The Seasonal Weekender - A Sunny Bank Holiday Weekend in the Garden

Hello my lovely friends. Here in the UK we are looking forward to a Bank Holiday weekend and gloriously...apparently we are expecting a heatwave over the next week and clear skies!

I hope that you have all had a lovely week. Mine turned out to be slower than anticipated as I came down with a throat infection but sometimes taking a bit of time to slow down can be a good thing. I pottered about the house and just indulged in some lovely homely things like picking flowers from the garden and opening up an embroidery project that has been sitting on my To-Do list for over two years! I'm looking forward to more of the same all weekend long!

This morning I woke up feeling like I am on the mend thanks to a couple of doses of antibiotics, which is just as well given the anticipated weather this weekend. I don't want to be cooped indoors feeling poorly when the sun is shining!

From the moment I opened the conservatory doors this morning I could feel the warmth - so lovely after a cold spell. I immediately opened all the doors leading into the garden to let in the fresh air.

Of course, I took advantage of today's warm weather and got all the washing done, it is currently drying in the sunshine and warm breeze. I have to say that it is so nice to have the washing drying outside rather than in my kitchen. After a long winter of my kitchen doubling as a laundromat, it is nice to return it to it's summer state!

In Season

May is the month of large swathes of frothy Cow Parsley in bloom. Living in the country we get to enjoy this seasonal treasure every time we go anywhere as the lanes are flanked with billowing clouds of this gorgeous wildflower.

I picked a huge bunch for the house. I have found a way to maximise this delicate flowers longevity once picked. First you punch the stems into boiling water for 30 seconds, then straight into a vase of ice-cold water. The blooms have looked fresh for well over a week. 

Today I noticed the kitchen table littered with tiny white petals. The flowers still look fantastic but it is an indication that they won't last for much longer. We also eat breakfast at this table each morning and I really didn't fancy the idea of the falling petals landing in our food. 

Still wanting to enjoy them for a little while longer, I moved the vase to the outside picnic table where I think they look too beautiful.

In The Garden

I love walking through the garden first thing in the morning. I take my cup of tea and slowly stroll along the path to see what changes there have been from the day before. At this time of the year there is always a lot going on.

The Iris's have been teetering on blooming for days and happily,  the first three blooms chose to greet me on my morning inspection walk.

I planted a couple of Geum's next to them and the contrast is just lovely. Geums are a MUST in my garden, they are prolific bloomers and will flower all summer long. I couldn't resist capturing the early morning light shining through the delicate orange petals this morning!

I headed up to the greenhouse to check on my plants and open the vents and door ahead of the days heat. I was delighted to see that the first few tomatoes are starting to form! This is the first year I am growing tomatoes in a greenhouse so I am expecting a satisfactory harvest this year!

The pond continues to thrive, I spent a good 40 minutes this  morning sitting by the pond and watching the busyness of life lived out beneath the surface and on top.

The Tadpoles get bigger every day and some have already got their little hind legs growing.

The Newts are less bothered about our presence these days and happily bob about the surface of the water snapping up the fish food and soaking up the sun's warmth.

Frog life is still going strong, in fact they have been rather vocal over the last three days. I was able to sneak up on them and see what all the noise was about. They were sitting along the edges having a good sing-a-long although in reality i suspect it was more to do with notifying neighbouring frogs not to encroach into their individual territories. It's a busy pond!

While I was sitting by the pond-side, I noticed a good many damselfly's laying their eggs in the pond moss. 

We should have some damselfly nymphs hatching in about 2-5 weeks. Now, they are hugely predatory and will prey on tadpoles, so I am hoping that by the time it gets to that time, our tadpoles are nearer to frog stage and that a good many will survive. 

Well, I'm of to pick up my needles, I plan to sit outside as long as possible under the shade of the gazebo this afternoon knitting and stitching - perfect convalescing activities - and I hope to feel a bit more 'human' by tomorrow! Whatever you are doing this weekend, I hope that involves a bit of time outdoors and doing something that brings you joy.

Blessings in Christ

Shirley

Homeschool Seaside Nature Nature Study, Living Books, and Nature Journal Pages

Summer is the perfect season for a seaside nature study—though, in truth, the coastline offers treasures in every weather and time of year. Some of our most fascinating finds have come after a blustery winter’s storm, when the sea gives up secrets tucked away beneath the waves.

