Happy First Birthday!

Yes, The Dartmoor Gardener is one year old today! How time flies.

I think that deserves a slice of cake :)

Bird Spotting

Just been for a stroll with the dog through the fields at the back of my house and spotted my first Swallows of the year. What do they look like? Have a look at the link here http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/swallow/

Every year I forget what the difference between Swallows and House Martin, well the main one is the tail. Swallows have long tail 'streamers', House Martins have much shorter forked tails. Its hard to spot the other differences as they are so fast!

Won't be to long before the Swifts arrive. We are lucky to have an untouched patch of land right in front of our house which is an ideal place for insects to breed, a 'fly thru' diner for Swifts! I spend many summer evenings just watching them screech by.

If only I was quick enough to take some pics!

Colourful Spring

Wow! Everything has burst into life after a long wet Winter. Its great to see so much colour and some sunshine at last. I have found it difficult to blog these last few months, lost a bit of interest but I feel much more enthusiastic now. Work is very hectic, it being our busiest time and not having the manpower we need, so I won't have the time to blog like last year, will do my best though. My other interest - crochet - has taken over a bit. I am booked in to sell at a few local craft shows and need to get on and make much more so I have enough stock (check out my facebook page www.facebook/loopylou72 )

So, back to the plants...the Magnolias are looking particularly fine at the moment and there are plenty of specimens down here in Devon. Here is a Magnolia stellata in Simmons Park, Okehampton...

 Back in my own garden...

Self seeded Forget-Me-Not

Anemone St Brigid - accidentally red, white and blue!

Primula auricula - I love these

Erythronium Pagoda (Dog Tooth Violet or Trout Lily)

Anemone blanda

Bedding violets for a splash of colour in my pots