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Joyful January ...

42 comments


How are your gardens coping after so many weeks of wet weather ?

My lawns are soggy and the borders are muddy, but my hellebores are determined to remain in party mood …

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Are you waiting out the winter by remaining mostly indoors, enjoying your garden from window views ?

… or are you venturing outside … keeping strictly to the pavings, just to fill the bird-baths and feeders, and perhaps a visit to the shed or greenhouse ?

… or maybe you’re more intrepid … doing maintenance and digging, despite the mud ?

Luckily, my home is on high ground, so no flooding in my neighbourhood..

… and in the mild, damp conditions, the evergreens are euphoric.

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It’s a while since I entered any charity photo shows, but this month I emailed pictures of my pets and my friend June’s cats to a competition in aid of rescued dogs and cats in Somerset.

June is a stroke survivor. She can take photos, but she finds it easier if I enter for both of us, and I put the cat photos in June’s name.

June had her best results so far, with a first prize for this pic. she took of her friend’s cat Alfie …

… and first place in another class for her own cat, Jasper …
I love this picture of him snoozing …

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In the class for ‘Other Pets’, Crocus budgie achieved second place. First prize went to a dynamic duo of goats …
… but Crocus was ahead of the 3rd-placed rabbit !

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The veteran class for older pets attracted lots of entries, so I was delighted when Conker was awarded the first place, for this photo of him next to the campanulas …

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Another class was for dogs 6 – 12 months old.
I sent this pic. of Truffle at 9 months, with his watering can … but he wasn’t placed …

… but I reminded Truffle that in a photo show held back in December, he had won a rosette, coming third with this picture where he is relaxing by my pebble garden …

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Very early every morning, near my back garden, the robin can be heard, singing merrily. A delightful sound, but mostly from a tree which is some distance away.

He used to enjoy numerous happy hours in the neighbour’s silver birch tree, but last autumn, workmen cleared undergrowth and installed a new fence.

The robin does NOT approve of the disruption to his chosen territory !

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But very high up in the birch, other feathered friends are determined to appreciate the branches …

… and the more you look, the more birds you spot …

… with a starling at the very top …

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Down in my gardens, not every type of berry has been taken by the blackbirds …

The firethorn was stripped bare some weeks ago, but this sarcococca still displays its shiny black beads …

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… so, wishing a joyful January to you all …

… whether you are indoors or outside …

x x x

More blog posts by terratoonie

Previous post: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Next post: Location, Location, Location.



Comments

 

Doing a bit of both, clearing up borders and inside watching and waiting for spring. Lovely pictures :O)

9 Jan, 2016

 

Thanks Olive ...
Wrap up warm next week ...
... temperatures due to fall ! :o)

9 Jan, 2016

 

Conker and truffle look so happy

its rained most of today ... so bird feeders cleaned and filled that was about it... and a very soggy lawn !

9 Jan, 2016

 

Thank you, Gnarly ...
Truffle loves his watering cans !
Your garden birds will be very happy :o)

9 Jan, 2016

 

Great photos Tt. Love the animals especially the cats, but then I'm a cat woman! My garden is very tidy & very wet, so just the occasional walk down the path.

9 Jan, 2016

 

Hi Feverfew .. thanks ..
some cats are especially photogenic, aren't they !
I'm not doing too much out in the garden till the weather is dry and warm !

9 Jan, 2016

 

Lovely Terra. Congratulations on all the prizes...well deserved! I'm staying off the garden except to throw a ball for the dogs!

9 Jan, 2016

 

Looking at your garden Terra, you wouldn't think it was winter ! Everything looks so green and healthy ! We love to sit in our little conservatory and watch the birds, some however look like they are pairing up already !
Congrats on all the prizes Terra ! xxx

9 Jan, 2016

 

Ah Conker, when he enters nobody else stands a chance!
Well done with all the photos Terra. For a horrible moment there I thought you were going to say that the workmen had cut down the silver birch - never been so glad to be wrong! The hellebore is a dream,so beautiful...

