“December, in my memory, is white as Lapland, though there were no reindeers. But there were cats.” – Dylan Thomas, A Child’s Christmas in Wales That sounds all very nice, were DT not to have spoiled the image by then going on to write “Patient, cold and callous, our hands wrapped in socks, we [...]
You will be receiving this on Christmas Eve … whether you pause to read it immediately is another matter but whether you do or not Jean and I wish you all, gardeners, wildlife gardeners or just occasional visitors, all the best for Christmas and the days and months that follow. Apart from one faithful [...]
A Seasonal Service for our Friends That title is perhaps not entirely honest as the shrubs in question are not quite what you were expecting if you come here for gardening news. However, the Winter Solstice approaches, followed by Christmas and the New Year with all the jollifications those three dates imply … and [...]
Every December the "Friends of the Morgan Arboretum" hold what is loosely known as a Winter Solstice celebration, mostly intended for short people and their parents. There are games, seasonal films, craft workshops, hot chocolate and cookies and a guided walk (led by the good folk from the Sparroworks) to see if the Chickadees will [...]
Today was the annual (and 73rd) Christmas Bird Count centred on Hudson, a village to the west of Montreal. CBCs, for those not in the know, are a snapshot of the birds in a 15mile circle that can be compared from year to year and so give a picture of changes in bird populations - [...]
The wrens were back in the garden (both of them) and one was brave enough to come up to the heated bird batch on the deck. In other news, another food highlight was a gorgeous, onctueuse tarte aux citron for last night's dinner to help ease the goose down. we didn't get pictures of the [...]
Food is important and home made comestibles even more so ... a few highlights thus far have included: The Great Christmas Cake - the band on top have played there for decades and the design has never changed. All is well with the world. The Great Glazed Ham - this started the [...]
... yes, it is Christmas Eve and not the big day but many countries celebrate today so why not join them? Gorgeous cold and brightly sunny today with more of the same forecast for tomorrow. crisp white snow and a fat goose waiting to be cooked tomorrow. All's right with the world in fact. To [...]
The Cardinal "gang" have been very busy today and I wanted to put some more effort into learning the intricacies of the new cameras - so here are cardinals galore. I know the males are the flashy ones but I actually rather prefer the more subdued females. The Christmas tree is almost up, the Goose [...]
Usually, the Northern Cardinals are territorial and stay out of each others way. We get them in pairs, but one pair will wait for the other to leave before arriving. This winter, for some reason, they are flocking with up to six females at least two males being seen at one and the same time. [...]