Taexalia

wild.life

Peas Don’t Like Onions…

The veg plot looks like a veg plot today. The salad bed is overflowing with goodness, the brassicas appear to be flourishing under their bridal veil and the potatoes are hinting at underground promise. The Everything Else plot isn't big enough. There were originally two Everything Else plots in the plan but I randomly decided to grow tatties and figured I'd figure everything else out later. For now, the EE bed is full - although it doesn't look it yet as some seedlings are tiny and some ... read more

A Snail’s Pace

I am not going to post a photo of a snail. You all know what snails looks like, especially if you own a garden and you care for it. Also - there are so many contenders for the position of snail model that I just cannot choose. Things I have learned about snails... They are actually quite fast. They will not, ever, eat the plants and debris that you really wouldn't mind them eating. Instead of chomping merrily through the weed seedlings or attacking the ornamental pine things, they ... read more

Garden Meditation

I am sitting on the patio, or is it the terrace ? For the first time since we moved the forces of weather and my own choice to abandon work and home creation pressures have converged to give me an afternoon doing nothing in the sunshine... Ants are busy carrying bits of debris across the flagstones, and a few feet away a goldfinch feeds on thistle seeds from my feeder. The bird appears oblivious to the human watching and writing, and oblivious to the sleeping cat - who Is as oblivious to the ... read more

My Kingdom For A Fork

I have discovered that owning land, no matter how small a plot of land it is, is not as simple as just signing the missives (how is that for a bit of link love?), stabbing a flag pole bird feeder into the earth and staking one's claim. I have also discovered that when you view a property, the perception you walk away with can be somewhat different from reality. For instance, @ was positive that we had a cupboard under the stairs as well as in the kitchen. He was planning ways to turn this ... read more

Arctic Vixen

Last night the snow was still falling and the blanket of white was almost intact, blurring the boundaries and creating an erie light. This morning the world of humans has taken over and where the road and pavement were one there is clear tarmac and orange stripes of salty sand. The cars, you see, must go on. The gardens tell more interesting tales as the criss-cross of animal tracks bely the journeys of the night. In the dim morning light under clouds laden with more snowfall to come ... read more

Night Vision

I am finally willing to believe that there is snow in the UK. I have been seing reports of chaos and pictures of snowmen, and even a picture of a macaque monkey making a snowball... but here in Edinburgh there has been no snow. OK there was a day of snowfall but it all melted. OK there has been a dusting of snow on Arthur's Seat for the last couple of days - but slidy pavements and snowmen? Not a chance. Tonight however not only is the weather forecast accurate and the snow is actually ... read more

Watching Over Predators

The kind I have some respect for that is... I noticed Mr Fox skulking past the Sparrow Bush as I was making my toast and felt blessed because I could have missed the split second sighting so easily. A moment later I gasped as I realised that Mrs Fox was curled up in the long grass of the untamed (thankfully) garden cleaning herself and enjoying the sunshine. Mr Fox skulked back and curled himself up a few feet away to do the same. They have been relaxing and sleeping this way for over ... read more

Welcome Distraction

Packing orders this afternoon and I was distracted by a flash of red outside... our resident pair of foxes were slinking around marking territory and chasing each other. Such is their hearing that they reacted to the click of my camera one floor up behind double glazing... but they did not see me ;-)

More foxes in my garden

How To Begin The Day

[caption id="attachment_503" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Crow"][/caption] As I sat down at my desk to begin work this morning I looked out the window and was taken with the scene outside. The sky was a crisp, clear blue colour with a few cotton wool clouds drifting gently. The clouds were tinged pink by the sunrise, as was the frost on the rooftop opposite and there was a slightly unreal feeling to it all, as if I had arrived a little too early and the Dreamworld was still at ... read more

Dig Our Fox

[kaltura-widget wid="vohid1a5gg" width="410" height="364" addpermission="3" editpermission="3" /] Mister Fox was very intent on digging around under Skeleton Tree and I'm not sure what he was doing - finding food? making a den? or just exploring...? They seemed to be having fun ... read more