9 Jan, 2016

 

Thanks for such a lovely happy cheerful blog Terra

What wonderful january photos....I thought my hellebores were doing well to be in bud!

???Triumphant Team Terra again !???

10 Jan, 2016

 

Hi Rose ...
thanks... yes... the birds are very active ..
In my front garden there are blackbirds checking out nesting sites. I can imagine you and Rick .. very cosy, sitting in your conservatory watching the wildlife !

Thank you, Stera ...
hellebores have very pretty flowers, don't they. No worries.. the silver birch is still in place !

Hello Pam ...
Thanks ... Team Terra sends x x x

10 Jan, 2016

 

Lovely photos of the animals. Terra, Wouldn't want to disturb the sodden soil, damages the structure. Just enjoying looking at plant pictures instead.

10 Jan, 2016

 

Thanks Siris ...
I've just checked my bird baths ... colder out there today !

10 Jan, 2016

 

love that budgie, will have to post some pics of ours.

i am indoor gardening now as i feel the cold. have popped out in my pj's to feed the birds.

10 Jan, 2016

 

Hi Maisie's Dad ..
yes, chilly out there...
I would like to see pictures of your budgie.

10 Jan, 2016

 

Very nice, Tt. You're blessed with lots of birds.....not so here at the moment. And talented pets, of course!

10 Jan, 2016

 

Thanks Paul ...
Crowds of sparrows using my bird baths right now ...
I hope some birds return to your garden soon.

10 Jan, 2016

 

Soggy as usual here, TT, but nothing too terrible. Just hope the relentless rain stops soon. I find it difficult to walk in the woods or fields at the moment and I hate pavement walking! I did get an hour in the garden yesterday, sweeping the mucky pathways and cutting back and digging out two very large and straggly perennials that I took cuttings from some time ago. The front garden is a mess, lawn flooded and still some perennials not cut back. Never mind it will soon be spring.

Congratulations on your photo successes :)

Did you see my photo of Tiggy looking at Crocus on the computer?

10 Jan, 2016

 

Hi Gee ... Thanks ..
That's a super photo of Tiggy... don't know how I missed it, but found it now !
I guessed your gardens would be suffering from the floods. I hope they improve soon.

10 Jan, 2016

 

I'd forgotten it too, TT, until I was reading your blog and Tiggy landed on my tablet. He loves it but is a bit of a nuisance when he slides down the screen!

10 Jan, 2016

 

Great blog Terra with smashing photographs to accompany it, congratulations on the results for the charity show photo's, its nice that your friends cat won as well and I would never be surprised at your pals winning, they all pose so well.
I also nearly had a blue fit whilst reading about the new fencing and thought at first that you meant you and the birds had lost the Silver Birch, we cannot have that can we, it and your robin are famous in Goyland, lol, I am only venturing out to the g'houses and feeders really, with the occasional wander around, its much too wet to attempt any tidying up and the plants are going along with Mother Nature and doing their own thing, its a case of wait and see isn't it, some are in front and yet no signs of others, my chrysanths have only just finished flowering although the rains did spoil them, the dahlia's have never turned black or died back and two of the Delphiniums are already sprouting large shoots, a bit of a mixed bunch here in my garden, makes things very interesting though...

10 Jan, 2016

 

Hi Sue... thanks... the charity photo shows are fun, and its good to know that these competitions are helping worthy causes.
Yes, at the moment in my gardens, I find I don't quite know what to expect with the plants. Some are ahead, some are not.
Early this morning the robin did spend a short time back in his old position on the birch, so maybe he'll gradually get used to the neighbour's bushes having gone.

10 Jan, 2016

 

Yes Terra, It is cosy and its lovely to see him looking so well again , although they can't cure the cancer , but hopefully will keep going for a long time yet !!
He's even planning a new train room in the large garage !

10 Jan, 2016

 

Lovely pictures Terr, the first one of the b/w cat looks very much like Levi with his long white whiskers and four white feet, love them all, we dont have anything like that down our way.
Re the garden it's far to wet to do anything, we did manage to put a new bird feeder up but not many birds about as yet, apart from Mr Robin and Mrs wren ....

