It is another rainy day over here in New Hampshire. It has prohibited my early morning walk with Mr. Bentley, my Basset Hound but not the sweet sounds of the myriad of birds. Phoebe and Chickadees. Goldfinch, sparrow and Red-winged blackbirds.
Enjoy your holiday. I look forward to your next post.
It’s such a joy to hear the birds, Nancy. And you have a Basset Hound, with the most wonderful name. You don’t see them very often over here now, such characters. Thank you for your holiday wishes, I will try to post something, even if it’s something small. Hope the rain stops for you. x
What a lovely description of everything in your garden Lindsey! I’m enjoying my (little) garden as well, it’s so very green after all the rain. And we have house sparrows to enjoy, quite a noise they make! Have a lovely weekend!
Thank you so much Caroline, how lovely to hear from you. Yes, sparrows really do chatter away, I love to hear them when they are all together. Let’s hope everyone will get a little sunshine this week. Thank you so much for your comment, it is very much appreciated. x
I keep asking myself, “Are we there yet?” That is, waiting for your weekly musings to arrive! Your watercolour sketches are pieces to be treasured Lindsey. Your list of garden birds is awesome of which we have bluetits, wrens and robins. We’re also proud of three great spotted woodpeckers visiting bird feeders at the moment. Also, I love the sound of red kites swooping overhead but sadly, they pinched twin lambs last year. That is the worst of nature I’m afraid! Enjoy your holidays! 🙏😘
Ooh, that’s upsetting, Meryl, nature can seem very cruel to us. I remember when I was young watching nature programmes with my Dad when the lions were running after the antelopes I was always cheering the antelopes on and hated it when they got caught, and my dad always exlained that everything has to eat. I am so glad you look forward to the Newsletters, Meryl, it really does cheer me on. Thank you as always for being so lovely. Have a great weekend, the sun’s coming, I can feel it!🥰
Oh thank you so much Darienne!. I need to catch up on here too, I don't seem to be getting time to read anyone's posts. I will have a good rest though, promise. If you DM me your address I will send you a postcard! x
Thank you so much, Lynne and thank you from the bottom of my heart for becoming a paid subscriber, I honestly can't tell you how much it means to know that someone enjoys my work enough to put a value on it. I am on holiday next week but from the week after you will also receive an additional Monday Newsletter every week in your inbox. It's a random mix of gardening, art, recipes, home, all sorts so there is always something for everyone. Welcome to The Ageing Optimist and thank you once again. I hope you are well and managing to get a rest every now and then. Love Lindsey x
Another great read. What an amazing host of visitors to your garden! And your little artworks are charming . Love their relaxed and happy style and the pretty colours. X
Thank you Audrey, you are very kind. I think it’s going to be another mixed day here, I hope you are having a little sunshine! Wishing you a very pleasant Thursday. x
The weather has been exactly the same here in West Yorkshire! My firepit is getting more use as a water feature 🙈 My head is full of pond ideas …… thanks so much for your advice!
It is bizarre indeed, Shirley. And I remember having that pond frenzy - I wanted to read and search for anything I could to find the best way to do it and I still made mistakes! I’m sure you will find something that makes you happy. As with everything I do, mine was very much on a budget. I bought the liner from Facebook very cheaply but then had to make the size of the pond to fit that which probably wasn’t the best way of doing it but it worked out fine in the end. The planting has worked out the be one of the most expensive things, I did buy quite a few on line to start with but I was very disappointed with them when they arrived so now I buy them from a proper aquatic shop or some larger garden centres stock them. Just an idea, but my soil is very sandy so very dry. Next to the pond I dug another big hole and put the cut offs from the liner in the bottom (spiked with a fork for drain holes, then put the earth back in so it has made a sort of boggy area, it’s not soggy but retains the moisture a bit so I can grow astilbes, hostas and more moisture loving plants that suit the pond. When buying your plants try to stick to mainly native species and avoid things that grow like wildfire. Things like water forget-me-nots and the Lady’s smock are very pretty. Avoid the big yellow flag iris, there are better smaller ones for a small pond likewide with waterlilies, the Pygmaea ones are ideal. The more plants, especially oxygenators, the healthier the water and the pond will be.
It seems to have come on leaps and bounds this year, I remember feeling a bit disappointed in the first year as it looked very bare, once the plants started to grow and the grass began growing back at the edges it started to blend in, I never cut the grass around it either as I want it to look as natural as possible. On one side I have laid a very, very basic bit of decking( literally a some old planks on the ground) to stand a bench on so I have somewhere to sit and watch. The second year there were lots of bugs, water beetles and snails (they just seem to arrive!) and this year the newts have found it so hopefully next year the frogs will come.I I shall leave you alone now, Shirley! Sorry, if I’ve got carried away, but I love it so much I want everyone to have one!