This post is a glimpse into our homeschooling days, which I thought would be lovely to revisit and share. And if, like us, your formal homeschooling chapter has closed, take heart—your learning doesn’t have to end. As an amateur naturalist, I still delight in observing the shifting seasons, keeping a personal nature journal, and discovering the quiet beauty in the everyday. It’s a wonderful way to slow down, reconnect with the rhythm of the year, and simply breathe.

So come with me, back to a time when we lived just a stone’s throw from the shore. Let’s wander together down a winding coastal path to a seaweed-strewn beach, and see what secrets lie waiting in the rock pools…

Nature study, if you are not careful, can fall by the wayside (as can composer and artist study) in favour of exam subjects. 

If these things are important to you then you simply have to plan them in. There is no need to lose the joy of learning just because you are homeschooling a high schooler. 

I confess that our own nature/composer/artist studies have been sporadic at best this year and we can definitely feel the difference in the joy of learning as a result. So it is with a determination that Fridays will once again be set aside, as it always has been in our home, for these and other studies. 

I believe that good living books can be enjoyed at any age. 

My grandmother and I share that simple joy that is picking up a Beatrix Potter/AA Milne/Kenneth Grahame/Jill Barklem, and a myriad of others, book. I really don't see why, for the pure joy of reading these beautiful books, you would neglect to enjoy them because they are aimed at younger readers.

So for the pure joy of it, my daughter and I are enjoying reading Enid Blyton's 'Nature Lovers Book'. Because it is a living book it is instructional although it is our field guides and observational skills that we turn to as a matter of course. 

Today I had planned for us to take a walk to the beach and see what we could find. We started by reading from the 'Nature Lovers Book'. It gave us a starting point on what to look out for which was quite useful as we have not done a marine nature study before. We learnt throughout reading about various shells and seaweeds that we could possibly expect to find - a great starting block.

The footpath down to the beach is just at the end of the lane, then it's a 1/4 mile walk down to the beach.

Once there we found copious amounts of kelp and seaweed. Immediately we were able to identify three different types based on our reading. If we had not read that "children's" story we would have identified a whole lot of nothing. Are you seeing the value of good living books being ageless yet?

We found Oar Seaweed [Laminaria digitata], Sea Lettuce, a Kelp Holdfast which we identified at home after a bit of research, and some Bladder Wrack which we had read about in our reading too.

We found 3 of the 5 different shells mentioned in our reading...

Whelks, Limpets and Periwinkles.

We learnt that 'Whelks' is a generic name given to sea snails and the shells can vary drastically. 

We even found skate egg cases amongst the seaweed! Another thing that was mentioned in the reading so we had a huge amount of learning and discovering in today's lesson.

We brought all beach-combing treasures home to document in our nature journals. My daughter simply printed off the photographs and wrote a narration in her journal as she really does not like drawing or painting. I've mentioned that here before. For years I insisted she draw, but really, the joy was not there for her. Last year I decided that I would rather have her enjoy engaging with nature and keep a journal that works for her. So that's what we do.

I, on the other hand, love keeping a nature journal as you know. So I sat down to a good two hours of recording our finds...

When we lived in South Africa, we were literally only a mile from the beach. Beach-combing in all weathers and searching rock pools was a weekly activity. I hadn't realised until today how much I miss that! Now that we live so close to the ocean I am looking forward to picking up our beachy pursuits once more.

The Kitchen Sink and the Secret Garden

 A Window into the Wild

From the vantage point of my kitchen sink, I’ve been granted a quiet but intimate view into what I fondly call The Secret Garden — my modest back garden that comes alive with quiet magic. As I stand washing dishes in warm, sudsy water, my eyes drift beyond the glass to catch the antics of the creatures that share this space with me.

There’s the robin, ever bold, defending his winter territory with song and spirit. Blackbirds busy themselves among the leaf litter, tossing it aside with vigorous scratching in search of earthworms. One moment they’re still, head cocked to listen, and the next—beak to soil—they're pulling a worm from the earth.

And then, there’s the squirrel: a comical, daring acrobat, leaping from branch to feeder with impressive agility. I’ve even had the pleasure of watching a male pheasant strut across the frosty lawn, his entourage of females foraging dutifully at his heels.

Twilight Visitors

As night falls, the Secret Garden reveals more of its hidden guests. I’ve often found myself holding my breath at the sight of a fox, its russet fur glowing under moonlight, as it moves with silent precision across the garden. These are the moments that feel truly enchanted.

