It rarely stopped raining, the garden is a soggy mess and not much happened. That’s pretty much February 2024 summed up.
Maybe we exaggerate. It wasn’t a total wash out. Another, or perhaps the same newt was spotted in the new wildlife pond. We are still punting at a Palmate Newt, just waiting for that one good view of it to confirm. Seeing as female newts lay their eggs individually on emerging plants, of which there are currently none, then this may be a false start for newts in this pond. Hopefully there are more newts about and they have found our other watery areas to breed in. Perhaps this individual is a juvenile, we think it’s a male, and will stick around until next year and hopefully find a mate.
We did record a few new species as noted in the Garden blog, including this relatively large springtail, which we think maybe Isotomurus maculatus. Along with the bracket fungus Daedaleopsis confragosa, otherwise known as Blushing Bracket.
Not forgetting our latest new spider record, the excellent looking Jumping House Spider, which belongs in the same family as our Garden favourite the Zebra Spiders.
We also continued our agonizingly slow progress on the new pond, with the creation of a pebble beach area, just enough room for a chair to pond spot from. We envisage lots of rocky areas, supporting mosses and other wildlife around the perimeter of the pond, but this can be a little expensive to complete in one go. Besides, we are now pausing somewhat while the amphibians decide whether to spawn here as they already have in the fish pond.
On another note, we have noticed a fair bit of the following growing in the meadow area. Now we have absolutely no issue with Common Ragwort, in fact, it’s a bit of a favorite of ours when out and about in the countryside, but it does come with a little baggage.
Thankfully the Garden doesn’t back onto any grass fields, as it can be an issue due to it containing toxins not suitable for grazing or hay making. I doubt our neighbours will have an issue with it. Indeed one like minded neighbour speaks very highly of it. Our view is we just need to ensure it doesn’t take over the meadow. We made the mistake of letting it run wild a few years back and regretted it really, as it did dominate large parts of what is a small garden. But a bit of pulling, the best way to get rid of it, and a couple of years later we only had the odd plant here and there, which is how we like it.
The above plant is about to enter it’s second year, and being typically biennial should produce some nice flowers, its certainly looking like a healthy individual.
Really looking forward to spring now, this must have been the wettest winter we can remember and I think we are all a little fed up with it.
DC: 02.03.2024
Wildlife Garden 