10 Jan, 2016

 

Oh, Rose ... great news that Rick is looking healthier.
A new train room sounds wonderful ..

10 Jan, 2016

 

Hi Stripes ..
White whiskers show up well on cats with black bodies, don't they. Yes, gardens are too wet to do anything much out there.

10 Jan, 2016

 

Two lovely cat pics TT. Glad they won prizes. Conker is his usual supremely presented self....no wonder he wins prizes. My neighbours are making me jittery discussing cutting down a very large magnolia. It was not very big when we moved in but it sure is now. It will look very bare if they get rid of it. The magpies and doves will be upset.

10 Jan, 2016

 

Superb cheery blog TT, love all your photos, your garden looks a treat - as ever, your Hellebores are so pretty, Congratulations to both you and your friend on winning the prizes in the competition, and to Conker, Crocus, Truffle, Alfie and Jasper for posing so handsomely.
Just some gentle tidying when the rain allows, topping up the bird feeders is as much as I get to do just now it is the wettest December since records began in 1910!

11 Jan, 2016

 

Hi Neena ...
thanks ... we're pleased with the results.
Wow, that's over a century of records, since a December has had so much rain, and it looks as though January might break some records too !

11 Jan, 2016

 

Happy January to you and your pets, Terra! Beautiful pics . . .

11 Jan, 2016

 

Hi Sheila .. thank you ...
Happy January to you too !

11 Jan, 2016

 

Dry and fine today,after a frosty and foggy start..still cold,but sunny just now..Our resident Robin,Bluetits,and Great tits are very active also,and visiting the feeders like it's the last day of the January sales:o) The Blackbirds,two male,and one Female are also very busy..Our Garden is very free draining,so luckily,no puddles or standing water..
Love all your photo's Terra..so clear too.What camera do you have please ? x

11 Jan, 2016

 

Hi Sandra ..
thanks... that's good to know the birds are energetic and evident in your garden .. and that your garden is free from flooding. Will send you a message. x

11 Jan, 2016

 

Hello TT.
Beryl sais she wants to have those two cats lol. Aren't they beautiful ..
and she said Crocus is a lovely colour :)
Congratulations to Conker for winning first prize. It's a very good photo of him.
Truffle's photo is nice too - he looks very relaxed :o)
I haven't done anything in the garden for months. Actually I only went down there this afternoon for the first time in a while, because Bella demanded I went with her !
She ran and I walked very slowly incase I slipped ...
Your gardens look lovely even after all that rain. I like a mild winter x

11 Jan, 2016

 

Hello Hywel ..
Could Beryl really cope with THREE cats on her lap ? ... Bella, Alfie and Jasper ?
Conker, Truffle and Crocus say thank you for your kind words.
Chillier today, so we're all hibernating indoors till the weather warms up ! x

12 Jan, 2016

 

Awful weather here - rough winds and heavy rain :o(
so the cats and Beryl would be able to keep each other warm ... :o) lol

12 Jan, 2016

 

me thinks it is time to put the waterpumps away and get salt out onto the patio

14 Jan, 2016

 

Happy January TT a big change here, has gone very chilly, still I don't mind as I am busy revamping the kitchen, so it is keeping me warm and fit, ready for the spring, great photos as per usual, take care and keep warm x

14 Jan, 2016

 

Thanks everyone ...
Enjoy your January gardens but wrap up warm !

18 Jan, 2016

 

Absolutely Brilliant and Wonderful . WOW!!! i love the pictures of Truffles you are energetic , hehe ! Congratulations Conker, i know you very deserving of that, Sweety , and nice to meet you June and Jasper ...Rio is so much in love with Cats, she has one named Lucky , and what a beautiful flowering garden you have , Terra always appreciated it :-)))

22 Jan, 2016

 

Hello Junna ..
thanks for your wonderful comments. June loves cats, same as Rio. :o) x

22 Jan, 2016

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