If someone else has started a new thread, apologies, I haven't found it. Thought you might like to see a muntjac deer that appeared in our garden today - there were actually two of them, but I only managed to get a pic of the one. Muntjac deer are strange, stocky creatures, about the size of a very large dog, so smaller and also less elegant than our fallow or roe deer. They were brought to Woburn Park (a stately home in Bedfordshire) from China in the early 20th century, and are now quite widespread.

Great picture. Also, I am in love with your garden! I covet the stone walls.

Thanks, UrbanWild. We live in a rural part of the country where there are lots of dry stone walls. I love them too, especially when you can encourage plants to grow in the spaces between the stones. But I think it's quite a skill to be able to build them (a skill I don't have, sadly!)

Mika this is a beautiful photo in your lovely garden. Am also a lover of dry-stone walls; it has to be a labour of love being a stone-mason. Interesting to learn that this deer are much smaller than others. Do they venture into your gardens very often - I might imagine you become a little concerned about what they might choose to eat while visiting?

Thanks, Carole. We get visits by deer (mostly Fallow or Muntjac) fairly often, but I'm usually pretty relaxed about it - I really love all wildlife and for the pleasure of seeing them I'm generally prepared to let them share in the garden's bounty. I might feel differently if they became really destructive - but so far, luckily, it's not too bad.

Happy to report that the bees are back!!! Today they were enjoying the Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) and the 78 degree weather.













Over the winter, the squirrels wrecked the bee boxes by stealing the bamboo. I re-did them and added hardware cloth. And I painted them ... because, well, I like color!

Great photos and stunning bee boxes! What is the butterfly in photo 3?

It's a pipevine swallowtail - but auto correct keeps wanting to call it "pipeline",

Thank you!

More bees are arriving daily. While they're busily enjoying the Winter Honeysuckle, I decided to do some supplemental feeding. The dish holds a scrubber with a small amount of hummingbird nectar in the bottom and a dollop of organic honey on top.

Day One



Day Two



Day Three



They seem to like it!

Got the first four bee boxes installed for the solitary, native bees. Facing south so they can get warm in the morning (since they're not furry like honey and bumblebees) and no vegetation blocking the glide path.

I love the bee boxes, so colourful! Do you make the hummingbird nectar or is it store bought? It's a great idea which I'd love to try, but for here I'd have to make the nectar because we don't have hummingbirds!

since the post is "and other garden guests" I'll jump in and add the Mantis I spotted the other evening when watering (at the end of another hot day). Lurking in the potted Felicia waiting on nightfall to pickup a catch ....

I love seeing pics of these; we don't have them here in England, but Google says they do exist in the south of Europe, so I might meet one on my travels...

Shoot. Posted these in a spring bulb thread...but should have posted here!



Greedy, messy little thing!

Great photos - and a beauty of a critter!

Asa, that one deserves a frame!

Thank you. The first bees of the season really delight me.

It snowed yesterday and last night. Now those blooms are under 4 or so inches. Makes me wish I'd have shot more. But it won't last forever...

Dragon fly is always welcomed in my garden

Great photo, Tofi - wonderful detail!