francene--blog. Year 2013
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July 5th

7/5/2013

 
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The times are changing along with the seasons. This year, the English bluebells flowered a month late. Nature needs a helping hand in a place near you. Flying, crawling or slithering critters need shelter and sustenance.

If you'd love to see more wildlife in your garden, clever choices for your borders and herb patches can give nature a helping hand. Create safe area for wildlife away from human influences—leave part of your garden untouched, with good access to other gardens or wild spaces. By making space for the critters you can provide for the whole food chain, without the need to dig into your pocket. An undisturbed pile of logs makes an excellent hideaway for an incredible number of insects which in turn can attract birds and mammals.


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A strip of land divides our garden from the grassy field alongside stables. Long ago, foresighted individuals planted apple trees forty feet apart along this narrow section. Brambles and grasses have filled in the space. Bees are hovering over the flowers at the moment. I look forward to picking blackberries. There will be plenty to share with the birds and wild life.

But if you prefer a more orderly garden, you can still provide additional food and shelter for creatures large and small with a good mix of plants.


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      Trees give birds somewhere to nest and can provide fruit for foxes, badgers and even deer

      Hedgerows, much used in England to divide fields, growing native plants such as holly, provide essential cover and corridors that join up green spaces for small mammals

      A range of shrubs that flower at different times will improve the diversity of visitors to your garden

      Longer grass is essential for egg-laying insects such as butterflies, so leave a bit of lawn untrimmed

      Taller flowers will attract flying friends from bees to dragonflies

      Night-scented plants such as buddleia and evening primrose are great for moths which in turn are a feast for bats

      Wall climbers can provide links between gardens for pollinators

      Make a calm haven in coastal gardens with trellis and evergreens to act as a windbreak

      Don't forget your water feature: ponds are essential for amphibians and offer a bath and beverage for birds

      Compost heaps are a warm home to reptiles as well as a great source of nutrients for your garden

Top ten plants every wildlife gardener should consider for their patch are: sunflowers, foxgloves, thyme, lavender, honeysuckle, rowan, ice plant, firethorn, barberry and purple loosestrife.


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A GARDEN ALTAR

I sit quietly beneath the sunshade
Watching all the life around me parade
Hoverflies sip sweet nectar as they please
Snapdragons shut their lips tight behind bees. ~~

Butterflies weave in and out amongst plants
That my delighted eyes placed to enhance
The riot of colour and smell planted
A garden altar to heaven granted. ~~

It's so amazing that we can achieve
A result so perfect when we perceive
The concept of so many things to grow
Reliant on our desire to flow. ~~

At last in sunshine shown to perfection
Living plants laid out for eyes detection
From nowhere, insects feast n the reward
Their inter-action cannot be ignored. ~~

And soon the song birds are tempted lower
From the neighbourhood, cats watch and glower
Feathers strewn about like angel's traces
And spiders weave webs around their places. ~~

No matter what first jolts your intention
All of nature weaves it's own invention
Can't judge the victor between good and bad
Sunshine lifts my spirits, I can't be sad.
© Francene Stanley



We share this world with every living thing. Let's make a garden altar—reliant on our desire to flow.

Susan link
7/4/2013 09:14:16 pm

Great post, Francene. This is a subject which I've been thinking about more and more over the past year or so. And I've been taking account of all the life I want to encourage when I've been planting, too. No more double-headed blooms for me, with petals packed so tightly there's no room for little bodies to get to the nectar. Great post. Have shared.

Francene Stanley link
7/5/2013 03:17:26 am

With such careful planning, I'm sure the critters living close to you will be well accomodated. Thanks for sharing.

@seekingmelly link
7/4/2013 09:14:43 pm

I really appreciate the list of what plants are beneficial to our garden visitors. Living in the middle of town, I do not have a lot of space to plant things, but I do have several nice flowerbeds and am working on a couple more. Some of these plants are missing from my plan and I will have to add them.

Francene Stanley link
7/5/2013 03:18:29 am

How wonderful. I'm so glad you read my post.

Amy link
7/4/2013 10:52:47 pm

Francene,
This is awesome, the encouragement to think about the little creatures that we share our world with, and the list of plants to include in our gardens. Lovely post!!

Francene Stanley link
7/5/2013 03:24:02 am

You're right. We need to think of the world as a whole, not just here for mankind's enjoyment and benefit. Glad you liked it.

Dayna Camp link
7/6/2013 09:23:44 am

It's funny. This is the second post I've read today on gardening. It's that time of year. I enjoy a very small garden. One that can be in a post because that is just about the extent of my green thumb. I love having an herb garden. Having your own fresh herbs makes you feel so rich!

Francene Stanley link
7/6/2013 07:05:38 pm

The simple pleasures in life are always the best. Herbs give you a very real contact with your senses.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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