I chose this forum because the contents vary. First of all, I want to show you these first couple of strawberry flowers. This is very exciting for me. Why, I can almost taste and smell those little, red jewels. Then whilst taking my tea, I saw these two dark butterflies chasing each other around over the gardens.i have seen a couple of different butterflies already, but I couldn't see these ones well enough to identify. I chased after them and when they stopped, I tried to sneak up on the...but they flew off again. I tried a couple more times, and they flew away before I could get close enough. I thought to myself, "Sjoerd, you are a fool...you have a camera with a zoom lens". DUH! The next time they stopped and I could take this foto. An Aglais io. We call them a "Day Peacock Eye". They were so frisky as young lambs. I had mentioned the planting of the peas and Kspucijners here you can just see the rack sand wig-wam. The rest of the garden is nice and tidy and as the weather warms the mulch will be rolled-back and new rows of veg planted. I went over to kneel and watch the bees and in the canal in front of the there was a splashing commotion and I looked down and saw these guys. The paths inbetween the plots over in the flower garden have been cleaned as have some of the plots. I hate to take away everything that grows too closely to the path until it has finished blooming. What a softie, eh? One of the strangest things that I have seen was this Jackdaw (Corvus monedula). Its "coffee with milk" colour is absolutely unusual here. They are usually black with a sort of greyish head. In this foto you can see both colourings. It is definitely not a albino. Well, that's an update on the lottie. Things just can't go fast enough for me.
I'm always amazed at how neat your lottie looks. Those grass paths are flourishing. Your strawberries are quite a bit in front of mine. I don't think I'll see the first flowers for a few weeks yet. I've seen a few butterflies around here over the last week or so but never managed to capture them with my camera. Peacocks are such beautiful insects aren't they? I always like to see new babies and those eight little ducklings are such adorable puff balls. I've seen some strange creatures over the years but never, ever seen a Jackdaw like the one in your photographs. At first glance I thought Albino but, as you say, it's not as it has the lovely blue eyes of the normally coloured birds. I'm so glad you spotted it and managed to get such good shots. Maybe you should send it in to Springwatch or the RSPB to see what they make of it.
Ahhh, Spring is here! So nice to see the lottie all prepped for another season. Looks as though your Strawbs are off to a good start! Love the butterflies and birds that were kind enough to pose for you. And let's not forget the ducks!! I have encountered several ducks sitting on nests in customer's gardens this year!
I really enjoyed seeing your lottie. It looks so neat and tidy, and my mouth started watering seeing your strawberries. I gave up on growing strawberries as the wasps and hornets got to them before I could, even if they were covered with netting. Those are great pictures of the birds and butterflies.
Things are looking great in your allotment Sjoerd! You are so very far ahead of us here in Ontario ... we haven't even had our daff's bloom yet! Today's forecast calls for snow showers and a high of only 4°C!
I am seriously impressed with your allotment Sjoerd and how advanced your plants are. Strawberry flowers are just a tease aren't they-a promise of loveliness to come.Is there anything cuter than a mum and her ducklings! The Jackdaw is Leucistic and I know this because for 4 or 5 years we had one as a regular visitor and I researched the condition :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucism
I look forward to seeing your posts and how you lottie is doing. I picked my first sugar snaps yesterday all 2 of them. They were yummy.
Sjoerd, I much enjoy follovving your endeavors, all of them.. You make great pictures and very interesting posts.. Keep it up! Hank
All I can say is--your allotment is incredibly well-maintained, beautiful, and obviously much loved! The ducklings are precious. We keep hoping a pair of ducks will nest near our pond, but no luck so far. That is a lovely butterfly, and one we do not have here. Thanks for the nature tour, and letting us wander about your lottie (I promise not to pick any strawberries!).
EILEEN-- I may well send that jackdaw piccy in to Springwatch this year. It isn't a good quality because it was sunset and the darn bird would not stand still. Having said that, I can imagine that there are some folks that may be interested in seeing this creature. Thanks for your comments, KAY-- I am hopeful for the strawbs. Thank you for the nice comments, 2OF--You know, 2of...you could try some enviro-mesh to cover your strawbs with once they have been fertilized The wasps could not get through that! MISS KITTY-- I am glad that you liked the posting. Since you once had some ducks for pets, I can see that that pic would be appealing to you. Glad that you liked the posting too, KK. Oh NETTY-- I am so sorry that your spring has not yet begun there. Hang in there meid, it's on the way. Wow, thanks KIA--Too right about the teasing strawb bloom. hahaha. I appreciate so much the info about the condition the jackdaw exhibits. Ta. Hiya DONNA-- You lucky thing, you!! Sugar snaps. yum. I appreciate your very kind words, HANK--I really do. I sure appreciate your complimentary response to the posting, MARLING--I hope that you get a family of ducks there. Ach--you can pick a strawb when they come through.
So nice to see your lottie progress again. Everything it so neat over there. Spring is springing all over, finally.
You have such a beautiful lottie Sjoerd! Seeing your photos over the years has been such an eye opener for me. I never knew about 'lotties' in Europe before your postings.
Thanks WARE--Yes spring is springing in more and more places. I am glad that you enjoy seeing my lottie. . Hiya CAYUGA--Thank you so much for your nice compliments. I am glad that you were able to discover something new for you--the lottie philosophy. I am guessing that folks over there have municipal gardens for citizens by now. Right? Well, it is coming along good now. I am leaving now to go work in the bees and if it does not rain do a bit of flower gardening.
