, take it easy. HAVE A WARM SUNNY DAY.
yvonne

Willow said...

Oh my, that is a mess. I didn't know that foxes could make such a mess. Stay warm!

Scriptor Senex said...

Wow - that was one hungry heron! Why does the fox destroy the shrub I wonder?

Scriptor Senex said...

The Tohoku earthquake two years ago was so big its effects were even felt at the edge of space by the Goce satellite. No wonder its effects are still being felt among the humans concerned. Living in a country where major disasters like this are unknown it is hard to visualise the numbers concerned and the impact it must have on the whole region / country. Sadly, it is all too easy to forget and move on with one's own daily life. Today at least you have reminded me - so thank you.

talesfromagarden said...

You certainly suffered some loss there, especially the fish! Same thing happened to our long resident fish a few years ago.I guess that's the nature of gardening,highs and lows! The weather is the problem at the moment!

Sue Seibert said...

Sorry about those unwelcome visitors! Love the pond. Hope to have on this spring.

Trisha said...

So glad you had a Spring like day to do some gardening. I started some vegetable, and Herb seed today in peat pots. We had a little sunshine and clouds. Looking for snow flurries tomorrow. Spring can't come fast enough for me.
Blessings, Trisha

bristowmom said...

I was surprised by the fox damage. I had no idea they would do that!

Cheri said...

Our drought has been so bad that my hardiest of shrub are looking very bad and I am not sure anything will grow very well. Pray for rain!

La Petite Gallery said...

I have taken a survey also and have two big trees dow, That will be expensive clean-up. Hope you have warm weather soon, we have another snow storm coming Tuesday. Enough! Stay warm, nothing to do but plany seeds inside.
yvonne

Merisi said...

Oh dear, your garden really has suffered through this long winter! How did a fox manage to make so much damage?

A couple of days ago, I caught a Heron standing at the edge of the pond in the garden below. Never seen one this far away from Schönbrunn Park, where they reside.

Vee said...

Oh it has been a long winter and it seems that Old Man Winter wishes to hang on awhile longer. Sorry for the damage to your beautiful planter and plants.