Season’s Greetings from all the animals at Peel Wyke – including us!
The picture on the right was taken last August. I know that’s a long time ago, but I’ve just found it and realised that it shows you our site very well. The picture is taken from the hill to the west of us. Our house is right in the middle of the picture. You can see the laurel covered bank to the south of the house, and the trees that surround us. It really is like living in a woodland glade.
We’ve now had a little snow and the pond has frozen over a couple of times, but there’s still a few things in the garden. It has been so mild up till this time that the fuschias are still blooming!
Datura - or Thornapple - in October
Also, we still have the wilting remains of a Datura that seeded itself in the disturbed area along the stream bank. I was thrilled to see it. The last time I saw one was at Caliente in Utah about 30 years ago! I gather they aren’t really all that rare, but I was pleased to see it anyway!
I’m still hoping the seed pods will dry enough to gather seeds, but it probably won’t happen. Although it’s illegal to grow Datura (Jimsonweed, Locoweed, Thornapple) in some U.S. states, it’s perfectly legal here although it’s considered a bit of a dangerous weed as it is so poisonous. Mike tells me he saw a lot of it in the south of France and I believe it does prefer warmer climes.
Ruddy Darter
The stream was dry for about 3 months during the late summer and autumn. The south of the UK had a bad drought, while the north was inundated with too much rain. We’re getting more now, though!
The drought helped us to attract wildlife to the pond. Some mornings it was full of wood pigeons and blackbirds taking baths. I didn’t realise how dusty birds wings were. When the flew off they left a film on the surface that looked just like bath scum!
We had lots of visits from dragon flies too! I thought it would take ages to get them here, but the drought must have helped. The Ruddy Darter pictured above is taking a post-coital rest! His broken wing didn’t stop him from chasing down a female, mating with her and dipping her into our pond to lay her eggs. We watched the whole thing in wonder and delight! We were also happy to see Southern Hawkers exploring around the pond and bog garden and laying eggs all over the place.
Copepod? Cyclops?
The little guy on the left was one of many swimming around in the pond in late summer. I’m not sure what he was, but he was only about 1 mm in size!
The pond is quiet now. Haven’t seen any beetles, newts, pond skaters, etc. for several weeks. We’ve had a lot of rain in the last week too (over an inch), and the pond and the bog garden are completely full.
Lord Kingslip - eating apple
We’ve had a bumper crop of apples again this year. In fact they broke some of the branches on the trees. They ripened quite early and then the wind came and blew them all down, so I didn’t get to keep too many eating apples for later in the winter. I have frozen some and I have lots of cookers so we’re enjoying some lovely apple pies!
And now I’m going to close up with a few autumnal photos just to show you how it looked a few weeks ago.
The climbers did well this year - in spite of the drought
John cut down the Corn Cockle in the meadow - what will we get next year?
On a warm october evening, the badgers were running about under me while I lay in this hammock!
Cosmos near the patio
