It’s raining. It rained all night and it’s set to rain all morning here in Lancashire in North West England. So I thought that I would look back at some photos taken when the sun was shining. I have lots of lovely pictures of places we have been, gardens we have visited and our own garden. Flicking through the pictures is a joy. They capture a moment in time and bring back very happy memories of warm summer days and crisp frosty mornings.
Today I realised that our garden is cram jam full of interesting things… not just plants. We grow fruit and vegetables, herbs and flowers for our family to enjoy. It’s good for us and more importantly that has the ripple effect of providing food and habitat for wild creatures. We have only one pet dog yet lots of other animals call this place home.
Today I realised that I have grown used to the wildlife here. We make sure that there’s always food and clean water for them but I must admit that we have all become accustomed to seeing wild creatures on our doorstep. Some of them are just passing through, they pop in for a few days or months and many of them live here year round.
Today I realised how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful part of the world. It may be raining and our wildlife is not rare or exotic but to me it is A MAZ ING! It was good for me to take a few moments to realise how lucky we are to be able to have a glimpse into the lives of some wild animals. Here are just a few of the creatures that inhabit our garden.
Some of our local creatures are Mallard Ducks, Tawny Owls, Moorhens, Robins, Frogs and Hedgehogs and our own pet dog Samson. By the way… if any of you are concerned that our dog scares the wildlife please be reassured that it’s the other way around. He’s inquisitive but not quite as brave as the name we chose for him suggests!
I’m linking with Judith at Lavender Cottage Garden today for Mosaic Monday.
Which wild creatures call your garden home? I’d love to know.
Thanks for reading, liking and especially for taking the time to comment. Gillian 🙂
Marvellous. There’s a river at the bottom of the garden here and I have seen ducks on that. It would be lovely if they chose to stop off one day!
When we first moved here a female duck came and tapped on our door for food every day. Our daughter fed her and named her Speckles. She brought her mate Gerald to us and then her first family of 12 ducklings. We ended up buying sacks of corn to feed her offspring who now nest in our garden. They are wild ducks and the nearby farmer shot Speckles and shoots more every autumn so we try not to get too attached!
Hello Gillian, You must have a wonderful yard and garden. I love the wildlife and your cute dog. The robin is adorable, wonderful collection of critters and photos. Thanks for sharing. Have a happy day and new week ahead!
Thanks for visiting and for your lovely comment Eileen. Have a great week yourself.
This is just adorable ! 🙂 A few birds and squirrels and bunnies here 🙂
Thanks Debra. It’s so easy to take it all for granted isn’t it?
Hi Gillian, I love your country, although I’ve never spent any time in Lancashire. I enjoyed your photos. I’ve never seen an actual hedgehog, but have find thoughts of them because of Beatrix Potter. Lol. Our garden is home to deer, groundhogs, moles, voles, mice, and spiders.
We are not too far from where Beatrix Potter lived. I loved her books and her illustrations when I was a child and we have visited her home and garden where Peter Rabbit lives in Sawrey, Cumbria. It is fantastic. Your garden sounds amazing with all that wildlife.
Fun post! So nice to see your local critters! I love frogs and toads. I feed the birds (sparrows, doves, the occasional cardinal and blue jay) … and by feeding my feathered friends I also feed the squirrels. You’ve started my day off with a smile. Have a lovely week.
Thanks very much for your lovely comment. It’s amazing what will visit you daily if you supply food isn’t it?
What an interesting group of locals…I want a hedgehog!
Yes they are Donna. Hedgehogs are brilliant and we usually have them snuffling around the garden at night. It’s quite rare to see them in daylight.
Hello, Gillian!
Your locals are so very cute! Thank you for sharing.
Like Donna above, I would like to have a hedgehog. 🙂 Actually, we have had some and there should be lots of semi-natural vegetation for them, but they don’t seem to be many. They are really fascinating little animals.
Thanks Sara. They do look cute don’t they. Hedgehog numbers are well down here – they can’t get from one garden to another because of solid fences – so they can’t find a mate. Hedges are a much better option for them – they (and many other creatures) can travel safely along a hedge corridor.
Goodness, you do have an abundance of wildlife visiting/living on your property.
I see we’re all fascinated with the cute little hedgehog – only pets here and not found in the wild.
Let me think; my visitors are frogs, a blue heron, skunks, raccoons, lots of birds (including hawks occasionally) and insects. One spring two mallards played in the pond for a few days but that was the only time.
Our property is a certified wildlife habitat and as a steward of the earth I feel I should put back a lot of what the original inhabitants require for food and shelter. No grass here either; all trees, shrubs and mostly native plants.
Thank you for lining to Mosaic Monday Gillian.
Thanks for visiting and hosting Judith. Your wildlife sounds wonderful.
Love your photos, Gillian. Esp. the jaunty and plump little robin and the frog in the foliage. You live in a Beatrix Potter story! 😉
Since I live in a rural area covered with second growth forest now over 80 years old, our wildlife species is in the upper double digits in mammals alone. There have even been claims of wolf and cougar sightings – nature’s balance is returning.
Wow Eliza. Beatrix Potter for me and a Disney Movie for you! Your location sounds marvellous. I would love to sit still and be patient to get some great shots of the squirrels and other fast moving visitors here. Just for now I will stick to flowers which can’t escape!