Exciting times in my garden this month. This is Cluckalot Mansion, home to the new arrivals to the garden, Mrs.Cluckalot, Hetty Hen and Chuck Chuck 

Mrs. Cluckalot is a Bluebelle which was going to be her name, but she seems to be the self appointed look out for the trio and makes the most noise. Hetty Hen is a Legbar and was the first one to lay a lovely blue egg and Chuck Chuck is a Blackrock and has not really brought any attention to herself yet, she may be renamed when her character is more noticeable. 

 

I have also put 3 nest boxes up, this one for the bluetits

This one for sparrows or great tits, 

And this one for robins or wrens.

The frog spawn was a bit late appearing this year, but it eventually did arrive and the little tadpoles are developing nicely. 

Some of the visitors to my garden this morningenjoying their breakfast. 

Despite the endless wet and windy weather that we're 'enjoying 'there are a few brave plants flowering in the front garden. I don't think I've managed to get out to do anything other than scurry round to the coal bunker to get the çoal in all month.

The helebores are well in flower now although quite a few of the new ones didn't make it.😭 

I really must find out who this is as she's a lovely, cheerful sight as I open the front door. 

Hyacinths are shooting upamongst the roses. 

This cyclamen has been battling the elements all winter. A lovely cheery splashof colour as I look out of the living room window. 

As is the witch hazel, although she's going over a bit now, but the euphorbia are beginning to show now. 

I don't know what has happened to the kaffir lilies along the path, but this one in a pot is putting them to shame. 

                                       The elephants ears are still grating visitors through the gate,if somewhat unenthusiastically.

 Not a lot happening in the back garden at the moment,

Except these little crocus outside the back door  which I noticed this morning. 

And here are some of my feathered friends who have been visiting all winter. 

Another miserable  wet day to start the new year, the back garden is a horrible, soggy mess apart from letting Rogan out I'm not going out there any more than necessary. 

The front garden is faring slightly better, I think the ash tree keeps the ground a bit dryer although that's having a struggle with the amount ot water coming out of the sky just lately .

Thereare a few bright spots out here now, the elephants ears have a couple of flowers to greet visitors as they come through the front gate. 

The witch hazel is starting to come into flower, brightening up a grey day. 

And this little cyclamen is struggling bravely on. 

The front lawn is a bit waterlogged, but I have to walk across it to refill the birds feeders. 

The twisted hazel looks fantastic with the rain glistening on the stem. She's starting to come into bud now. 

Look at that sky 

The helebores are starting to blossom now, the pale creamy ones appearing before the darker ones.

This one was transferred from the back garden about a month ago. She doesn't seem t mind being disturbed. 

A cheeky staring is feasting on the peanuts 

while the sparrows queue up in the cherry tree for the seed Inn the feeder. 

And in the back garden a little bluetit enjoys the peanuts in peace. 

Even on a miserable wet day there's always something happening in the garden. 

Happy New Year. 

Well, it's taken 3 days but I've finally cut the front hedge down to the level of the fence. Usually I do it every year but somehow its escaped for the last 3 years and had got so tall I couldn't reach to trim the top.

Then came the job of disposal. I spent a noisy hour shredding and then mulching. 

While Smudge took absolutely no interest at all. 

A wind and rain lashed garden today. 

Hedge cutting has been postponed until the weather improves a bit.

 It's all a bit damp and depressing out there, even Rogan didn't want to go out.

 The wind is really lashing the bamboo.