Floral Favourites Jan 2016

Have decided to keep a record of the floral highlights of our garden from month to month as this year progresses. Obviously this is going to take a lot of observation, and then remembering to then write it up! We'll have to see how my memory holds up, but here goes.

January 2016

We have had a very mild and wet autumn/winter so far with very few frosty nights, and only one significant fall of snow. As a result there are many plants looking much healthier than they should be at this time of year! Polyanthus and primula have been flowering all through autumn/winter and the pink, red and yellow blooms really cheered up the dismal, dark days. Unfortunately the birds seem to like them too - there have been bits of leaf all over the path some days after they have been pecking at the nice new green shoots. I notice the purple globular primulas are pushing through the ground too. I have also had cowslips flowering just outside the conservatory door, just where I can see them! One of my favourite spring flowers. In recent years it has been nice to see lots of them flowering in verges by the side of some parts of the motorways - presumably seeded deliberately by councils.

 

 

The oriental poppies have been very confused this year, flowering again in the autumn after their dead heading at the usual time of year. They are really greening up now though and contrast nicely with the darker greens of evergreen plants within the garden.The holly bush has just about lost all its red berries - to the birds! - but gives some nice green backbone to the garden, and the ivy still has berries that the birds are obviously not desperate for!

 

 

Another flower that has been showing off recently are the Christmas roses. They quietly do their thing until one day you look and find they are covered in blooms!

 

 The viburnum is looking close to flowering too with it's pink buds that are actually white when in flower.

 

 

The bergenias are just showing the first signs of their pink flowers. Not much longer and they should be cheering us up.

 

 

Mahonia is another early flower that is worth every penny spent on buying it. We had a very old bush that we had to chop down last year and it will be sadly missed this year. The fragrance when in bloom is overpowering and the bees love it! We did leave the root in the ground to see if it would resprout - and there are a few small leaves! - but went out and bought a new one to replace it. That is obviously rather small so we are not expecting great things this year. One interesting observation of the chopped down bush was the bright yellow colour of the wood when cut. It has now gone onto our wood pile so will be around for a while longer.

Daffodil spears are appearing all over the garden, along with crocus and snowdrop tips.

 

 I was given a big clump of snowdrops last year, dug up after they had flowered but before the leaves had gone over. Digging and planting them "in the green" is the way to go when dividing snowdrops. The Snowdrop Festival is something we look forward to at this time of year too. Gardens with good shows of snowdrops open to the public at this time of year just so we can see their snowdrops! We always try to find a new garden to go to during this time and have not been disappointed yet! Everyone we've ever been to has had carpets of snowdrops looking just like snow. Talking of which - only one covering of snow - so far -  this year, but it disappeared quite quickly so didn't really cause us any problems.

Looking around the garden as January draws to a close, buds are swelling and new green growth is developing on many plants. The garden seems to think Spring is on it's way. If only the weather would agree!

Burns Night January 25th

I've heard of Robert Burns and the supper that is held in his memory every year but don't  know all the details. So this year I thought I'd find out a bit more....

Robert Burns, also known as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He was born on January 25, 1759 in Alloway and died on July 21, 1796 in Dumfries.

A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January.

The first supper was held at Burns Cottage by Robert Burns' friends on 21 July 1801, the fifth anniversary of his death. They are still held regularly today.
Burns suppers may be formal or informal. Both typically include haggis, Scotch whisky, and the recitation of Burns's poetry.
Order of the supper:-
Piping in the guests
A piper generally greets the guests, who gather and mix as at any informal party. At less formal gatherings traditional Scottish music is played.
Host's welcoming speech
The host says a few words welcoming everyone to the supper and perhaps stating the reason for it. All of the guests are seated and grace is said, usually using the Selkirk Grace, a well-known thanksgiving said before meals, using the Scots language. Although attributed to Burns, the Selkirk Grace was already known in the 17th century, as the "Galloway Grace" or the "Covenanters' Grace". It came to be called the Selkirk Grace because Burns was said to have delivered it at a dinner given by the Earl of Selkirk.
The Selkirk Grace
Some hae meat an canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
And sae let the Lord be thankit.

