What's Goin' On - In My Garden!

**ChameleonSystems** · 28th December 2017, 07:28 PM

I was greeted yesterday morning by a lot of high pitched squeaking sounds (bird of prey) trying to take one of our blackbirds. When I went out to see what the commotion was, the bird of prey (approximately pigeon size), flew off and the blackbird (minus a few feathers) lived to tell the tale.

Its our fault, the crabapple tree is a magnet for blackbirds this time of year, there were at least a dozen in there earlier, all fighting over a tree full of fruit.

**meebo1** · 29th December 2017, 04:17 AM

I want a crabapple tree in my garden as I am very fond of jelly made from the fruit. the way things are going, I should have space for one in the coming year as our large Sycamore is dying and will have to be cut down soon.

**madelaine** · 29th December 2017, 08:56 AM

We have several crab apple trees available to us - I've never seen anyone but me picking the fruit - must make more crab apple butter next year - didn't get round to it this year.

**meebo1** · 29th December 2017, 09:56 AM

How do you make that?

**madelaine** · 29th December 2017, 04:21 PM

Here is the recipe I use (from the Good Housekeeping Book of Jams, Preserves and Sweets which was a 21st present from a University friend who was a genius giver of presents (she probably still is but we have lost touch)

**meebo1** · 29th December 2017, 06:54 PM

If I can lay my hands on more fruit, I will give this a try

**Oldandintheway** · 1st January 2018, 11:49 PM

G'day all

Just thought I'd add a bit of colour for everyone having a "cool" winter. It's been in the mid 30'sC here & I've been sitting in air-conditioning!

Anyhow - here's a few shots of a couple of orchids I've featured B4 - Enjoy!

#1 is Coelogyne tomentosa - a native species from Indonesia, Malaysia & Thailand. Said to have a scent like Christmas fir trees? but to me, it smells faintly of sweet apple cucumber.