Song for Jasmine » Winter

Snow in the Jura

Tony — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:20:34 +0000

footpath covered in snow

Just a few days ago, I commented over at The Marvellous in Nature that we didn’t have enough snow yet for snow-shoeing. Well that has all changed! We now have several centimetres, or quite a few inches, depending on which you prefer.

The photo above was from our morning walk last Friday. The stream below on the right was taken then too. Plenty of snow there, as you can see. Later in the day we had more snow, the picture on the left being taken from the warmth and comfort of our living room.

snow falling on field

mountain stream

lacewing

Even before the snow came, it’s been very cold here, so obviously there are far less insects about now, but there are still a few surprises here and there. Some days ago I looked up from my laptop to see this lacewing on the outside of the window. As far as I know, they should all be hibernating now. Maybe he had heard about the bug-hotel I made last month and was going to check out the accomodation?

He’s not the only lacewing we’ve seen lately, one has decided to move in with us for the winter. He now spends his time in the spare room, which we keep unheated for my cacti.

bug hotel with snow

We’ve named him Edgar, the fly who came in from the cold. Edgar has spent the last 2 or 3 days on the window-sill, which is not a particularly safe place for him to be, so I’ve moved him into a small box of shredded paper. I have no idea if he manages to find food, or if he needs any now, he doesn’t move far at all it seems. If anyone has suggestions on how to look after him and help him survive the winter, please let me know!

Then of course there’s our feathered friends. We have many birds sheltering in the eaves, and they are quite happy to avail themselves of the food we put out for them. We’ve been investigated by magpies a few times too, but they seem too shy to stay when they see us through the window. Hopefully they’ll learn to trust us and stay a little longer, they’re so beautiful.

The birds don’t seem to bother with the water much, which I think is pretty ungrateful of them considering the effort it takes to replace it every time it freezes. Still, I guess they know what they need. As long as they keep coming for the food, we will keep putting it out for them!

Wherever you are, whichever creatures you have sharing your Christmas, indoors or out, I wish you, and them, a merry Christmas.

water and food for birds

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Sunflowers

Tony — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:35:04 +0000

dead sunflower

sunflower in full bloom

Yesterday, I finally dug up my dead sunflowers. Even though there are still a few seeds in them, as you can see in the photo, the birds have stopped visiting them, so it’s time for them to go. I had intended to save the dead flowers to put out later in the winter for the birds, but they found them before I harvested them so I let them have them. I’ll put out other food for them later.

Sunflowers are one of my favourite flowers, I first grew them when I was a kid. I’ve taken a number of photos of this years crop during the summer, here are a few of the best. Hope you like them!

sunflower petals close-up

one of my first sunflowers this year

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Winter visitors

Tony — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:03:08 +0000

: bird of prey

We still have lots of snow on the ground here, and it’s frozen hard. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, the local wildlife is still very much in evidence. Today we had two hawks flying around nearby. I don’t know what type they are, if anyone does I’d be interested to find out.

: fox

: fox

At the same time, a fox came trotting through the nearby fields. We’ve seen this fox before in the distance, but this is the closest we have seen it come.

Less spectacular, but equally pretty, we have the occasional insect that invites itself indoors for the winter. This moth is one of two that have appeared recently. I hope they manage to survive the winter!

: moth

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