Hedgehogs, on the other hand, draw squeals of delight and cries of, “There’s a hedgehog in the garden—come quick!” The dishes are quickly forgotten as we dash outside to observe our prickly visitor snuffling in the shrubbery. We often offer a little dish of cat food, which is gobbled up with noisy gratitude.

The Unseen Secret Garden

I often wonder what goes on when I’m not looking—when I’m not at the window, or the garden is cloaked in the silence of night. It’s this quiet mystery that makes the idea of a Secret Garden feel so real.

No wonder so many amateur wildlife lovers set up garden cameras to catch glimpses of this unseen world. The thought of what remains hidden is almost as magical as what’s observed.

How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden in Winter

If you want to transform your outdoor space into a haven for local wildlife, especially during the harsh UK winter months, here are a few simple, effective steps you can take:

1. Keep Bird Feeders Stocked

Birds expend more energy in winter, so keeping feeders full helps them survive. Use a mix of seeds, fat balls, and suet to attract different species.

2. Leave Leaf Litter Undisturbed

Resist the urge to tidy every corner—piles of leaves provide essential shelter for insects, frogs, and hedgehogs.

3. Scatter Hedgehog and Ground-Forager Food

Sprinkle food such as hedgehog biscuits or cat food under hedges and shrubs where ground dwellers feel safest.

4. Provide Fresh Water

Leave shallow dishes of clean water in sheltered spots. In winter, check daily to ensure they haven’t frozen over. My daughter made this beautiful mussle-shell flower which I fill with water. It is shallow enough for the instects to safely drink without the danger of drowning.

5. Build a Simple Insect Hotel

Create a cosy hideaway by piling twigs, bark, and leaves in a quiet corner of your garden. You can also make bug hotels from old plant pots and bamboo canes.

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Complementary Crafts and Learning Activities

Make the most of your own Secret Garden by pairing wildlife-watching with creative and educational projects, especially great for children or seasonal home educators.

✦ Garden Wildlife Journal

Start a nature diary to record daily or weekly wildlife sightings from the kitchen window. Encourage drawing pictures of birds, sketching leaf shapes, or noting animal behaviours.

✦ DIY Bird Feeders

Use pinecones, peanut butter, and seeds to create natural bird feeders. Or recycle yoghurt pots and string for simple hanging feeders.

✦ Make a Hedgehog House

Use old wooden crates or boxes to build a hedgehog shelter. Tuck it into a quiet corner of the garden and line it with straw or dry leaves.

✦ Create Wildlife ID Cards

Print or draw simple identification cards for local garden birds, mammals, and insects. Keep them near the window for easy reference.

✦ Storytelling Prompt: The Secret Garden Watchers

Encourage children (or adults!) to write short stories or poems inspired by the animals they see—or imagine what goes on in the garden at night when no one is watching.

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Closing Thoughts

Whether it’s the bold chirp of a robin or the quiet rustle of a hedgehog in the dark, the Secret Garden is always teeming with life—even when we can’t see it. The view from the kitchen sink has taught me that sometimes, the simplest moments are the most magical.

This season, I hope you’ll take a moment to look out of your own window and discover the secret world that might be hiding just beyond the glass.

Embracing Late Winter: Signs of Spring and Seasonal Reflections

The shift between seasons never happens overnight. Even as winter clings on with its chilly grip and stark, bare branches, there are hints—small, quiet whispers—that change is on the way. Late winter is a time for pausing, for noticing, for embracing the subtle stirrings of the world around us as it gently leans towards spring.

The First Signs of Spring

Winter still lingers, but nature is already beginning to stir. On my daily walks, I’ve started spotting the first brave snowdrops pushing their way through the frost-hardened earth. Their delicate white heads nod gently in the breeze—a sure sign that winter’s hold is beginning to wane. The hellebores, too, are starting to bloom in their dusky purples and soft creams, adding muted beauty to an otherwise stark landscape.

Birdsong, once quiet through the darker months, is slowly building. Blackbirds and robins seem to sing with more confidence, their melodies cutting through the crisp morning air. I’ve noticed them darting between hedgerows, gathering twigs and bits of moss—early preparations for the nesting season ahead.

There’s something different in the air, too—sharper, fresher, carrying the first hints of earthiness as the ground slowly begins to thaw. The trees, still bare, are showing signs of life, their buds swelling, waiting for the moment to unfurl into new green leaves.

A Time for Reflection and Preparation

This in-between time of late winter is one I treasure. It’s a chance to savour the last cosy evenings by the fire, warm drink in hand, with a favourite book or a knitting project keeping my hands busy. But it’s also a time of gentle preparation—both indoors and out.

