Imagine my surprise when stumbling across four juvenile peacocks gathered around my neighbour’s front door. I was concerned for their safety, as we are horribly close to a duel carriageway and I know how long it takes for large birds to become airborne. Fortunately, after an hour or so, they all hopped up on a fence, then onto the roof, and eventually, they all flew off.
Prettily fluffed and feathered up.
I’ve never seen wild peacocks before, or escaped domestic ones. Each day I hear their strange mewling cat-like cries. I still get glimpses of all four of them. It’s good to know they are surviving.
I finally tackled the enormous drifts of scattered/rejected bird seed, under and around the bird table. I’d laid tiles around it to make cleaning it slightly easier. As I lifted them, numerous worms were exposed. Despite three dogs being in the vicinity, birds with hungry offspring swooped in. It got me wondering, how many worms can one beak hold?
A robin also joined in the feeding frenzy.
I just love April, for that’s when the cherry trees blossom, staggered, so I get to enjoy them for longer. Bees love Cherry too! Oh, you just can’t beat that floating confetti…..
Miraculously, this patch of tulips has survived three dogs thundering through them, and the climbing roses roses are beginning to grow up the bower, not obvious in this photo though.
You can’t imagine how thrilled I was to see this Magnolia survive in the old ‘orrible hedging border. The soil is still matted with hedging roots and really poor. Chloris, could you please, pretty please identify this one for me, seems the squirrels have run off with the label, that, or dementia is kicking in! Oh…it sure is pretty….
Taters are FINALLY in, along with mange tout. I have two raised beds either side of the veggie patch, not filled yet, or painted.
This half still needs weeding and has onions and garlic growing from early winter. Rather surprising as I don’t have much luck with onions, I think it’s down to our sandy soil, no matter how I improve it.
The greenhouse is now filled to the brim with seedlings that need potting on and seedlings that are slow to germinate, due to our unusually cold weather, now it’s the usual spring race against time thing.
I have managed to fill and seed two raised beds in the courtyard, and have salad leaves and rocket in my mini greenhouse. The cages above both raised beds should be in the veggie patch, I’ve moved them here to Buddy proof them as he dances about in them, the plants wouldn’t stand a chance!
And Finally….
Why do the Spanish thugs/bluebells KEEP growing in my garden? The more I dig them out, the quicker they seem to grow! I inherited them and they’re everywhere!
Along that fence in the background are my young fruit trees, apricot, apple, pear and cherry, although you can’t really see them either! I’ll take pics when they’re fully leafed up. They really are coming along a treat. They’re all three years old now and are settling in well. I think I may get fruit this year, but am hoping they will come into their own next year. Meanwhile I have an enormous apple tree, and several plum and pear trees that never fail. It certainly is something to be able to pluck a ripe fruit straight from the tree!
Catching up with your news and having read your latest post I’m intrigued by the on-going story of the peacocks. It looks as if they’ve found a corner of your neighbourhood in which to stay for a while and hope all goes well with them. The hard work in the veggie patch will pay off, I’m sure. Good to hear of all the comings and going as you look after those vulnerable creatures and to see the photos of survival and release of the birds and hedgehog. Enjoy the sunshine and the book illustration painting. Always best to get out when the weather is good. Blogging can wait, although we love to hear from you when you can.
The peacocks have taken the whole neighbourhood by surprise, some residents are a little afraid of them. They are lovely birds but I do worry about their safety and Daddy doesn’t look in great condition, still, they’re all safe and well at present. Isn’t it lovely to have a little sunshine….sighs…the difference it makes!!!xxx
Hello Dina, sorry I am a bit late getting round to your blog, I have been in Tuscany for a week. Your lovely magnolia looks like Magnolia stellata. How exciting having everything bursting into bloom at last. I love those baby peacocks. I had a peacock visitor who stayed around for a few days. He kept spying on me through the window. Most disconcerting having a peacock watching your every move.
Oh….lucky you spending some time in Tuscany, it really is a beautiful place, look forward to hearing more. You have me laughing out loud with your spying peacock story, I can imagine how that would be a little daunting.xxx
Gosh yes, wild peacocks that is unusual, glad they are still thriving. I’ve been loving see all the bees on the blossom this spring. Especially the big fat bumble bees, shame the blossom is just so fleeting.
Loving your raised beds, they will be fantastic for all your salad crops. I’ve also decided to grow mine in pots this year, fed up of losing them to slugs at the allotment. Can’t keep a better eye on them at home.
I always wish the cherry blossom lasted a little longer too, a sudden wind sees most of it off, but at least I have staggered blossoming which prolongs the season. You just can’t beat a big fat bumbly bee! I am really pleased with those raised beds, they sure take some filling though! Yes a sharp eye has to be kept on slugs for sure!xxx
What a fun collection of spring loveliness in your garden! I wonder what attracted those peacocks to your neighborhood…? Strange, but fun to photograph! You know I have a great hope of visiting you in April some year under raining cherry blossom confetti — sigh!
