Nature 🌱

[Piff paff puff]

It's that annoying stage isn't it when some things are unidentifiable & you either have to presume they're weeds & dig them up, or hope that they're flowers you planted... I'm having that exact same problem! There's a massive mystery plant on my allotment that definitely wasn't there last year, it's in a weird place where I wouldn't have planted anything, but I kinda wanna see what it turns out to be, so I've left it for now. That's half the fun! That, and listening to all the birds. I love hearing a cuckoo & a woodpecker as well as all the little birds singing, it's just so calming.

It's a good lesson to learn
Birds are great at pollinating I've found. Last year had things growing that I called beanstalks. Ended up being sunflowers and I knew it was the blackbirds that did it because I saw them mess at one place they grew and I feed them sunflower hearts in spring, they go through loads.
Dying to see what your plant turns into

Here are the sunflowers last year.

 

[strawb]

 

[bubbadabut]

Lovely idea for a thread. I am envious of everyone's beautiful-looking plants and produce, as my efforts usually end in disaster!

I just wanted to share my little bit of nature. I have had a female duck coming to my house at this time of year for the last 3 years. Sometimes she brings her fella, but for the last 2 days we've had a bit of a ménage a trois going on

They love their mealworms and usually mill around for a few hours before flying off. I love my duckies

 

[Piff paff puff]

I'm on duckie duty today

 

[Pesky Tarian]

My peonies have finally popped ! Also little guy hitched a ride on the washing and a busy bee

 

[kittenattack]

I photographed a field of poppies near to me.

 

[strawb]

love this thread!

the last couple of years i've gotten into balcony gardening
this year we have:

• cucumbers
• bell peppers
• a watermelon (we'll see how that goes haha)
• strawberries
• spring onions
• lettuce
• radish
• lots of different spices: basil, rosemary, etc
• chinese money plant
• tradescantia (spiderwort)
  
• lots of different flowers

i'd love to share some photos on here!

 

[rainbowlemon]

No you’re not the only one. Mentally I feel so much better when I’m outside too. I just came from a walk with my younger sister.

Growing plants and looking after them also brought me joy.

 

[YetAnotherObsessionx]

Nature nerd here too! I moved from a city to the countryside about 5 years ago. I was a country bumpkin until I was 18 so it felt right to come back once I'd lived my 20-something city life. I feel so much calmer, in control and healthier here in the middle of birdsong and trees. There's so much proper evidence of how nature can help people heal from illnesses, as well.

This morning I woke up to the sound of rain and a blackbird. It's just the best.

 

[kittenattack]

We made this today. It has a small water pump in the bottom and rocks inside. It bubbles very nicely and hardly uses any power.

 

[Piff paff puff]

All things nature. Plants, outdoors, animals, insects, flowers, gardens, trees, etc. A thread to discuss, advise, post questions, upload your nature spaces, projects, plans, pics.
Whether you've always liked nature, just learning about it all, interested, curious......

I've always loved nature, always outdoors and always appreciated how its great for feeling calm, happy, exercise, nurturing and a great creative outlet and the wellbeing that comes from seeing nature thrive from the things you do. It excites me when I see my ideas come to life and bring something new, very addictive. Its one of the few things I'd happily talk about for hours
Tell me I'm not the only one?

 

[Piff paff puff]

today's little project, a terrarium
Anyone else made one? I'd love to make a massive one with a solar powered light inside

 

[donttrip]

Why isn't there such a thing as a bee first aid kit? A small box perhaps that you could place a bee in and a vial of energy liquid. Does anyone else find bees usually sluggish on the ground? Sometimes they just need a bit of warmth in your hand or a drink but sometimes it's not possible and I thought if the rescue box had a keyring you could attach it to you so you could rescue on the go. Just a thought.

I have this keyring - https://www.beevive.com/shop/The-Original-Bee-Revival-Kit-Gold-Edition-p155578353

 

[Piff paff puff]

Why isn't there such a thing as a bee first aid kit? A small box perhaps that you could place a bee in and a vial of energy liquid. Does anyone else find bees usually sluggish on the ground? Sometimes they just need a bit of warmth in your hand or a drink but sometimes it's not possible and I thought if the rescue box had a keyring you could attach it to you so you could rescue on the go. Just a thought.

 

[Piff paff puff]

An update on the house martins.... There are 3 chicks. They've got louder over the weeks and then eventually squeezing their heads out and watching their parents and other house martins and communicated with them. That encouraged them to be brave and take their first flight which I witnessed the biggest one left first and the others left soon after.
I feel so proud, I just can't believe how amazing they are. They will come and go to the nest with their parents still feeding them now for a little while.
Pic of chicks pre 1st flight and pic of parent feeding them.

 

[Piff paff puff]

Just a little update on the swallow nest building above my door. It looks almost finished. Since this was taken its Grown even more. Its funny being eye to eye with them as I step outside
I haven't put them off so far. To see them building as I watch is a real privilege. I hope they raise some happy and healthy chicks

 

[rainbowlemon]

Random photos from today.

I bought a basic picnic blanket from Amazon for the first time with a gift card I had.My sister really liked being able to lie down and I can’t believe i’ve gone so long without owning one, instead of just using my jumper to sit on.

It's a good lesson to learn
Birds are great at pollinating I've found. Last year had things growing that I called beanstalks. Ended up being sunflowers and I knew it was the blackbirds that did it because I saw them mess at one place they grew and I feed them sunflower hearts in spring, they go through loads.
Dying to see what your plant turns into

Here are the sunflowers last year.
View attachment 1294392View attachment 1294398

Your home looks dreamy.

 

[slugella]

Another nature nerd over here I love being out in it, making my garden wild and good for birds and insects, and going on long walks in the woods or by the sea! I work for an environmental NGO too and love wildlife and learning more about conservation.

 

[SharkAttack]

Ok firstly let me state that I am a fan of 'nature'.

HOWEVER...

This morning I left my husband snoozing in bed and went to get us tea. Came back to our bed, picked my pillow off the floor (I sleep with one but have two for reading) and put the tea down. Then I saw a MASSIVE May bug crawling alone the back of my pillow. Massive.

It was like a scene in a horror film. I consider myself quite tough and not scared of things (eg spiders) but this was the length of an egg and almost as big. I'm afraid I made my husband remove it with loo roll.

In other news, Merlin found a reed bunting yesterday and informed me it was my bird of the week which I rather liked.

 

[GlitterFluff]

Discovered the fabulous Merlin app from chat in the discontent thread, thanks to @Blond3g1rl .

Quick listen this morning

View attachment 4005210

I LOVE the Merlin app!

I downloaded it last year and so far, I've heard:

- European Herring Gull
- Barn Swallow
- Western House-Martin
- Common Buzzard
- Common Chaffinch
- Tufted Titmouse
- Northern Mockingbird
- Fish Crow
- Blue Jay
- Pheasant
- Goldcrest
- White Wigtail
- Willow Warbler
- Long-tailed Tit
- Eurasian Linnet
- Stock Dove
- Common Raven
- Carrion Crow
- Long-eared Owl
- Magpie
- European Greenfinch
- Eurasian Skylark
- Eurasian Nuthatch
- Tawny Owl
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Song Thrush
- Mourning Dove
- Common Chiffchaff
- Eurasian Blue Tit
- Dunnock
- Rook
- Eurasian Wren
- Eurasian Blackcap
- Great Tit
- Rock Pigeon
- European Starling
- European Goldfinch
- European Robin
- Eurasian Jackdaw
- Eurasian Collared-Dove
- House Sparrow
- Common Wood-Pigeon
- Eurasian Blackbird