I don’t really like quite so much rain preferring to be outdoors but like you I’m seeing it as a chance to get on with indoor jobs and have done lots of sewing. The rain seems to be bringing out lots of snails and slugs so my Hostas are looking very munched!
I found you on IG and followed you to Substack and am so glad I did! Your cheerful observations describing your birds and garden made me smile. My husband and I have been gardeners for over 50 years. We have had loads of rain this Spring, too, so the veggies and flowers look like they are on steroids. Sorry to hear about your run in with the nettle! We use the Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell University on our iPhones to identify birds. It is free and fun. Your delightful watercolor sketches just might inspire me to to go buy one of those pens and a watercolour set and give it a whirl. Wishing you a fun and fabulous vacation to the James Herriot countryside!
Oh, that’s interesting. I’m not knowledgeable enough about birds - my favourite birding book is How to Be a Bad Birdwatcher by Simon Barnes (‘Look out of the window./See a bird./Enjoy it./Congratulations. You are now a bad birdwatcher’ lol) - to know if this is a pattern. I’ve certainly seen nature springing to life distressingly early in the year…
Hello Sharon! Thank you so much for your very kind comment, it's a nice feeling to think I've made you smile. It's raining here at the moment, again, I'm hoping it's not going to follow us up to Yorkshire next week but I'm sure I will have lovely time whatever the weather. Do have a go with the sketching, it's the first steps that are the hardest, don't be too critical of yourself and just have fun! I am very pleased you found me, thank you - and thank you for the bird app recommendation, I shall have a look right now. x
It is another rainy day over here in New Hampshire. It has prohibited my early morning walk with Mr. Bentley, my Basset Hound but not the sweet sounds of the myriad of birds. Phoebe and Chickadees. Goldfinch, sparrow and Red-winged blackbirds.
Enjoy your holiday. I look forward to your next post.
It’s such a joy to hear the birds, Nancy. And you have a Basset Hound, with the most wonderful name. You don’t see them very often over here now, such characters. Thank you for your holiday wishes, I will try to post something, even if it’s something small. Hope the rain stops for you. x
I had never heard of dunnocks being called ‘shufflewings’. What a great name!
It’s lovely isn’t it, Emma!
What a lovely description of everything in your garden Lindsey! I’m enjoying my (little) garden as well, it’s so very green after all the rain. And we have house sparrows to enjoy, quite a noise they make! Have a lovely weekend!
Thank you so much Caroline, how lovely to hear from you. Yes, sparrows really do chatter away, I love to hear them when they are all together. Let’s hope everyone will get a little sunshine this week. Thank you so much for your comment, it is very much appreciated. x
I keep asking myself, “Are we there yet?” That is, waiting for your weekly musings to arrive! Your watercolour sketches are pieces to be treasured Lindsey. Your list of garden birds is awesome of which we have bluetits, wrens and robins. We’re also proud of three great spotted woodpeckers visiting bird feeders at the moment. Also, I love the sound of red kites swooping overhead but sadly, they pinched twin lambs last year. That is the worst of nature I’m afraid! Enjoy your holidays! 🙏😘
Ooh, that’s upsetting, Meryl, nature can seem very cruel to us. I remember when I was young watching nature programmes with my Dad when the lions were running after the antelopes I was always cheering the antelopes on and hated it when they got caught, and my dad always exlained that everything has to eat. I am so glad you look forward to the Newsletters, Meryl, it really does cheer me on. Thank you as always for being so lovely. Have a great weekend, the sun’s coming, I can feel it!🥰
I throughly enjoyed this journey with you. Your voice pulled me right into it. Thank you
Thank you so much Ta, you have made my morning!
Happy Holidays Lindsey!! Switch off, disconnect and recharge those batteries. Enjoy!!! X
Oh thank you so much Darienne!. I need to catch up on here too, I don't seem to be getting time to read anyone's posts. I will have a good rest though, promise. If you DM me your address I will send you a postcard! x
That would be lovely! Will do - but no pressure to do so!