George was doing his mad running about the house (I think he got it from your three dogs) and knocked over one of my favorite watercolors in a heavy acrylic frame. It reminded me of your poor trampled dog runs. So pleased the tulips survived them! I really like that screened cage thingy. Looks like just what I need if I want to attempt tomatoes again.
I’m excited for you as you anticipate getting some fruit this year. Probably too soon to get a big crop, but perhaps a few at least to give you some hope 😉
I look forward to a visit in April, how lovely that would be….plenty of room here for you and Roomie! Hahahaha….now don’t be blaming me for George’s crazy running around! I must say I was surprised to see those tulips survive three galloping beasts! Oh….good luck with your tomatoes!xxx
I’m ever so impressed with your macro photos. Lovely flowering plants. The bird life and worms have shown up really well. Perhaps the worms weren’t quite so pleased. It’s good to know that the peacocks have a homing instinct, wherever home happens to be.
You’ve got a fair bit of gardening in the offing. xxxx
I’m honoured that you are impressed with any of my pics! I’m working with the long lens now, it’s just easier and takes a little time to get used to. Poor worms….I did feel guilty leaving them exposed knowing their fate……xxxx
I’ve never seen young peacocks or peahens before. What a terrific surprise — and it’s good that they seem to be adept at surviving. Speaking of birds, your comment about the bird with the many worms reminded me of my blue jay parents. I put out raw, shelled peanuts for them and the cardinals, and those blue jays can stuff at least five or six into their beak before flying off to their babes. It’s really funny to watch. Sometimes, they help themselves to some sunflower seeds before carrying the peanuts back home.
I just saw some of our magnolias blooming today. They’re quite a different species than yours — the southern magnolia can be the size of a dinner plate. They are magnificent flowers, but I think I like yours just as well.
And I like your confetti metaphor for your blossoms!
I am becoming concerned for the peacocks, they seem to be escapees and birds of that size need a food source and I think they will struggle in local gardens, I am trying to locate an owner…
Your blue jay story had me smiling, and had me recalling an incident involving a wood pigeon eating twenty peanuts in one sitting, it took so long doing so that I had time to paint it. Your magnolias sound fantastic, we have purple ones that size too, they don’t like my soil though.xxx
Your tulips did well ‘to survive the dogs’.
Bluebells can and do look lovely but the Spanish ones – yes they take over.
Great picture of the peacocks and that robin is lovely too.
I love mange tout! You seem to be well ahead in your planting – great stuff!
Enjoying reading and looking at your post, thank you.
Hope the week is going well for you.
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan..I am still in shock seeing those tulips finally blooming, they have been beaten down to within an inch of their lives! Oh…you and me both re mange tout….xxx
How will those cages keep Buddy out? Won’t he just jump through them? Your magnolia is a beauty and I’m a softie for cherry blossom petal snow, too. 🙂 Those tulips must have stems of steel to have survived the dogs!
The cages have a fine mesh around them that is stopping Buddy jumping through them …so far, so good! I’m rather surprised to see those tulips upright and in bloom too….I wouldn’t have believed it was possible!xxx
The only white Magnolia I know of is Magnolia stellata, but take that with a grain of salt (there certainly could be others). How odd to think of wild peacocks wandering around your part of the world. The ecologist Douglas Tallamy once calculated how many insects a chickadee would have to catch every day to feed its offspring. Don’t remember the number, but it was amazingly large.
You nailed that magnolia! I think the peacocks are domestic escapees….I hope they are finding something to eat. I’m trying to locate an owner, no success to date. Gosh, yes…the number of insects that are fed to chicks is astonishing, even as surrogate parents at the rescue I’m always amazed at how many mealworm etc a single chick devours!xxx
I love the photo of the bird with a beak full of worms…don’t think I’ve ever seen a bird with so many. Poor birds in spring rushing around feeding their young. I loved the tour around your garden, everything looks very calm compared with our garden when we had a dog called Sally …..otherwise known as Digger! I love your fruit trees, and feel we should follow your example,…nice to have your own fruit.
I’m often surprised at how many critters a feeding adult crams into its beak….sometimes they have to drop a few! They have my sympathy too. Oh, diggy dogs… they are unstoppable! xxx
The peacocks look as though they’re waiting quite happily for something to appear for them. I hope they out-smart any predators. That is great to see the birds feeding young in your garden, they really do fill their beaks with worms. It must be so exhausting for them at this time of year. It’s great to see, too, all your seeds and spring planting – it’s sounds as though you’ll have lots of fresh veg to enjoy this summer. Wonderful!
The peacocks were peering into an elderly woman’s glass front door, we had to ring her to let her know they were there, in case they freaked her out! They seem to have escaped from somewhere…I hope they survive too. I do pity parent birds, the sheer amount of energy that goes into raising brood is astonishing and as you say, exhausting!xxx
I love to hear peacocks call. Our neighbour used to keep them but sadly they were caught by the fox. Nature I know but I miss them.
I have never seen them in the wild……..only parks.
Love the magnolia…….never had much success with them sadly. Do not know why but suspect it is the high water table.