The supper starts with the soup course. Normally a Scottish soup such as Scotch Broth, Potato Soup or Cock-a-Leekie is served.
“Piping" of the haggis
Everyone stands as the main course is brought in. This is always a haggis on a large dish. It is usually brought in by the cook, generally while a piper plays bagpipes and leads the way to the host's table, where the haggis is laid down. They might play "A Man's A Man for A' That", "Robbie Burns Medley" or "The Star O' Robbie Burns".
The host, or perhaps a guest, then recites the Address to a Haggis
Address to a Haggis
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,               (sonsie = jolly/cheerful, fa = fat)
Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,               (aboon = above)
Painch, tripe, or thairm:                              (painch = paunch/stomach, thairm = intestine)
Weel are ye wordy o' a grace                     (wordy = worthy)
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,

Your hurdies like a distant hill,                    (hurdies = buttocks)
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o' need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dicht,                (dicht = wipe, here with the idea of sharpening)
An' cut you up wi' ready slicht,                    (slicht = skill)
Trenching your gushing entrails bricht,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sicht,
Warm-reekin, rich!                                       (reekin= steaming)

  Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmaist! on they drive,          (deil = devil)
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve,          (swall'd = swollen, kytes = bellies, belyve = soon)
Are bent like drums;                                    (bent like = tight as)
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive     (auld Guidman = the man of the house, rive = tear)
"Bethankit" hums.

 Is there that o're his French ragout

Or olio that wad staw a sow,       (olio = stew, from Spanish olla'/stew pot, staw = make sick)
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi' perfect scunner,                                     (scunner = disgust)
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him ower his trash,
As feckless as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;                                               (nieve = fist, nit = nut, i.e. tiny)
Thro' bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

 But mark the Rustic, haggis fed,                               

The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his wallie nieve a blade,                   (wallie = mighty, nieve = fist)
He'll mak it whistle;
An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned,         (sned = cut off)
Like taps o' thristle.                                       (thristle = thistle)

Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care,

And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinkin ware         (skinkin ware = watery soup)
That jaups in luggies;             (jaups = slops about, luggies = two-handled continental bowls)
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer,
Gie her a haggis!

  At the line "His knife see rustic Labour dicht" the speaker normally draws and sharpens a knife, and at the line "An' cut you up wi' ready slicht", plunges it into the haggis and cuts it open from end to end. When done properly this "ceremony" is a highlight of the evening.
At the end of the poem, a Scotch whisky toast will be proposed to the haggis, then the company will sit down to the meal.
The haggis is traditionally served with mashed potatoes (tatties) and mashed turnips (A Scottish 'turnip' is an English 'swede') (neeps).
A dessert course, cheese courses, coffee, etc. may also be part of the meal.
The courses normally use traditional Scottish recipes. For instance, dessert may be cranachan or Tipsy Laird (whisky trifle) followed by oatcakes and cheese, all washed down with the "water of life" (uisge beatha) – Scotch whisky. When the meal reaches the coffee stage various speeches and toasts are given:-
Immortal memory
The main speaker gives a speech, remembering some aspect of Burns' life or poetry. This may be light-hearted or serious and may include the recitation of a poem or song by Burns. A toast to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns then follows.
Address to the Lassies
This was originally a short speech given by a male guest in thanks to the women who had prepared the meal. However, nowadays it is much more wide-ranging and generally covers the male speaker's view on women. It is normally amusing but not offensive, particularly bearing in mind that it will be followed by a reply from the "lassies" concerned. The men drink a toast to the women's health.
Reply to the Laddies
This is occasionally (and humorously) called the "Toast to the Laddies" and, like the previous toast, it is generally quite wide-ranging nowadays. A female guest will give her views on men and reply to any specific points raised by the previous speaker. Like the previous speech, this should be amusing, but not offensive. Quite often the speakers giving this toast and the previous one will collaborate so that the two toasts complement each other.
Works by Burns
After the speeches there may be singing of songs by Burns – Ae Fond Kiss, Parcel o' Rogues, A Man's a Man, etc. – and more poetry – To a Mouse, To a Louse, Tam o' Shanter, The Twa Dugs, Holy Willie's Prayer, etc. This may be done by the individual guests or by invited experts, and it goes on for as long as the guests wish and may include other works by poets influenced by Burns, particularly poets writing in Scots. Foreign guests can also be invited to sing or say works from their land.
Closing
Finally the host will call on one of the guests to give the vote of thanks, after which everyone is asked to stand, join hands, and sing Auld Lang Syne bringing the evening to an end.

Here in Dumfries there is a 9 day celebration called the Big Burns Supper. This includes concerts, with among them this year the Bay City Rollers (remember them?), comedy shows, a tea dance and a range of other events. The firework display along the River Nith takes place alongside the Big Burns Supper Carnival, which has hundreds of performers and dancers carrying thousands of lanterns, alongside floats and bands. This took place last night in Dumfries.

