After all the snow we’ve had, followed by hail, torrential rain and gale force winds, I decided not to put Holly the hedgehog out to harden off in the rabbit hutch, even though she is now a wonderfully plump hog. She’s probably wondering where her waistline went!
I need to take Herbie, the special needs hog, to the vet to have the claws on his back paws cut. I’ve noticed recently that they’re getting rather long and could end up growing into his flesh. So, off for a pedicure he is….
I can’t believe how quickly time is flashing by! Where on earth did January go???
So, out and about in the garden….this old willow blew down over 20 years ago. I left it to rot down for the insects and now it’s crawling with every type of beetle you can imagine….
Each day I’ve braved the weather and tried to spend a hour or so clearing and cleaning the garden. I have to say I don’t feel like I’m making much progress but at least I’m doing something instead of hunkering down in the greenhouse while the dogs get their daily run. These limestone seats need a good clean….tomorrow’s job!
My next door neighbour made this wonderful hedgehog house for me….and I have a feeling a fat hog resides within but I don’t want to peek and disrupt it…
I’ve cleared all the leaves from this area and found some flowering polyanthus underneath! Well there you go eh?
And…my daffodil shoots survived the snow, and now I have tulips peeking through too.
I’ve turned this border over and planted a new blackthorn hedge. They do look like sad, bare twiglets at the moment, but fingers crossed they take.
I found a few sprouting garlic bulbs in the kitchen so I planted them and popped them in the greenhouse. I always seem to forget where I plant the garlic so this time I may even get to harvest some later in the year.
Now don’t laugh, but I planted this trampoline up as nobody ever used it…it’s an experiment! I’ve just sprinkled it with cottage garden seeds, who knows what may sprout!
And finally….Crow the stones!!!!
Thanks for the reminder to get outside & start cleaning up our backyard play spaces. They’ve been taken over by spiderwebs & bugs.
Mine too, I never seen so many cobwebs, even in the house. I need to spring clean my garden too.xxxxx
The garlics are easy to grow. We put ours in a muddy plant tray, about 5 inches deep and we doubled them. However, Lidl are now selling whole clove garlic bulbs so we buy them now.
Yes, I’ve been buying those from Lidl too. I love growing them as well…..if I remember where they are!!!xxxxx
Ahhh poor little Herbs and his little legs! He’s so cute, I can’t believe how fast January went xx
Lol….he is a cutie isn’t he. I’ve never known a month go by so quickly!xxxxx
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. The hedgehogs are just so cute, I read your ‘About’ page and see that one has broken back legs, can he still manage to get about in his rabbit hutch? Your garden looks an absolute paradise for wildlife, the fallen log and the hedgehog house. I’ve got a trampoline in my garden, in fact, it takes most of my little garden up. I’m hoping that my daughter will let it go this year so that I can reclaim some of my garden again.
Thanks Jo.
Yes, Herbie can move around quite easily, he just drags his legs along. He also hunts for slugs and beetles and such in the hutch and we move it every week so he always has a fresh patch of grass to explore. He has a reasonably good quality of life.
Maybe if my trampoline works out you could plant yours? LOL xxxxx
Time certainly flies by when you are busy. Well, that’s a first, a planted trampoline. Goodness me.
Lol, thanks Dessie. Actually a first for me too!xxxxx
That’s also my reason for loving spring best — anticipation of what will come up. Sometimes it’s something you’ve planned for, sometimes it’s serendipitous. Looking forward to seeing how your experiments turn out!
Thanks Nikki……oh yes, it’s all about anticipation……my memory is awful and I always forget where things are planted so every year is full of surprises for me! Serendipitous! What a fab word!!!! Lol xxxxx
What lots of hard work you have been doing in the garden and I love the planted up trampoline – that is most excellent and I hope the seeds take – it will look wonderful!
Glad the hogs are thriving and fancy a hedgehog having a pedicure! Awwww! Good for you getting out there and cracking on with it – I feel all guilty now that I ought to go out and sweep up some leaves in the scrap of land at the side of my housexxx
Thanks Arose, the trampoline is a work in progress….I can’t wait to see what will happen!! I’m just scattering seed and hoping for the best!
Lol….yes I never thought I’d ever see a hog having a pedicure……life can be MOST odd at times!!!!
You’re feeling guilty????? struth…..you don’t have a second to yourself!!!!! I at least have time to potter in the garden, now when on eartyh could you do that at the moment?????xxxxx
What an enjoyable post, along with wonderful pictures.
There sure is lots of interest in your garden what with a greened trampoline and limestone seats.
Lovely to see what your doing for the hedgehogs as sadly they need all the help that they can get nowadays to survive, let alone thrive.
Flighty xx
Thanks Flighty, there always seems so much to do at this time of the year doesn’t it? but slowly and surely we’ll all get there.
