The Birds and The Bees (Butterflies too!)

Today has been one of those glorious September days, you know the sort I mean, one that is even more precious because the days will soon be short and cold and there is a certain expectation in the air of change to come. I was so pleased to see bees in the garden today, they have been a rare sight this summer.

My buddleia was a busy place today. Unfortunately it has got to go - to make way for more dwarf apple trees. I will be planting another one on the front garden though.

I did title this The Birds and The Bees, so here are Gucci, Chanel and Dior enjoying an afternoon on the lawn, while we took opportunity of the weather to dismantle, clean and overhaul their house.

Tomorrow is forecast to be another fine day so I am going to try and get up to the top of the village where I have spied a Crab Apple tree which is dripping in little golden apples. I look forward to making Crab Apple Jelly, Mint and Apple Jelly and anything else I can think of!

Second daughter played with her camera today and took these artistic shots.

Clever hen - chewing



And the other two!

They enjoy our company more than anything else, and certainly more than our Marrans did. They are Warrens and we have the three, which I thought would be enough for our needs. They have today each laid an egg for the first time. Second daughter has an affinity with them for some reason, going as far as to proclaim herself 'the hen whisperer'.!!!

We only have a small lawn to keep them on but so far it has not been trashed, we move the ark everyday. I decided on the Boughton Ark from Forsham Cottage Arks - this one:-

http://www.forshamcottagearks.com/poultry-housing/cat-prod-boughton-chicken-housing.htm

It's swish hen housing, a bit pricey but very good.