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It
is a quiet time of the year for animals, many of them in
a state of hibernation, or certainly sleeping for much of
the time. The larger animals tend to still be active and
needing to search for food and thus it was that Di, having
brought some Cyclamen plants and put them in a pot near
the back door and in the borders was viewing the garden
the other day and loudly complained about some nibbled plants,
she then found some more; it seems the Roe deer had decided
to look for something different for Christmas and visiting
us found some cyclamen and had a tasty breakfast (I presume
that Cyclamen are pleasant to eat). The deer also leave
'droppings' on the lawn which advises us who ate the plants.
Foxes droppings are an altogether more revolting object,
black in colour and looking like a slug.
The garden generally is looking rather untidy and unkempt
as it always does at this time of the year but there are
quiet splashes of colour, the Winter Jasmine beside the
back door has a mass of small yellow flowers, a Mahonia,
a bush like plant with shiny dark green leaves similar to
a Holly has a mass of yellow flowers as well; it grows quite
well and needs pruning in the spring to keep it in check.
The usual cluster of small birds are around the feeders
and the usual cock pheasants are on the ground at the bottom
of the pole, under the feeders, clearing up the crumbs;
the flower border will soon start to look like a chicken
run again. Come the spring when the temperature is rising
no doubt they will all be scrapping with each other (well,
posturing anyway) for as many wives as they can keep.
By the time you all read this the shortest day will have
passed and it will not be long before the days will start
to lengthen a little and the snowdrops will appear, and
another year will be on it's way.
All our best wishes for a happy, blessed and peaceful New
Year.
Diana
& Richard Terry
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