I loathe Spanish bluebells….I inherited them, as you did. They have all but finished my native bluebells, sadly.
I will keep trying to rid the garden of them but have a feeling they are one of natures survivors 🙂
I love the plaintive mewling too….I think these poor birds are domestic and will struggle to survive, I’m trying to locate the owner, it’s proving difficult. I’ve always had problems with Magnolia too, so am most surprised to see this little beauty surviving in such an awful border, filled with matted old ‘orible hedging roots. I’m with you, I think the Spanish bluebells are going to be the norm eventually.xxx
Peacocks voices don’t actually match that beautiful feathers do they?
Spanish bluebells are a nuisance since it seems once you have some you never really get rid of them all.
Is that some sort of magnolia stellata?
Peacocks do have such a plaintive, haunting cry…very cat-like! Oh….the Spanish thugs are a very beautiful pest. Yes, the consensus seems to be going for stellata…thanks Sue.xxx
All looks wonderful and as always when I read your posts and enjoy your photos I get urges to make a garden….one day one day….. I want to try and grow a nut tree….now I am almost vegan and eating lots of them…
How surprising to find peahens and see them fly and hear them!
Have noticed that there are so many birds round my way this year…which is very reassuring. No peahens so far though!
The raised flower beds look fab…all looks just delightful!
Great to hear your news btw… Still not set up a blog…am painting icons every spare moment but when the course has finished in early October I will finally be able to relax and turn my attention to other things more.xxx
Oh gosh! When and why did you become almost vegan??? How lovely though, the wee beasties will be grateful! I would absolutely love to grow nuts…I have beech but they’re not really edible, would keep us alive in an armageddon event though. I’m quite sure, when you get time you will have you a garden, maybe just start with easy salad crops in pots, foolproof they are! Now you have me wishing I could see all those Icon paintings, I can’t wait for October when you get back to blogging, clearly I’m missing so much….xxx
Oh, Dina, there’s always something magical happening in your queendom; peacocks at the door, for instance. I get tom turkeys strutting for the girls; you get peacocks! 🙂
I LOVE the image of all those fruit trees. I have cherries and plums and tons of berries, but apricot and pear sound wonderful, too. Everything looks so lovely in your greenhouse and gardens, and those raised beds are amazing.
Can’t wait to see the parade of colors and gifts this summer! Blessings on your week’s end!
You always make me smile! I am becoming worried about the peacocks though, they seem to be domestic birds that have escaped and I wonder what they are finding to eat….I’m leaving seed out…
Oh…I think it’s going to be a great year for fruit, says I with fingers and toes crossed! I doubt I’ll get apricots though, those trees are too young, but maybe in a few years. Thanks as always for your lovely comment Kitty. Hugs to you and yours.xxx
Nice images as usual.
Thanks Peter.xxx
Wow! Wild peacocks!!! Yes, I wonder from whence they came….
Your garden is showing all the right signs of a burgeoning Spring/Summer….
Always a joy to read your posts…..Take Care! Hugs!❤
Thanks Bushka, it certainly is a mystery as to where they have come from…..still, it’s lovely having them around.xxx
How exciting to find the peacocks, and I love the pic of the frilly fluffed-up one! Your garden looks a treat, although a lot of very hard work. That magnolia is magnolificent ! I get fed up with the bluebells too – I am always digging them up and every year they pop up again, saying YAH BOO SUCKS TO YOU … cheeky lot.
Thanks Gilly, that fluffed up juvenile sure is pretty! Struth, there must be a way to get rid of the Spanish thugs…..beats me too! xxx
Love the peacocks, I hope they continue to thrive. I presume your neighbour must be feeding them? There is a certain look of expectation there! The garden is really coming on, marvellous!
The house the peacocks were hanging around belongs to an elderly lady, we had to ring her in case she came out and got a fright, she hasn’t been feeding them, I think they were enjoying their reflections! xxx
A most enjoyable post and lovely pictures. How surprising to see wild peacocks. We could all do some warmer weather that’s for sure.
Happy gardening. xx
Thanks Flighty….finally we’re getting a little heat, but now we have to suffer the Sahara dust!!!xxx
I had never heard of “mange tout” and couldn’t imagine what they were. So many possibilities. Aha, “snow peas,” of course, you eat them pods and all! And stray peacocks wandering around? That must have felt a bit surreal.
Ah yes…..I remember that they are called snow peas now! Lol….it was rather odd seeing those peacock’s, enchanting though!xxx
I wonder where the peacocks came from, they’re not something you usually see when you open your curtains on a morning. The bower will look fabulous once those roses are blooming. You’re certainly on track where sowing is concerned, you’ve made a great start for the growing year.
It’s a mystery where the peacocks come from, they’re still around though, and most welcome. Now the weather has finally warmed up hopefully the remaining seeds will germinate.xxx
Wow, wild peacocks! What a lovely sight, you are so lucky. I love your raised beds and your bower is gorgeous too. Have fun potting on all your seedlings. xx
Thanks Veggie Mummy, it will be some time before I get all those raised beds filled, they sure take some filling.xxx