I apologise if any of the above is wrong but I am only a Sassenach, now living in Scotland!!(Sassenach is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word sasunnach, literally meaning 'Saxon', and originally used by Gaelic speakers to refer to non-Gaelic speaking Scottish Lowlanders. In modern Scotland, however, the Gaelic term has been adopted into general usage as sassenach, denoting something or someone English.)   

Newbie 15th January 2016

A beautiful sunny day today after a very sharp frost last night. Everywhere and everything was white this morning - remember the days when windows had frosty patterns on them when you got up in the morning? Well, it was one of those! The sort of day to encourage us outside, and it didn't take much encouragement as it has been so wet and miserable lately we haven't been going very far at all! Well wrapped up with lots of layers to keep out the cold and off we went.

The shore at Newbie was our destination - not far from home but always something to see. Looking around as we arrived the sun was shining and the sky was blue. The moon was even visible too!

(I'm a poet and I didn't know it!)

 

Can you spot the moon?

 

Snow was visible on Criffel, a local hill overlooking the Solway coastline.

 

 

 

We had a bracing walk along the shore, only meeting one other person on the way. There were hundreds of scallop shells on the beach today, many broken but we did find some complete specimens.

 

 

There were plenty of birds to be seen on the shore - and in the water - today. Oystercatcher, mallard, redshank, curlew, ringed plover to name just a few favourites seen today.

 

Photos courtesy of www.arkive.org

 

Lots of other natural specimens to be found today too.

 

 

The sun began to disappear unfortunately....

 

 

...so time to go home.

As we travelled past local fields that were still flooded with water - albeit frozen today - there were hundreds of birds just too far away to see with the naked eye. While pausing to look through the binoculars a kestrel then suddenly frightened hundreds of lapwing and golden plover into flight. We have always loved watching lapwings swooping through the sky but the numbers today were more than we had seen for a long time. The golden plovers were beautiful too showing their white underbellies but then sparking like diamonds in the sun. 

 

Photos courtesy of www.arkive.org

We really enjoyed our wander today and are really looking forward to better weather - SOON!!

 



Nov/Dec wildlife sightings from a garden in Annan

Nov/Dec have been very quiet months for wildlife in the garden. Obviously the atrocious weather has greatly influenced sightings. Even sightings of birds have been down - and often only seen at the beginning and end of the day when they were feeding.

Monthly max - for Nov/Dec:

Blackbird - 2m 2f

Blue tit - 3

Carrion crow - 5

Chaffinch - 2m 2f

Coal tit - 2

Dunnock - 2

Geese - 100 flying over

Goldfinch - 2

Great tit - 2

House sparrow - 35m 15f

Jackdaw - 3

Kestrel - 1

Robin - 2

Song thrush - 3

Starling - 100

Wood pigeon - 2

Wren - 2

January is also the time for the Big Garden Birdwatch with RSPB. It takes just an hour and is suitable for all ages and abilities. More than half a million people across the UK will take part in the survey by counting the birds in their garden, for 1 hour, over the weekend of 30-31 January. They will also make a record of any other wildlife they see throughout the year. 

Request a free Big Garden Birdwatch pack from the RSPB.

 

DGERC have issued their first "species to look out for" bulletin of the year.

The Dumfries and Galloway Environmental Resources Centre (DGERC) is the local records centre for our region. It acts as a focal point for environmental information in Dumfries and Galloway. Established in 2004, the Centre collates, manages and disseminates information on the flora, fauna, geology and other aspects of Dumfries and Galloway's natural environment to interested individuals, communities and organisations and promotes and encourages biological recording in the region.

For Jan they are looking for records of Scarlet/Ruby Elfcup and the Mountain Hare in particular, but welcome other records too.

Scarlet Elfcup Sarcoscypha austriaca and Ruby Elfcup S. coccinea produce bright red cup-shaped fungi on dead twigs and branches (often mossy ones), typically measuring 2-7cm across and appearing from January through to early spring. Similar looking species include Orange Peel fungus Aleuria aurantia whose fruiting bodies are orange in colour rather than red.

 

 

Whilst its close cousin the Brown Hare was probably introduced into Britain during Roman times, the Mountain Hare Lepus timidus has been present in the UK for over 100,000 years. Mountain Hares are smaller and more compact than the commoner Brown Hare, and have an all-white tail and greyer fur which sometimes turns white in the winter.

 

 

Thanks to DGERC website for photos and information.

See dgerc.org.uk for more details about DGERC and record keeping.