9 May 2026

Although May has been cold, the sun has not withdrawn its face and we have not been severely disadvantaged. This has been confirmed by sightings of four butterflies – the Red Admiral, the Peacock, the Orange Tip and the Speckled Wood, all industrious, colourful and cheerful.

Following advice from the RSPB, we have stopped feeding sunflower seeds to our garden birds. This has reduced the number of sparrows, finches and tits which we have been used to seeing. Apparently, there is a disease which is reducing the numbers of greenfinches and is passed on at bird feeders.

There is more risk of this happening during the summer and the autumn when birds can find their own food e.g. seeds and insects. One of the RSPB recommendations is to help the birds find their  food. To this end, I have planted sixteen sunflower seeds in pots and will plant them in the garden shortly.

Despite the loss of bird activity at the feeders, we still have the companionship of the wood pigeons which never tire of drinking at our pond,  waddling across the grass or perching on the rose arch. In addition, there is a blue-tit nesting in the birdbox and a blackbird in the holly bush.

Interestingly, the female blackbird is very noticeable. She has some white feathers on her head. This makes her easily identifiable to us and, of course, easily spotted by predators. She has a genetic condition called Leucism  which causes streaks of white feathers on her body.  Disease and disabilities are not just human conditions it seems!

The strawberries are growing tall. I hope it doesn’t mean the fruit will not be so fat? At the end of the season, I culled 175 runners. Lettuce is planted, leeks, onions and gourds to follow. Mary-Catherine wants  gourds for decoration at our autumn family wedding! But for the moment, we are nearer God’s heart in our  garden than anywhere else on earth except perhaps the foot of the pulpit steps!