2: Our gardening diaries - from latest toys, flowers to wildlife .. Please upload pics

[johnny canoe]

A couple birdie videos I made today.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139842551@N08/26006684978/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/139842551@N08/28099565109/in/dateposted-public/

 

[Sheal]

Fascinating Johnny. Were they Black Squirrels that were around your feet?

 

[johnny canoe]

Yes, those are black squirrels. They're a pain along that area, too many. Farther down the river there's only a couple squirrels and I don't mind feeding them.

 

[Sheal]

They look bigger than the red and grey squirrels we have here. Although the grey's are dominant in Britain I've not seen any since moving to Scotland, only the red.

What type of bird was taking seed from your hand please?

 

[johnny canoe]

Those are the red breasted nuthatch. I love them, they're bossy and I can listen to them talk all day. One video had the black and whit bird, the chickadee.

Those black squirrels have pushed out our smaller native red squirrel, I know one spot along the river where I can still find the small reds.

 

[Logan]

@alp there isn't a rootstock for apples called ballerina. M27 is the shortest, about 3ft. M9 is the next one about 6ft.I don't know the difference between gala and royal gala, I've had gala from the shops and it's Juicy.
Haven't got Lord Lambourne but here's a description.

Sorry it's a bit dark.
Got this one Red Windsor

That's a nice one and it starts to fruit for the first time earlier than most.

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Fab pics @johnny canoe ,

Just interested to know how you manage to capture these clips, especially with a handful of seed!!! Have you got someone else with you.....or are you just very clever

 

[johnny canoe]

Thanks Upsy Daisy. Little camera in my left hand and seeds in the right hand. Not clever just some practice involved.

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Wow!! You've got a very steady hand!!! My pics are no way as good as yours.......and that using both hands

 

[Logan]

Morning all

 

[alp]

Good morning: I hardly slept. Some pain in the chest area for 2 hours and basically the air kept me awake as well.

Woke up to find some consolation from @johnny canoe 's birdies. The chickadee is so handsome. I wish I could see a nuthatch in my garden. Funny to see the birds chucking the sunflower seeds on the ground.

Johnny, it's fabulous to see birds feeding from your hand, so close and natural and I reckon if you add suet pellet, live worms, you will be a magnet to all birds round you. It's no mean feat to keep your hand so still.

I love listening to bird talking as well and sometimes whistle back. Need to put a binocular nearby as I always want to associate birds with their signature tunes.

@Logan Thank you for the information. And I can read very well. Well, they don't have Katja any more, so I will have to wait or forget about it. I have Lord Lambourne, Discovery and a fabulously sweet green apple tree. Last year, I had only one apple from that tree, but boy, it was so sweet and fresh. I hope I will have a better harvest this year. I might graft some buds into another tree, just to mess about and have a laugh. Today, I am going to put the rose into my potatoes. Don't know if it will work. I have tons of potatoes in the garden.

 

[Logan]

@alp oh dear,it could have been indigestion, i get it like that. Do you feel better now? Where were you going to get your apples from? We got ours from Chris Bowers &Son's.Whispering Trees Nurseries. Can get any fruit.They're very good. Ask for a catalogue. I know you can read very well, but the pic was very dark on my phone.
Good luck with the grafting and cuttings,it might work and you can always try again. I don't bother with cuttings from my roses because they have to be grafted onto a stronger rootstock.

 

[alp]

I saw Deacons still had some left. Even with the expensive postage, it still worked out cheaper. But as the nectarine and apricot trees are full prices, it's no longer a good idea. I would love a Katja or Katie and a royal gala. But both gone. I wish I had not worried about working the delivery people to death around Christmas. I asked the stuff to be delivered after new year, but we could resolve the problem of not having a twin nectarine/apricot and things just got complicated and they never emailed me or phoned me. Any way, I won't be bothered now. I have collected some nectarine seeds and even avocado seeds. Just to have a laugh. I know they will be big, but I did read that an avocado tree fruited last year! So, I will give anything a go!

 

[Logan]

Ok then. You never know you might be surprised what you grow.

 

[alp]

I will mess about grafting first. It will be fun!