#Pulmonaria or #Lungwort, flowering in the last days of #winter. This plant came originally from my parents’ garden in #Austria more than 25 years ago.
When I was out gardening yesterday, I noticed the first bumblebee. Shows how important early flowering #plants are.
‣ Upright. Click to see all.

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This morning, first sighting of a pair of #ducks this year. They were familiar with the layout of the #garden and knew the facilities, #pond and birdfood, etc. I have no doubt that they have been here in previous years. They were a little wary of me still. They are perfectly wild and not used to humans. Will need time to get re-acquainted with me but it won't take them long. Eventually, they will let me get close and may come up to me.

#MallardDucks #WildDucks #Wildlife #GardenWildlife #artistsgarden #ImperfectGarden #gardening #GardenPhotography #Artist #wolfkettler #GardenWiltshire #WiltshireGarden #Wiltshire #sustainable #LateWinter #natural #NaturalGarden #WildlifeFriendly #PlanetFriendly #ecology #climate #ClimateChange #conservation #sustainability
@gardening

I know I have posted about #snowdrops, #Galanthus, before. I am so pleased with them. They keep increasing - through the season and year on year.
This group at the entrance to the #stumpery. I also have them in other borders and the #GrassMeadow.
As they flower so early, snowdrops do not rely on #pollinators but spread by bulb division. They are still visited by bees and other early insects on a warm day.

#artistsgarden #ImperfectGarden #garden #gardener #gardening #GardenPhotography #Artist #wolfkettler #Photography #GardenWiltshire #WiltshireGarden #Wiltshire #sustainable #winter #biodiversity #natural #NaturalGarden #WildlifeFriendly #PlanetFriendly #ecology #climate #ClimateChange #conservation #sustainability @gardening

#Snowdrops in the grass #meadow. A photograph to acknowledge #Candlemas, or #Imbolc, tomorrow, 2 February.
The #Christmas period is truly over now as we head into late winter.
Imbolc falls halfway between the winter #solstice and the spring #equinox. It is a #Gaelic traditional festival celebrating light and the first signs of #spring.
Every year I hope for the snowdrops to rise up through the snow - in vain.
‣ Upright. Click to see all.

After much indecision I finally bought a #WeatherStation and installed it today.
I decided on something at the cheaper end, just around £130 including the mounting pole, which was extra. I suspect they are all pretty much the same unless I had wanted to spend a lot more money.

Moles are exceptionally active this year. The whole #garden is dug up. Just as well I am not lawn proud! Nuisance but I cannot persecute the #moles for doing #mole things. Don’t know, where this leaves #NoDig.

#Garlic planting day

A late #courgette harvest. They may be small but they are beautiful, #homegrown and harvested in #November.

This year I did a very late sowing of #tomatoes to stay in the unheated #greenhouse. Just out of curiosity. They are #flowering now. We’ll see what happens next …

#Candlesnuff #Fungus (I think), #Xylaria hypoxylon, also known as Stag's Horn Fungus, on a log in the #stumpery.
Upright. Click to see all.

Happy #Samhain, #Halloween, whatever it is that you may celebrate.
I made this photograph in the #stumpery in our #garden.

I harvested our #pumpkins a few days ago. Grown from #seed, they are #UchikiKuri.

My book, An Imperfect Garden, is 15% off at Blurb‌ from September 27 to October 3.
Use the code READER15 at checkout.
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Grey and dark but at least it’s not #raining. Yesterday we had more #rainfall in a day than in an entire average month of #September.

Don’t cut down the #seedheads in the #autumn. Leave them well into spring.
Seeds are food for #birds and small mammals. Hollow stems and crevices between stem and leaf are shelter for #insects.
More attractive, too.

Leave the fallen #leaves, where they belong: On the ground.
They are essential for #nature. Insects, invertebrates and small mammals rely on them for shelter and overwintering. As the leaves decompose, they feed the ground.