The seedling Geraniums sprouted on a patch of moss that was growing over aggregate concrete. It had been undisturbed because the garden birds enjoyed dust baths there and we enjoyed watching their antics. I took some of these seedlings yesterday, carefully removing grass but keeping the moss and transplanted them to the edging around the bog garden. Don’t know what the moss is, it seems complicated, but as moss is more good habitat for wildlife I’m keeping it. There is the cutest image of a tardigrade, which loves moss, at this link >>>
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/01/moss-and-trees/
Which inspired curiosity to find out more about these fascinating, tiny creatures and how to see real ones here >>>
Excitement! The fishing gnome has arrived and is happily guarding the basin pond lol. Mr Fluffy thinks he should be given a name and I think it should be suitably silly and pretentious.
I put the clay pot to one side, found a ceramic bowl instead, pushed part of the rim into the soil and used two biggish stones to support it with a wide entrance. The effect is sort of neolithic meets the 1950s, more Toad Henge than Toad Hall, and looks a bit like a large mushroom for Mr Fluffy Gnome to make a brew. Maybe if I smear some soil over it, moss could grow there? Worth a try. I definitely think that the basin will need raising and levelling when the ground is harder.
Finally, the sprouted seed heads of Scabiosa and Corncockles were snipped and poked into pots of damp compost then placed in the garden tent until spring.
Some interesting myth busting in this article and with Austerity v2 about to launch, this piece extols good reasons to consider the benefits of climbers.
Now, my mum would have complained these encourage unwelcome creepy crawlies and having seen too many horror films, she would probably include bats, squirrels, rats and mice too, but society is learning now to coexist with nature and the creepy crawlies – not rodents, unless they are dormice. My dad was of a similar opinion about thatched roofs but perhaps these should also be considered more favourably too? Although his biggest concern about them was the fire risk, so even though coal fires are fairly rare these days, BBQs, lightning, heatwaves and the insane passion for particulate polluting woodburners are still risks, and some sort of environmentally friendly fire retardant is prudent.
Garden Life 
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