There is much I want to do in the garden at this time, like clearing away winter’s debris and making space for the new season’s growth. I'm itching to start sowing seeds but I know that it is just a matter of weeks before we pack up our house for our move to the country. 

Indoors, there’s an urge to refresh the space, to throw open the windows when the weather allows, to declutter and welcome in the increasing light. Fortunatly this urge fits in well with packing boxes and purging excess!

My Nature Journal: Documenting the Season

In years gone by, one of my favourite ways to mark these seasonal shifts is through my nature journal. Taking time to record what I see, hear, and feel connects me more deeply to the world outside my door. 

However, I have to admit that the end of our homeschooling days caused a huge disruptive shift in my life. I know that in life, seasons change, things come to an end, new avenues are explored and new rythms established. But it is far to easy to lose the essence of who you are in the search for a new 'normal'. 

As I scrolled through my Instagram account, archiving all my yarn posts as I wrap up that chapter of my life, it struck me how much of what I loved, much of which I wrote about and shared on this blog over the years, had fallen by the wayside... like broken twigs and plant debris after a storm. 

Somehow I slipped out of the habit of noticing the 'little things' and recording them in the pages of my nature journal which was always a source of peace and joy over the years. I determined then and there to unwrap my new watercolour palette purchased 2 years ago (I know, shocking!) and to go back to weekly journal entries.

I was a little nervous actually, would I still be able to draw and paint? Would it feel awkward? 

Well, it felt a little clumsey but overall I was quite happy with the results and I have to say that I have loved getting back into a daily habit of getting outside and paying close attention to what is happening around me.

Below, I’m sharing a recent journal entry, capturing snippets of January. 

In making the decision to be more intentional in my daily living and in this case, my journaling, I was tempted to start a brand new journal. My last entry was in 2022 and I quite like new fresh starts when it comes to notebooks and journals but, it struck me that seeing the stark 3 year gap in my journal is a good reminder to hold on to those things that matter and not let the sands of time run through the hourglass unheeded.

If you keep a nature journal, this is the perfect time to start a fresh page—recording the small but significant shifts that signal the changing season. Have you spotted the first blossoms? Noticed an increase in birdsong? Felt the change in the air?

Welcoming the Light Ahead

As February begins to slip away and March approaches, the promise of spring feels more tangible. There’s excitement in the longer days, in the warmth that will soon return, in the slow but sure awakening of the natural world.

How are you experiencing this seasonal shift? I’d love to hear about the signs of spring you’ve noticed—do share in the comments or in your own nature journal!

Autumnal Delights at Home

Hello my lovely friends! Are you enjoying autumn so far? I certainly am. I've been indulging in all my favourite autumnal things and this post is full of them. Of course, I'd love to hear what you have been doing to celebrate the season so please do let me know. Here's what has been going on in my home...

Through the Kitchen Window

I write a monthly post for Homeschool Nature Study members (formerly The Outdoor Hour Challenge) which focuses on the home and seasons. One of my inserts is called Through the Kitchen Window and it was inspired one late afternoon as I was finishing up in the garden as the sun slipped away. My eye was drawn to my kitchen which was lit up and looked cosy as I stood in the nippy air.

It suddenly struck me once again what an important part of the home the kitchen is. It's where we prepare nourishing food for our families, where we share a cup of tea with friends and neighbours, where we cook delicious things that have no nutritional value whatsoever but oh my...they taste so SO good.

Yes, a lot of living happens in the kitchen.

I have also been bitten by the nesting bug. It happens every autumn and spring. I feel the need to cosy up my home in autumn and cook and bake so that the chest freezer is packed with warming soups, and other homely dishes which comfort our souls in the cold weather. 

This has revealed that I am in dire need of more freezer-safe containers so it's on my list of things to deal with this weekend!

In the Garden

The garden is still looking rather lovely although it is definitely on borrowed time. The crowning glory at the moment is the Virginia Creeper that is covering the garage which I showed you in the last post.
 

Autumn is the time for planting spring bulbs so that is exactly what we did this past weekend.

We planted 300 bulbs in the garden. We already have a fair few but I have visions of spring being a riot of colour. We planted a significant amount of bulbs in our woodland garden. Lots of bluebells which I love. Apparently, they are best in their second flowering period so I will try not to be too disappointed if next May we have a poor show.

Autumn Walks

Need I say more? Who else has been enjoying autumn walks this month? I wish I had time to sit down and work in my nature journal to capture the season but I simply do not have it!

