The Gardening Joy of Small Things

[veggiechicken]

We all know that "What makes you happy in the Garden" can be the smallest of things - the first seedlings germinating, buds on the fruit tree, the first daffodil, a bird building its nest, a butterfly and so on. Maybe you think these little things don't warrant a post on the "What makes me Happy" thread but, that first strawberry can seem better than winning the lottery (you know what I mean).

Please share your Joy of the Small Things with us - photos would be a bonus

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sorry no photographs but many thing make me happy through the season but the one that gives most pleasure that first pod of garden peas, picked and eaten whilst just looking round.

[Snoop Puss]

No pictures, but yesterday I was amazed to hear (before I saw) a huge fat bumblebee. Hope it managed to find somewhere warm to spend the night.

And a single honeybee, admittedly looking forlornly at dead grass, no flowers anywhere. I'm off this weekend to inspect the unmanaged hives to see if they've survived the winter. After spotting it, I went and had a look around the scrub. The rain has encouraged some rosemary bushes to put up new shoots, amazingly. So they'll be in flower soon. And flower buds are starting to fatten on the almond trees. They'll be out late February or so. If those bees have survived, I will be so happy.

[Snoop Puss]

Sorry, should have added, nice thread, VC. Thanks.

[Greenleaves]

Freshly dug beds and the smell of summer rain

[veggiechicken]

Here are a couple of things that made me smile this morning - and prompted the thread.


A self seeded Rainbow chard, glowing in the January sun.


A 4, maybe 5 year old kale, still sending up new shoots, despite being eaten by cabbage white caterpillars, pigeons and whitefly. No netting, fleece or protection - just doing its own thing regardless. Its a plant I can relate to

[Guest]

my hellebore seeds popping to life in the GH after 9 months

[Bren In Pots]

Worms wiggling around in the compost bin

[Lumpy]

Heard my first owls of the year tonight.

[bramble]

Watching squirrels feeding in the park yesterday.

[Guest]

Wren eating a ginormous caterpillar. That's one less to eat my veg.

[Paulie]

My mate Rob:

[WPG]

This made me smile this morning - sorry the photo is hard to make out, but it's a sweet pea in among some honeysuckle.

I've been watching this sweet pea in my garden since last year, as it steadfastly refused to die in autumn when all the others did. I'd feared the recent very cold snap might have finally been its death knell, but noticed new shoots today.

Only a small thing, but I do admire its persistence.

[Issy]

A robin feeling from my hand this morning in the forest - lovely!!!

[Cadalot]

Making Compost make me