The green and rolling countryside of Worcestershire, England, is home to the cider apple orchards which surround the gardens of Pear Tree Cottage. They enjoy a sunny south westerly aspect with sweeping views across to Martley Hillside, Woodbury and Abberley clock tower. The Teme Valley lies just over the hill and, not far away, is the Herefordshire border. Although our climate is temperate, our seasons are often uncertain and always a challenge to a gardener! This began in 2010 & follows the weekly ups and downs of garden work chronicling both successes and failures but, above all, demonstrates the fun enjoyed by three people who regularly garden in all weathers

Translate

10 May 2014

Cuckoos & Swallows at P.T.C.



Our cuckoos arrived on 21st April (the 12th is the earliest) this year and we've been listening to their calls ever since.  They even woke us up this morning and never seem to tire of incessant calling.  I'd love to say these  photo are ours but, alas, not.  We've seen them loads of times - up in the oak tree at the end of the drive and also on the telephone wires but I just didn't have a camera to hand.  There's something quite special working in a garden with cuckoos for company.



This morning, I saw our first swallows!  It's been a few years since they actually nested at PTC and we live in hopes they'll build here again.  In the meantime, we love to see them swooping and dipping, catching insects on the wing and listening to their animated twittering! It's just so incredible that these birds travel so far just for a season and then undertake such immense distances all over again.


No comments: