Hi, all. Welcome to a new week!
Oh that's great quietwoman.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Wikipedia has a meaning to the song the day they drove ol dixie down , don't know whether it'll help. Can't copy the write-up, it won't let me.
ChloeB Thank you so much. I'm trying to learn!
Hi Everyone : So much to read and as I have only just got in from meet up with SheilaFE I will read back later. She was there dead on expected time, OH was risind from Newtonmore to LG but was not there by the time I left.
We first went to The boat Hotel for a coffee and arrived at LG at 1pm. Only there for a couple of mins when Odin brought in a brown trout. He stood and watched his family as EJ fed them. After half the fish she decided it was time to warm them up. Don't blame her as I had 3 layers on and I was still cold.
At the same time there was a scream of delight about Rothes moving. Richard did say she could just be moving around as the time has come to think about coming back He did say it might not be this year though.
Much debate by Richard and a volunteer from Cumbria about the egg situation.
Richard thinks the second hatching was the 3rd egg.
Volunteer is convinced that second hatching was 2nd egg.
I did tell Richard if he was wrong he would have "egg" on his face!!!
Glad your trip went well Wendyb and that you met up with SheilaFE.
Interesting about the 2nd/3rd egg. The debate goes on.
Wendy glad you met up with Sheila and had good time at LG.
Great news about Rothes. Wishing her safe travels how ever far she goes.
What wonderul news about Rothes!! - this is such an exciting season already.
Lynette - Hope your OH doesnt fall over the bed instead of into it, now that its been moved!
Wendy: Glad you had a good day going to LG, & meeting up with Sheila.
Our friendly Washing Machine Man came, and has pronounced the thing unmendable, so we have had a domestic debate, and ordered another machine. Delivery Friday. OH won't pay for our old one to be removed, so we will have to lug it out of the garage & into our car, to take to the Tip tomorrow. That should be fun!
We love Euronics in Keith as cheap as the big boys fit and take everything away all in. I browse the internet and they always come up with a better deal...Lindybird not sure if they are UK wide but there is one in Verwood in Dorset where I used to live so could be.
Right, lets have a go at posting Logan Botanic – our second garden last Tuesday. First, a bit of geography and history! The Solway coast and the Irish Sea coast of Scotland are in the path of the Gulf Stream and the warm damp climate is well suited (most years) for growing Palm Trees and other exotics. The site chosen as an outpost to Edinburgh Botanic was part of the Logan Estate, on the Irish Sea (aka “North Channel”) coast of the Rhins of Galloway - the bits that go north and south (in this case) from Loch Ryan. I believe there were already established imported trees from warmer parts of the world, but a lot more planting has been done by RBGE. This photo shows examples of Eucalyptus and Tree Ferns, and gives a general impression of the Walled Garden:
Sadly, two consecutive cold winters have damaged or even killed many of the Palms, Cordylines and Tree Ferns, so parts of the garden are looking a bit sad. Not so this little corner of plants which grow naturally in the area. The Royal Fern in the front is an endemic plant in western Galloway:
The Meconopsis (“Himalayan Poppy”) is one of my favourite flowers since I first saw it in the Botanic Gardens in Aberdeen about 22 years ago! More recently it ha become quite widespread, with several modern cultivars:
This one is especially for Joan. This tree, I don’t remember the proper name, grows in South America and is related to the Rose. Because of its layers of peeling bark, it is known as “The Filo Pastry Tree”:
There is a lovely pond in the centre of the garden, which is really best in summer when it has “Angels’ Fishing Rods” (Dierama) around it, but I love Irises:
I was a bit disappointed with this garden – it felt quite run down since our previous visit some 15 years ago – probably a casualty of the recession as well as the changing climate and weather. But I guess it attracts plenty of insects, because the Swallows seemed happy with it – this one sat and sang for us:
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Spent time in garden this afternoon and evening, so post I had been preparing since morning only just got sent! Will now do a quick whiz through the many recent posts!
QW – sorry the storm damage was so bad in the garden – worse when it affects the practical fruit and veg.
Patricia – I hope Tweed remembers what he or she (this is terrible, I can’t remember – sorry) is there for on Saturday and doesn’t disappoint you again.
Joan – what a lovely photo of your pigeon in the bird bath! Only one weed? Do you stand and wait for them to come up? I noticed our weeds weren’t affected by the storms- they just grew!!
Auntie – such wonderful news about Rothes – for us, for LG and for migration studies in general.
Lynette – Woodpigeon belonged to Joan’s garden, not ours!
Wendy – pleased you and Sheila enjoyed your time together – and such a great day to be at LG too! I don’t think it matters whether Rothes comes all the way this year, but at least we do know where she is as she travels, and we now know she has the correct instinct to travel northward.
Lindy – I thought electrical appliance suppliers had an obligation to remove old appliances under WEEE regulations.
Well, Lynette hasn’t appeared for our nightly meeting yet, so I guess she’ll be next on after me! But I must pack up for bedtime drink and bed. Good night, all.