We leave it tidy(ish) in at the end of April, and return to it, still in a reasonable state, if a little overgrown, at the end of October, when we come back from France.
During the winter months when we are in our Yorkshire home, we can sit and watch the pond, with the birds darting around from the overhanging trees. We have seen the occasional mouse creeping out from under the compost bin, and squirrels visit from time to time.
At this time of year, some colour starts to appear and the green shoots promise that once again, my tiny self sufficient garden is about to bloom.
This year, we have had a few unexpected guests.
We don't know where this baby rabbit has come from and ....
yesterday, what I thought was the return of one of our mice turned out to be somewhat larger......
Living so close to the canal, I'm surprised we haven't seen rats before.....this one looks friendly ! I think he's a baby too. So, he is welcome, I just hope he gets on with the rabbit.
He must be a water rat if he lives in the canal, don't you think - then he becomes quite a sweetie....
ReplyDeleteI hope he likes the bunny too!
What, I wonder, is the blurry 'creature' in the foreground of your photo. If you weren't in Hebden Bridge, THAT's the thing I'd be worried about!
Lovely photos - your garden looks enchanting.
Axxx
I did try to think of Ratty in Wind in the Willows when I looked at him...and I think he must be a water rat. He seems to visit us at about the same time every day, and so far has left the rabbit alone...who is also making daily visits to see us. The pottery gecko is pretty harmless, particularly as the frost has taken a few of his toes...he doesn't move very quickly. Just 2 weeks now till we head back to Caunes....I'm looking forward to seeing the garden there, hoping the wildlife hasn't damaged my raised veg beds this year. They were a lot sturdier than previous attempts...but those sangliers know what they're doing when they want to damage something. Great to hear about the chickens ! Jxxxx
DeleteYour easy care garden is very pretty, alive with little creatures as well as some rather more permanent ones. Both rabbits are very sweet, and is that a gecko I see on a log? I'll bet your grandchildren love this place. xx
ReplyDeleteThe pottery gecko is pretty harmless Patricia..... and I'm getting very fond of the rat ! jx
DeleteLovely garden great to be easy care and not have to worry when you are away, nice to be able to see the wild life too
ReplyDeleteIt is a good garden for "watching" when we are here...and then not worrying about when we are away.
DeleteThe little bunny is delightful, not too keen on ratty though, but good photos.
ReplyDeleteI am getting fonder of ratty by the day... he has a gorgeous face. Now I never thought I would be able to say that about a rat.
DeleteYour garden is lovely...great photos of the wildlife too :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Maria..... it may be a tiny garden, but it gives us a great deal of pleasure when we are here. Jx
DeleteLovely photos. The rabbit looks very sweet. The rat looks...hmm well...I just can't bring myself to say "sweet". Not very keen on rats but wouldn't wish them any harm xx
ReplyDeleteMy next door neighbour saw the rat this morning...she is not impressed either. I really hope she doesn't want me to do anything to get rid of him. If he sticks to the garden... I'm happy....I'm enjoying watching him. Jx
DeleteI will have to think about a low maintenance garden when we move up the hill...we don't bend as well as we did...but, looking at yours, there has to be water...a pond...something...
ReplyDeleteThe pond...very small though it is, is the first thing I put in when we moved here 3 years ago. It only took a day to dig, and a few hours to "landscape" ( fancy word for stick a few old stones around it, and throw some plants in. It does give us great pleasure, and is the central point of what is a very very tiny patch of garden ! A perfect balance for the labour intensive possibilities of the Caunes land. Luckily good sense prevails there too, and some bits get developed and some bits revert to the wild. I'm looking forward to seeing the wild bits in just 2 weeks now. I trust my rat will be able to take care of himself when I am gone.
DeleteOne bunny is sweet. I had about 20 visit my ex UK garden very day and I had to give up gardening
ReplyDeleteYes... ok, point well made. He does seem to be alone. I have worried about his mother... he looks far too young to be out on his own.
DeleteHello Janice. Maria's post reminded me that I had not visited you for a while! Your garden looks amazing and I love your visitors. For us it has been a very mild but wet winter in France but the last month has been beautiful - can't believe it and keep expecting it to turn cold and horrible. Hope is well when you return to Caunes.xx
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to getting back to Caunes and picking up our French life again. The garden in England will keep....and amuse us again when we return in the late autumn.
DeleteI enjoyed looking at all the photos of your wild life families.I think what you do in leaving your garden to return to nature will carry on attracting different visitors.
ReplyDeleteI expect it will Maria.... but I think my next door neighbour is now worried about the rat ! I think, as we live about 10 metres from a river and 30 metres from the Rochdale canal... there may be a few others around ! I think she may have to learn to love them.
DeleteWhat a perfect garden for someone with a two-centre life, Janice. Lots of interest and little work, what could be better? I love your furry visitors and immediately thought of Ratty and Mole. :-) Happy packing for your long trek south.
ReplyDeleteWe did get frequent mole "attacks" when we lived in Mankinholes....and I have to say that our gorgeous, now departed springer spaniel, Lucy, did, from time to time, capture one and present us with the body. Ratty is delightful, and I, unlike my neighbour, am enjoying his daily visits under our fence. he is very welcome in our garden.... but don't think I'll be inviting him to tea....although, if he could rustle up Mr Toad to accompany him, I might be tempted to let them in. Jx
DeleteI'm still here, reading, Janice. Just been a tad busy of late with this and that and a much needed trip up north to see the grands and family. Look what I missed; your delightful garden and visitors. Now, I am hankering to read once again The Wind in the Willows.
ReplyDeleteHe really was a wind in the Willows sort of rat..... he hasn't appeared for a few days now though, I do hope he's ok. Jx
ReplyDelete