Such a positive contribution to the week . Thank you Lindsey. I have now become one of your subscribers 👍
Thank you so much, Lynne and thank you from the bottom of my heart for becoming a paid subscriber, I honestly can't tell you how much it means to know that someone enjoys my work enough to put a value on it. I am on holiday next week but from the week after you will also receive an additional Monday Newsletter every week in your inbox. It's a random mix of gardening, art, recipes, home, all sorts so there is always something for everyone. Welcome to The Ageing Optimist and thank you once again. I hope you are well and managing to get a rest every now and then. Love Lindsey x
Another great read. What an amazing host of visitors to your garden! And your little artworks are charming . Love their relaxed and happy style and the pretty colours. X
Thank you Audrey, you are very kind. I think it’s going to be another mixed day here, I hope you are having a little sunshine! Wishing you a very pleasant Thursday. x
The weather has been exactly the same here in West Yorkshire! My firepit is getting more use as a water feature 🙈 My head is full of pond ideas …… thanks so much for your advice!
It is bizarre indeed, Shirley. And I remember having that pond frenzy - I wanted to read and search for anything I could to find the best way to do it and I still made mistakes! I’m sure you will find something that makes you happy. As with everything I do, mine was very much on a budget. I bought the liner from Facebook very cheaply but then had to make the size of the pond to fit that which probably wasn’t the best way of doing it but it worked out fine in the end. The planting has worked out the be one of the most expensive things, I did buy quite a few on line to start with but I was very disappointed with them when they arrived so now I buy them from a proper aquatic shop or some larger garden centres stock them. Just an idea, but my soil is very sandy so very dry. Next to the pond I dug another big hole and put the cut offs from the liner in the bottom (spiked with a fork for drain holes, then put the earth back in so it has made a sort of boggy area, it’s not soggy but retains the moisture a bit so I can grow astilbes, hostas and more moisture loving plants that suit the pond. When buying your plants try to stick to mainly native species and avoid things that grow like wildfire. Things like water forget-me-nots and the Lady’s smock are very pretty. Avoid the big yellow flag iris, there are better smaller ones for a small pond likewide with waterlilies, the Pygmaea ones are ideal. The more plants, especially oxygenators, the healthier the water and the pond will be.
A project for the winter I think …… thank you! Your pond looks as if it’s always been there! 😍
It seems to have come on leaps and bounds this year, I remember feeling a bit disappointed in the first year as it looked very bare, once the plants started to grow and the grass began growing back at the edges it started to blend in, I never cut the grass around it either as I want it to look as natural as possible. On one side I have laid a very, very basic bit of decking( literally a some old planks on the ground) to stand a bench on so I have somewhere to sit and watch. The second year there were lots of bugs, water beetles and snails (they just seem to arrive!) and this year the newts have found it so hopefully next year the frogs will come.I I shall leave you alone now, Shirley! Sorry, if I’ve got carried away, but I love it so much I want everyone to have one!
I feel your joy and delight! Never apologise! X
I don’t really like quite so much rain preferring to be outdoors but like you I’m seeing it as a chance to get on with indoor jobs and have done lots of sewing. The rain seems to be bringing out lots of snails and slugs so my Hostas are looking very munched!
Have a lovely holiday Lindsey
I found you on IG and followed you to Substack and am so glad I did! Your cheerful observations describing your birds and garden made me smile. My husband and I have been gardeners for over 50 years. We have had loads of rain this Spring, too, so the veggies and flowers look like they are on steroids. Sorry to hear about your run in with the nettle! We use the Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell University on our iPhones to identify birds. It is free and fun. Your delightful watercolor sketches just might inspire me to to go buy one of those pens and a watercolour set and give it a whirl. Wishing you a fun and fabulous vacation to the James Herriot countryside!
❤️ Sharon
I love the Merlin bird app too, and heartily recommend it to everyone, wherever you are in the world.
It's amazing! (Merlin) But lately pur birds have shut up, almost as if it were August. Have they been doing it all early?
Oh, that’s interesting. I’m not knowledgeable enough about birds - my favourite birding book is How to Be a Bad Birdwatcher by Simon Barnes (‘Look out of the window./See a bird./Enjoy it./Congratulations. You are now a bad birdwatcher’ lol) - to know if this is a pattern. I’ve certainly seen nature springing to life distressingly early in the year…
Hello Sharon! Thank you so much for your very kind comment, it's a nice feeling to think I've made you smile. It's raining here at the moment, again, I'm hoping it's not going to follow us up to Yorkshire next week but I'm sure I will have lovely time whatever the weather. Do have a go with the sketching, it's the first steps that are the hardest, don't be too critical of yourself and just have fun! I am very pleased you found me, thank you - and thank you for the bird app recommendation, I shall have a look right now. x