One woman went to mow , went to mow a meadow lal lal la !

Started with  the mowing of the meadow this afternoon .First I cut with the Alan Scythe This has a long bar about 3 feet long with blades like fingers that chop the dead flowers off close to the ground . Then I have I have to collect it all together with a pitch fork  and stack it into a hay stack. The remaining  stubble is then mowed with the mower at three different heights until it is short  but that isn't until every bit is picked up first

Both sides have had their first cut , collecting begins tomorrow. This is the only part of the meadow that is really hard work , but it only works out at two or three full days a year . The rest of the year is nice things like planning for new flowers, sowing seeds and planting bulbs  .The best bit is all the spring and summer day seeing what has come to fruition. 

Bats

We have had Pipistrellus flying around the house and meadow for many years but I have never seen a Long Eared Bat until last night. My daughter Diane and my 2 grand daughters saw them first as they were leaving to go home at dusk about 8pm.they kept flying in and out of a small hole in the out buildings in the rafters  I am in no doubt that they are here due to the moths that abound in the Wild Flower Meadow. It gave me a lovely warm glow ,yes I really am doing something for the wildlife. Sorry no picture to go with this they are just too fast.

Start of planning for 2012

Euonymus Spindle Tree

While on holiday last week in Ireland I collected quite a few wild flower seeds.I'm planning next year to have an Irish corner in the meadow. I was hoping to get some new seasons Yellow Rattle seed to help control the grasses ,but the supplier let me down for some reason, So I will now have to find a local source of fresh seed .

Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus

Collecting and sorting seeds

It is now time to start preparing the meadow for next year. the dead flowers have to be cut down completely and the hay stacked for composting , any bare patches resown with more interesting flowers. Here my ten year old grand daughter is separating the seeds from the dried flowers we collected a few weeks ago. She is so keen and wants to know what they all are and how are we going to sow them.
I have already planted out new plug plants that I had raised in the green house .My bulb order of Fritillary meleagris the snakes head Fritillary arrived last week .These will want planting as soon as possible . they will be planted in one of the island beds in the middle of the meadow .