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Post by petdesigns on Feb 1, 2006 19:35:53 GMT 1
... pick the brains of this group re our little bit of 'land'? (I'd be happy to add something to the prize box or send something to a chosen rescue - have a lead that's "going free" at the moment)
So if it's ok to pick your brains:
As Alison already knows, we're planting the odd tree and shrub. We would like to include some plants that are good for the birds, e.g. give them some food in autumn and winter. There's one area that could do with some more shrublike things - have you any idea what would be suitable and where to get it?
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Feb 1, 2006 21:48:46 GMT 1
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Feb 1, 2006 21:57:05 GMT 1
I should be able to send you some lemon mint and possible some golden rod and a buddelia nearer towards spring - all f which are suggested plants to attract wildlife.
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Post by petdesigns on Feb 2, 2006 20:01:39 GMT 1
Thank you! I've added this site as a favourite and will see that we'll get at least some of those flowers mentioned there We've got quite a bit of hawthorn and bramble and 'stuff', we've also planted one buddelia and some hazelnuts and two appletrees. Of course there'll be areas with nettles (hard to get rid of anyway ) Oops, only just saw your second answer. That would be brilliant! Thank you so much! (Maybe I can pop around to pick it up when the days are longer and I have the time?) I'll have a look around for trees/shrubs with autumn berries as well for the birds and we've already planted a few raspberries etc as well (I suppose the birds will have most of those ) Woodpiles are also 'in place'. Luckily the area seems to be quite good with/for insects - I saw quite a few dragonflies last year.
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Feb 3, 2006 18:28:50 GMT 1
Are you going to the Hope Rescue Show near Cardiff this Sunday, Jutta?
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Post by petdesigns on Feb 3, 2006 18:59:43 GMT 1
Sadly no, I think I'm working. I'll have a look though where exactly it is, maybe, if I can finish the stuff I have to do tomorrow, I can make it? (Just had a quick look. Wouldn't it be very unfair to go? Obviously, Dicker would be best male and Baine best female and Dicker best veteran and Baine best rescue and and... well, at least they are for me!!)
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Feb 3, 2006 20:38:46 GMT 1
I was only wondering, as I could have brought you a few plant roots if you were going.
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Post by petdesigns on Feb 4, 2006 7:49:05 GMT 1
I'll know later on this afternoon if I can go and will let you know! The "how to get there" is already printed!
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Feb 4, 2006 10:12:51 GMT 1
Please try and let me know if you can by about 3.30 p.m., as I will have to dig your plants up when I go to do the poultry this afternoon, and before dark. I won't have a chance in the morning,
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Post by petdesigns on Feb 4, 2006 12:29:08 GMT 1
Am coming!
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Post by petdesigns on Feb 7, 2006 8:01:39 GMT 1
The bigger trees, the lemon mint and the wild raspberries are 'in', the wild geraniums will be planted today! Of course I forgot the camera yesterday - doh. "Our" robin watched closely when OH put in the raspberry canes, it was so funny!
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Feb 7, 2006 13:42:38 GMT 1
Well done, Jutta. For best results with the raspberries, add some mulch around the bottoms and in the autumn prune out the canes that have fruited. You may not get many fruits in the first year, but new growth/canes fruit the following year.
The little trees will take quite a long time to mature and fruit, as they are potentially very large trees. The elders are very quick growing though. You'll probably be getting flowers and fruit on those in 3 - 4 years.
The hardy geranimums should have a mass of flowers in the summer and they can be encouraged to flower again by dead-heading. If you leave them they will self-seed though. They attract lots of insects for the birds, as does the lemon mint.
The strawberries will produce runners and new plants for you, Baine or the birds. Given the chance to reach an edible size for you, they are a lovely tasting variety.
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Post by petdesigns on Feb 7, 2006 14:17:50 GMT 1
The "little ones" and the strawberries will live in our garden, at least for a while. So I can watch Baine's strawberry intake She's terrible with the blackberries in the autumn, constantly have to take her out of the hedge. I'll print your instructions so OH knows what to do
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Post by petdesigns on Feb 18, 2006 10:39:26 GMT 1
I nearly forgot - partly because the photos aren't that great, but I hope they serve as a little thank you to Alison! one of the trees Ali gave me (the 'big one' is just a big twig to mark the 'little one') one of the wild geraniums a bit of the wild raspberries and a seriously bad photo of one of our "feeding stations". There is a bird in the 'fat coconut'.
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Post by nancy on Mar 21, 2006 16:33:51 GMT 1
How about some Holly bushes the blackbirds love holly berries.
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Post by petdesigns on Mar 21, 2006 20:04:52 GMT 1
Hi, Nancy, I've got 3 Holly bushes all together - 2 are quite big within the hedge, one is a tiny little one we transferred from our garden to the Dickerfield, hoping it'll 'take' properly. We've added a few fruit bushes and fruit trees (well - little ones so far) and Penny ("international wolves") promised to bring some more trees/bushes when they come over to England in April (a couple more budlias and something else, don't know what). The bulbs I got from the auction are also 'in' now. I just can't wait until everything starts growing! I'm sure we'll have the fattest birds in England on the field - we've got 3 of those bird feeders - and we have to refill them every day. Greedy things, these birds!
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Post by Selina the Moorland Minx on Mar 21, 2006 22:09:32 GMT 1
Jutta, I am really excited about your Dicker field, I love all your updates, its so exciting, can we have some photos please
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Post by petdesigns on Mar 22, 2006 16:00:17 GMT 1
Your wish is my command.. Baine on the field - that's the view from the top of the Dickerfield.
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Post by petdesigns on Mar 22, 2006 16:07:48 GMT 1
The area 'fenced in' with that reddish tape stuff will be our "allotment": Along one side of the Dickerfield goes a little brook - and here we'll re-build a little pond (used to be there to grow water cress, according to the former owner) These are views from this "pond" - towards the allotment and 'up': When are you coming to visit us, Rufus??
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Post by Selina the Moorland Minx on Mar 23, 2006 16:20:00 GMT 1
Jutta what a wonderful serene place to have all to yourselves, I am incredibly jealous. That is a dream of mine, to have a small piece of land to call my own, somewhere to relax and to work in and for it to be all mine, and what can I say about that brook.
I'm coming to paddle in the summer while Rufus runs riot with Baine and Dicker, thank you for the piccies, now I can picture it whenever you give us updates.
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