It’s really worrying how the numbers of hedgehogs is dropping each year isn’t it, and scary to think that an animal as common as the hedgehog can actually become endangered. We have about fifty at the rescue which will all be released in the spring so at least those are safe….for now.xxxxx
I love the pictures from your garden. And enjoy reading about the hedgehogs that you care for. It is a pleasure reading about your winter activities. I thought you might be in some resort now, enjoying the snow…
Lol, thanks Shimon….no, no winter resort or rest for the wicked!!! Just lots of hard work trying to get everything straight. Once I’m out and warmed up I must say I enjoy it, especially when it looks a little better and seeds and such are being planted!xxxxx
I said the same thing about January, it’s just gone in a flash! I’m fascinated to see how your trampoline turns out, it’s a brill idea. Suzy x
Time seems to go faster and faster these days…..I am hoping the trampoline works out! Nobody will be able to bounce on it that’s for sure.Lol xxxxx
The word will get around in Hedgehog world that the best hotel on the planet is with Plantpot!! 5 * treatment! Love the photos. You are a very bizzy lady. Plant the trampoline with jumping beans???
Great post as always!
Lol….thanks Gilly…..I can just imagine the queue of thin hogs outside my door!!!
Jumping beans!!!! Of course!!! xxxxx
Happy February! We are moving right along, and good to see you are persevering with your garden work ~ and getting some fresh air in the process. Your prickly ball of a hedghog is looking well fed and I’m sure appreciates how well he’s being looked after. Planting a trampoline is certainly one way of getting a ‘jump on spring’ 😉 Looking forward to more pics as time rolls on. Nice to see Duggy!
I rather like February, it always seems like early spring to me…..usually the snowdrops and bluebells grow first, but this year it’s the daffs winning the race!
It is nice to see the hogs fat and round….hopefully Holly can be released early march with enough fat to carry her while she adjusts to the wild again.
Lol…..a jump on spring!!!!
Thanks Glo.xxxxx
I think one of the pleasures of this time of year is rediscovering where the spring bulbs/flowers are. I had no idea a hog’s claws had to be cut; your hogs are so well cared for. And I like the idea of a trampoline garden; it could definitely start a new fashion!
Oh I do agree, I always forget where the bulbs are and am constantly surprised by daffs, crocus, snowdrops and tulips popping up in the most unexpected places….always such a delight!
Hogs don’t need to have their claws cut, like dogs they wear down as they walk. Herbie can’t use his back legs so he drags them behind him resulting in his long claws. He lives in a rabbit hutch in the garden, he comes in the winter as he can’t curl properly.
It would be funny if people started planting their trampolines!!!xxxxx
the hedgehog queen….they are looking well cared for, great job! As for the garden…can you come and do mine please? I am loving the trampoline. Just goes to show you can create a garden out of almost anything! xx
Lol, thanks Karen…the hedgehog queen…..I LOVE that!!!
I’ll be round with my trowel before you can say Jack rabbit!!!
You can use anything in a garden, someone dumped a shopping trolley in ours with a wobbly wheel, I planted it with wildflowers and it’s still going strong!!!xxxxx
:yes: Time does seem to fly…..Jan gone…Feb soon passing too…:roll:
You are a very busy lass…quite evident. So much to do….you need some better weather….;)
Love to see those bulbs showing….Now for some ‘warming’….;)
Take Care! Hugs! xxxx
Time seems to go faster and faster each year, it seems like Christmas was only last week!
It would be lovely if it was a little warmer, but once you get to raking and digging you soon warm uo, it’s the going out in the first place that’s hard.
Thanks Ell.xxxxx
It’s all looking so hopeful, Snow Bird…I love the limestone bench!
Like Holly, I think a lot of folks I know wonder where their waistlines have gone after a long winter. Good thing we have spring gardens to whittle them back into view again. 🙂 Happy for Herbie to have had a pedicure. He must feel rather dashing now.
Interesting to imagine a trampoline garden. I’m looking forward to the results. I’ve heard violas called Johnny-Jump-Up’s; they’d fit, wouldn’t they?
Blessings on the blackthorn hedge! It will be beautiful, like the rest of your gardens, I’m sure. 🙂
Thanks Catherine. Lol….yes I think all our waistlines have expanded…good job we have to run around so much clearing up!
I’m hoping the trampoline becomes a beautiful flower bed……Johnny-Jump-Up’s???? WONDERFUL…..I even have some of them planted on it already!!!
I hope the hedge grows, should be great for the wildlife.xxxxx
I actually ventured outside today myself – even though the sun was out it is still quite chilly – I have become a bit of a hot house flower over winter and need to harden myself off a bit. There is still masses of tidying up to do yet. At least you are making progress. January has seemed endless to me and I’m glad it’s over.
The sun is coming out here too, usually in the morning then it always seems to rain in the afternoon. We are still getting far too much rain.
What a lovely expression, a hothouse flower!!!! It does take ages to get the garden straight doesn’t it, our big trees create tons of leaves that have to be moved…xxxxx