A Winter's Tail
by Linda Latham, Botanical and Wildlife Artist
I am at my new address, and new garden, one year on.
Those readers who may not have seen my previous blogs about my wild Scottish Garden may wish to read them through the link below. And hopefully that will explain who I am!
Creating another garden, much smaller than 12 acres, is a joy. No tractors, or ride on mowers, or diggers here. Just the spade, hoe, fork, secateurs and lawn mower in general. And not forgetting the all important power tools for making interesting habitats for the visiting and resident friends of my garden space. The battery powered tools are just such an asset and easy to use. But more on the tools later.
With surprise and gratitude, I capture one of the last flowering poppies unfolding from its tightly wrapped bud on Remembrance Day no less. Not red, but a delicious salmon pink and blousy. Reaching up towards the brightening sky of this winter dawn. But is it winter? Bulb shoots break through the soggy earth expecting a warmer welcome. Tiny flies appear from nowhere on mass, as if going somewhere in a hurry, and yet just buzzing in a chaotic cloud. It must be because of a warm southerly breeze raising expectations. And then, like someone throwing off the duvet, a frosty chill grips the ground sending all emerging creatures back to their shelters as a sparkling dust bites the tips of the leaves, almost as if burnt, barely hanging on in defiance. But still two buds remain on the prolific Himalayan Poppy. Will I see them bloom?
We built a summerhouse when we moved here and the stipulation was to leave entrances for hedgehogs. Which we have. I could have made a viewing portal, however I did not want a gap in the floor so a wildlife camera will provide any assurances I may need that neighbours have moved in. However there are several locations for hedgehogs around the garden under the log store, in custom made hedgehog homes and an up turned half drainage pipe I found somewhere. This summer I have seen 3 hedgehogs at any one time, dancing and circling around. I feed them from late summer onwards and regularly film them crunching through their breakfast, having just woken up around 11 pm. Off they patter looking for grubs and worms and juicy slugs that slither through the undergrowth. Now they should be tucked away in their cosy homes away from plodding feet and curious cats.
Having provided sunflower seeds all year for the garden birds I am rewarded with regular visitors and residents. When I first moved here the garden was silent and still. Void of chattering sparrows and greedy Goldfinches. Within two weeks the telegraph had reach those in need and now I am blessed with a variety of visitors. Just this week the Goldfinches have returned in their usual numbers and sit swinging on the feeders like children on the merry go round. I have seen Nuthatches, Tits, Sparrows, Blackbirds, Wood Pigeons, Collard Doves, Finches, Wood peckers, Tree Creepers, Siskins, and Starlings alongside the Corvids to name a few. And just because I provide their basic needs. Shelter and food. In this season of decay it is a good idea to make sure the food in your feeders does not sit there too long, which may cause the food to rot. So check them regularly and space them out by a tree or hedge, for cover, should predators lurk.
For those readers who read my Wild Garden blogs in what seems another lifetime ago, I am back with a few more….all about wildness in our gardens, whatever their size, and size really doesn’t matter. My view of the garden comes from the creatures that visit and live, from their tiny vulnerable perspectives. And they only really have one objective in their short lives, survival.
The summer buzz and frequent disputes from the chattering finches, sparrows etc has been replaced by the lamenting song of the friendly Robins who perch expectantly on the raised beds as a reminder that I haven’t yet provided a breakfast treat of mealworms or breadcrumbs. Blackbirds still meet the dawn with an almost reluctant rhythmic trill, without the enthusiasm of the bursting chorus on a spring day. Their flicking tails erect and proud say this is my patch ….move on. Still officially Autumn, November, I’m anticipating the shortest day passing, with a discernible tingle of excitement, even as the ground begins to freeze over. The sun will rise earlier and the days will minute by minute stretch out. Like that point of light bursting through a break in the trees as we walk along the dark forest path. But there are 5 more weeks of long nights when the world almost seems to take a deep intake of breath as it slumbers.
