grief

It's been too long since I've posted - we've been to Chelsea, I've experimented with new seeds, and we've had 4 seasons in a week.
The reason for this post is sadness:
For the first time, I managed to grow a sunflower from seed in a pot to nearly 1 metre in the garden.
THEN.
Disaster struck. Fox jumped over sunflower, spearing it in half.
Evidence here:

Poor sad sunflower.

At least the poppies are doing well:

Foxes

We have a fox den (I think) on the flat roof on a Chinese take-away behind us.

The picture quality is poor (from my phone) and also the light was harsh when I took it, but can you see the red circle? There is a family of foxes there, we often see one of them looking down at us in broad daylight.

Today we let Harri out and a juvenile fox was actually in the garden; they ran in circles together briefly before the fox bolted.
I do NOT like foxes being so close. Newham website's advice is to get a spray to keep them away.
Has anyone used "Scoot" or "Get Off my Garden" before?

Confusion

I am only a fair-weather gardener, so haven't been out there since last Autumn.

We went out today for a look around. As has been mentioned elsewhere, daffodils are out already:

as well as other bulbs I planted in the autumn (crocus?)

The lawn is very patchy and needs a lot of work:

I have plans for some guerilla gardening next door: I have a box of wild flower seeds from the pound shop going over the fence to next doors garden:

And I'm not an expert, but surely it's too early (or late?) for blackberries?

insects

This is the time of year for insects, and there are a lot of them in the garden! Here's a selection:

Bumble Bee

Caterpillar

This did not come out very clearly, but it's very cool - a big spider caught a fly in its web and proceeded to wrap it up and... I guess cocoon it.

There's also lots of butterflies - I'll try and take a decent picture soon.


Today I cut the grass for the first time - I don't know what Ben complains about!

new additions

Early in the Spring, there was a special offer for buying bulbs, which I took advantage of. I planted about 100 bulbs haphazardly, not really expecting anything in particular to grow. Luckily, I have had some successes, and this is one of my favourites. I call it: The Big Daisy:

The herb garden is coming along nicely. The mint has been re-potted in a much bigger pot, purchased in the Wilkinson's sale. We also got this lavendar - for only £3! I really like the lilac colour of the pot.

New bee house - a birthday present from my lovely sister-in-law :)
We've had lots of bumble bees and butterflies visiting the garden all summer. Also, very recently, we've had big spiders building webs. I mean HUGE big spiders. I tried to take a picture but it didn't come out very well. I'll try again during the week. 

 This area of garden has been a complete failure - nothing's grown at all. If we stay in this house, this will be a big project for 2012. I think, with lots of work, it will become the vegetable patch.

 New patio rose bush. Again, a present. From Ladybird Nursery in Suffolk. Re-potted again from Wilkinson's sale (great deals on gardening stuff!)

friends

Meet the newest members of the garden:

All the way from Suffolk

All the way from Liverpool

cat- (or fox)- astrophe

I came home from work yesterday and found a HUGE hole in my herb garden. Lots of pots over turned and emptied. I'm taking it personally that some local vermin is attacking my plants. Here's the sad evidence:

Herb corner with the big hole in the corner.

Close-up of the hole and the empty pot (used to contain lavander)

Seedlings of lavander with vermin poo :(