Category Archives: Archived posts

Happy New Year

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Okay, so I realise that it is March but, as you probably have noticed, I have been neglecting the blog fairly badly of late. But, then again, it is a blog about gardening and as the garden has either been covered in alternating layers of snow and ice for what feels like months or hidden under a layer of mud and water there hasn’t been much of anything to write about.

Today started out sunny with a slight dusting of yesterdays snow covering the paths. But it was cold. The kind of cold that makes you eyes and nose run simultaneously and takes your breath away and dries the back of your throat with every in breath. I had plans to get wrapped up warm and walk over to the allotment but by the time I had returned from walking the wee boy to his nursery class the weather had closed in and intermittent flurries of furious snow were whistling and swirling bringing the temperature down even further. So, instead of a walk I opted for a mug of hot coffee and an hour on the lap top with my back pressed against the warmth of the radiator.

It hasn’t just been the blog that has been overlooked, as I booted up my email account I realised that it had also been a victim of my tardiness. Endless emails advertising this that and the other filled the inbox and the trash box – oh! was even worse with amount of emails in there reaching four figures. Delete, delete, delete.

I have experienced significant change in my life over the past few months which has resulted in cupboards cleaned and drawers re-organised, new fabrics bought and new order in the household. Today, my social media outlets got the same treatment.

Little Muddy Boots has served me well but I feel that Girl Gardening has more to offer. I am, after all, a girl who gardens, not one who wears little muddy boots and Larger  Shabby Muddy Boots just didn’t have the same ring to it.  I had. a while ago begun to set up a whole new account for Girl Gardening but then decided it was a shame to lose all those posts (including my Turbines post which was Freshly Pressed in June 2012) and delightful followers that I had accumulated over the years so I have today migrated and merged, re-designed and re-named. I hope you like it and I hope that we will, at some point, get the weather we deserve to get out and garden together!

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Feeding Garden Birds in Winter

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During the winter months birds can have trouble finding enough food to keep themselves fed and warm. To maximise the number of winter birds visiting the garden, have a number of different types of feeding stations available and keep water sources clean and free from ice and debris. It is also important to keep the feeding stations clean to minimise the risk of transferring disease.

High energy food are essential to keep the birds’ fat levels up and help them keep warm. Like humans, birds need a balanced diet so don’t just give them bread as it won’t provide all them with the protein and fat the require. They also like:

  • Unsalted bacon fat – cut into small pieces.
  • Mild Cheese
  • Suet
  • Cold Baked Potato, roast or mash.
  • Dried and fresh fruit, this can include wind falls from fruit trees.

I bought a feeder and fat balls today from my agricultural store for less than £5 but your own fat mix can be made at home from melted lard onto a mixture of seeds, dried fruit, oatmeal and cheese. Use a 1:3 mix of lard to other ingredients. Pour the mixture into a mould and allow to set.