Let’s have a thought, when we stock up our cupboards….. just in case……for all the creatures in the depth of winter, who not only have to search harder for their daily nutrition and calories, most of which will be desiccated, but have then to survive almost 18 hours of darkness and hostile weather. The temperature differences between a summer’s day (in Scotland!) and a typical winters night can be as much as 25 + degrees Celsius. Not to mention the wind chill or driving rain and snow. I can’t knit little jumpers for the wild creatures in my garden and they certainly can’t pop to Tesco for energy giving food to keep them alive. Yes, there are inevitable casualties and creatures have evolved to be resilient and adaptable. The fittest survive and all that. But I take some responsibility for the unnatural and accelerated disruption to their environment. And having been a dedicated observer for the last 50 years I mourn the reduction of activity and presence of all wildlife in and around the garden. There are no switches to flick to restore nature, the process will take many years. But in those many years we are losing species and as far as I know we haven’t come up with an extinct species gene pool to bring them back. That bird feeder, shelter, undisturbed corner, sapling, chemical free space, sanctuary- might keep a wild creature from that fate.
I can appreciate a garden full of blooms and healthy plants, the scent of roses and that manicured lawn. Traditionally, the English/Scottish Garden. For centuries we, humans, have designed and created masterpieces that have delighted and inspired us to bring a little of that beauty into our own space, big or small. We have seed banks protected in vaults, for future generations. Do we have the power to bring back wild creatures? Not yet! And if we had that ability, would we get the balance right?
Without the bugs, bacteria, bees, butterflies, birds etc the world will be sterile, void of movement, natural sound, and joy. Underground, the creatures are surviving off the detritus of the past years and making the best of their peace and quiet from probing beaks, sharp spades and forks. They are the lucky ones having a refuge from the weather and their world is always peaceful and dark. Mycellium is the web of life for roots and creates connecting pathways to feed the growth of plants. The hidden creatures, bugs and worms, are the munchers, transforming litter into nutrients for those spring bulbs and growing plants….and so on. The compost of life. There are no guarantees though. Excessive rain or temperatures can disrupt this delicate long process, making next years larder depleted. And then there is the gardener!
Permaculture, encouraging flourishing natural ecosystems. It is regenerative and self-sustaining. And in my view the essence of what Nature is. We might think of slowing down. We are in a rush to create this perfect palette of colour and design in our gardens …. and we can. It is restorative to sit and be surrounded by plants and fresh air but, I believe we may now have to give nature the opportunity to adapt to changes by also adapting our expectations. This is my personal view from years of gardening and observation. It can no longer be just about showy plants, or regiments of annuals decorating our borders. Inviting nature back into our spaces is relatively easy. I managed it in a few months. Unpredictable and unseasonal weather means that the less resilient plants fail. We add nutrients, compost, and sometimes chemicals to guarantee growth. Plants on steroids! But does the great Oak, Aspen, Beech Hawthorn etc or spreading hedgerow receive such additives? The mountain heather, gorse and meadows? And why are the “weeds” so prolific and seem to grow faster and stronger than the pot grown specimens we add to our garden? Maybe its because they have established the roots systems and interactive eco systems that make them resilient and able to survive year after year. They are in their natural environment. They are not enemies of our garden. They could be saviours if we take a different view. And maybe their longevity has a place in our manicured gardens. Wild plants are the supermarket shelves for all creatures that live in the wild garden. Pollen and nectar, seeds, habitats and guaranteed growth the following season. A self-sustaining larder that needs no fertilizer, insecticides, digging or much else. They need insects and birds to spread their seeds. In winter their dried growth provides perches for insects and larvae, shelter for small mammals and birds and a beautiful tapestry of form and colour on a bleak winter’s day.
I make sure that in my now small garden there is an undisturbed space for wildness. A few square metres or whatever space you are prepared to give. Leave it be. Relax. Watch it flourish and see how many visitors enjoy the untidiness of that wild space. Nature doesn’t care if it looks pretty or need our artificial help, just our patience, time, tolerance and absenteeism for a while. Our lives depend on it!
In my next ramblings I will share some of what I have learned during my Botanical painting journey about observing nature in its beautiful complexity of form and colour . . a prerequisite of creating the palette needed. Its title …… Just Green?
Thank you
Linda Latham
Botanical and Wildlife Artist.
