Mid-March

It is entirely true that I think herons are lovely birds. Elegant and imperious, and so graceful when in flight.

This does not, however, mean that I think our fish pond should be treated as a heron’s deli-bar, or even as a Little Chef for fish eaters who are passing overhead – not even one that has been made over by Heston.

So it is not clear quite who was more dismayed when The Builder went downstairs at about 7:30 on Sunday morning to make our morning cup of tea –and espied a heron stood at the side of the pond, having shucked up the netting intended to prevent it doing this, with its head in the water fossicking for a fishy breakfast! Certainly the heron was dismayed, as it flapped hastily away. The Builder was more stunned, I think. And the fishies have still not recovered from the shock!

At first it looked as though the heron had munched its way through the better part of our goldfish collection. But slowly, and hesitantly, more fish have reappeared. Last night I counted 30. I suspect it might have got one or two of the smaller dozier ones, but certainly not many.

We have planted some heritage carrot seeds (white, yellow, orange and purple) in one of the deep, wooden boxes on Saturday. The box is in the greenhouse in the garden. We also planted the spring onion sets in the garden. I’ve also put some potting mix into my “plug” tray to warm up so I can sow the kidney/soya/French beans this coming weekend. There are lots of things we can start sowing now in the greenhouse

Need to be VERY careful, though, not to get carried away and to start putting things out too early. Remember the fate of last year’s bean plants, from which they never really recovered.

It’s ONLY MARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We’ve weeded all the flower beds now and have made a start on the little strips along the fence. About to start tidying the patio.

We need to start clearing the beds on the allotment ASAP – it’s not too early to get the broad bean and early pea seeds in.

And at lunchtime I am going to the trashier shops in town to see if I can get some very cheap whirly flowers or wind thingies to deter herons from munching the fish!