Seasons of life I guess... the time will come again when study commitments will fall away and I shall have time to enjoy the simple creative pleasures that make my heart sing.

Please do share what you have been up to this beautiful month. Until next time...

Pottering About & Lockdown Encouragement

It looks like our run of sunshiny weather has come to an end, at least for the time being. But I have to say that I do enjoy a good rainy day or two. The earth and my garden are in need of quenching water.

Those pots are full of sweetpea seeds. I'm hoping that they will scramble over the garden shed this summer

I'm always amazed at how therapeutic it is to spend time outdoors. At the moment we don't get to venture too far from the house so I am very grateful for my garden. I'm able to get outdoors and just rest in the peace of the day and enjoy pottering about in my garden.

Major cleanup going on here!

We've spent a lot of time in the garden, more than what we ordinarily may have been able to spend. This weekend we cleared out a lot of undergrowth, weeds and last autumns fallen leaves out of one flower bed to make way for some new plants once the garden centres re-open of course. 

I have earmarked my hellebore bed which I will plant up over the summer in readiness for a display in the winter months. I love hellebores and my garden does not feel quite complete without a good few. The range of colours you can get is amazing so I'm glad I have a good space to plant numerous plants. 

My sweetpea seeds are coming along nicely and a planted a few more pots of sweetpeas over the weekend. I'm really looking forward to this summers display.

We also put up the gazebo over the weekend. The sides will only be fastened on later on in the season but we have put up the fairy lights and we are looking forward to being able to dine out in the evenings when the temperatures warm up a bit.

DH has started on his latest DIY project which is to refurbish the wrought iron garden furniture. The last time this was done was 9 years ago so it is in dire need of a good old sprucing up!

Before moving into our home I had bought two of my favourite plants that my garden simply cannot be without. I feel that they denote the season and I look forward to their seasonal displays each year. It adds to the atmosphere of the season in my mind. 

The first of those has to be the forsythia. Each spring its bright display of flowers is simply a delight. I love to bring twigs indoors in late winter to force in vases. My garden does not have a forsythia shrub so I'm glad I bought one. I found a perfect spot for it to live over the coming years and am looking forward to watching it grow in stature.

The second plant I bought was a Virginia Creeper. I first spotted this delightful plant one autumn whilst travelling through the peaks from our home in Chesterfield to our fortnightly homeschool art class with our dear family friends who live in Manchester. 

It covered the side of a quaint stone pub in one of the villages, a mass of firey colour. I instantly fell in love with this plant and knew that one day I would have to have one and be able to stay in a home long enough to see it come to such maturity.

My creeper has been sitting outside my front door in a pot. I couldn't quite decide where I wanted it. The bare stick slowly came into leaf as spring has progressed. I had noticed that our garage had some sort of creeper trailing over one wall and over a third of the roof and wondered what it might be, honeysuckle perhaps? 

As it too began to come into leaf I noticed that the leaves were identical to my Virginia Creeper! I was thrilled! I now have two of these delightful autumnal plants. I have since planted my Virginia Creeper at the back of the hellebore bed to trail and cover the back fence and I will get to see it grow to maturity! Delightful!

Gardening is so good for a healthy outlook, especially at this time in history. With the world in turmoil and the future unknown, it can be overwhelming. But when you start looking at how nature just carries on and thrives it gives hope that everything is going to be okay. It calms anxious thoughts and keeps your hands and mind busy - away from the busyness of fretting. Gardening also provides us with fresh air, vitamin D from the sunshine and exercise which releases endorphins naturally boosting our immune systems and improving our outlooks. I'm grateful for my garden.

I am reminded to take joy in the small things that come our way. Watching the bumblebee visit each flower in turn to collect pollen. Or perhaps watching the cat stretch out in delight in the sunshine. Observing how the water droplets from a recent shower sit delicately on a flower or leaf. 

There is much to enjoy in each moment and learning to tune into these small joys helps to get through these rather strange days. 

I know that many of you may be struggling in our shared global circumstances but as our dear Queen said in her moving lockdown speech a few weeks ago, "We should take comfort that, while we may have more still to endure, better days will return; we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again."

What a wonderful inspirational woman! I just love her and am so very proud to be British!

So my lovelies, if you are feeling a bit blue please remember that every season has its time and each season gives way to the next in its turn. Be strong, trust our Lord and delight in the things that he sends our way in each little moment.

Blessings in Christ...