Picked up some seeds for bees from work today; They've got Birdsfoot Trefoil, Foxglove Viper's Bugloss, Red Clover and Wild Marjoram, 3/4 of which I've been looking for.

Whilst finding spots to put them in, we startled and stumbled across 2 baby blackbirds! Very surprised they were about this early in the year, they've clearly had a good year thus far.
They were just able to fly and no more, enough to climb a tree.

Hopefully they'll be ok =/

Some more seed planting today. Mix of cosmos and assorted others.

Assorted others because the smalls picked the ones they liked the look of and sowed them either very densely or loosely. We'll see how they grow in a few weeks. I am hopeful they'll grow well.

Otherwise, Robinson Peas were sown into a tray to grow before I plant them out next month and many sunflowers scattered in spots around the garden.

Greenery and colour to come 😁

These wee patches of ground are now full of seeds.

The square area will be changing purpose next year, probably become a spot for crowberry plant.

There're snapdragons, lupin and viola visible currently and cosmos sown.
The larger area has a mix of sunflower and zinnia sown with some unknown plant, potentially aqualegia, as some overwintered plantlets.

Popped out into the garden today and met one of our more elusive residents!

All glory!

Two planties in the garden; one that is new and one that is old but in flower.

The Crowberry (Dearcan feannaig anns a Ghàidhlig) is one we're adding to the garden. It came in such good condition from Poyntzfield (a plant nursery and herbarium on the Black Isle) but we planted up the area we want to plant it into already. So we'll keep it in a pot until that area becomes available.

The other is my azalea. I was given this when I initally moved to Inverness from Black Isle, ooooh in 2016 or so. I've no idea what variety it is or anything else. It's been crudely cared for for nearly a decade 😅 but yet it flowers!

Sat in the garden today and enjoying the insect life that pops up when the wind slows down.

Solitary wasps, many bees and lots of flies. One dragonfly and one butterfly today too, the latter knew I was after a photo and fluttered off before I could ready the camera.

We're going to try and make a hoverfly lagoon (pdf warn) in the coming days, need some grass clippings which has to wait for some strimmer wire to arrive.

2025 Gardening - Flowers

A few lovely pops of colour recently arrived in the garden.

I'd forgotten all about the irises, so they're appearance was fantastic.

The strawberries are in bloom too, I think we'll mainly get small ones. The violas in the pot behind are all happy too

2025 Gardening

We have succeeded in obtaining a glasshouse. It is just a frame because it was lying derelict behind a house. We asked if we could have it from the owner of the property and they agreed.

This will be the spot where it will stay. We've got a bit of work to do, like get a foundation in and then cover the shell.

Incidentally, the walnut tree looks so healthy this year compared to last. The uncut area of grass will be left for most of the year.

Madainn mhath! #TZAG

Since the rain we've had a few more roses come in to bloom!
The yellow one has been in bloom for a while now 🌸

#bloomscrolling

The peonie is edging closer to blooming

#NotQuiteBloomscrolling #Bloomscrolling

2 weeks later, we have flowered! The other two aren't ready yet but this popped in the afternoon and immediately the bees were about it. 🪷 

#Bloomscrolling #BloomscrollingWithBee

The sweet violas have babies (seeds). The seed pods look so cool with the seeds in a 3-pronged tray

#bloomscrolling

Our peas from scotia seeds were picked today, some excellent and tasty green spheres!

Delighted with them, next year I'm going to try and grow them better to have a large crop of them 😄

2 more of the crops from Scotia Seeds; bere barley and Black Isle broad beans are nearing readiness.

The weather's dropped in temp and upped in rain, so won't help maturing much.

Here we are! The reason for this thread has been harvested.

The mice and birds got the vast majority of the planted seed but as the poyum* goes

Four seeds in a row:
One for the rook,
One for the crow,
One will wither,
And one will grow.

We have some Bere Barley

Unsure what to do with them asits so few. I may end up planting them again next year and trying to grow even more.

• many variants of this poem exist

Additonally harvested the wheat (singular) and the oats.

Now to cut and cover the growing area in cardboard, in preparation for next year.