Summer In England

[VEGAS LADY]

#1162

Hi Chowlover2……. /ohmy.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’ohmy.gif’ />

Last year we got a good spell in April/May and after that it was rain all the way through and many people suffered serious flooding.

I think the year before was the hot one (we do get them now and again)…. /sad.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’sad.gif’ />

Groundhog ???????? I think that is what we call a Hedgehog ( small animal with a lot of prickles ) We have them in our garden and provide a house for them. As yet I have not seen them as the weather is far to cold. I did notice yesterday that our Blackbirds have started to nest gather so perhaps Spring is on the way……..I LIVE IN HOPE.

My Kindest Regards………Margaret

[katita]

#24745

Hi Margaret,

In reference to our Groundhog Day, it's actually not a Hedgehog.

In weather lore, if on Groundhog Day, which is Feb. 2, the Groundhog comes out of its borrow and sees it's shadow, there will be 6 more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, Spring is in the air. They even made a movie about it called Groundhog Day.

The Hedgehog is from the family Erinaceidae and the Groundhog is from the Sciuridae family. The Hedgehog being the older species.

That's our science lesson for today, this information will be on the test. <img src='style_emoticons//biggrin.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’biggrin.gif’ />

Katita

[VEGAS LADY]

#24746

Hi Katita……. <img src='style_emoticons//smile.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’smile.gif’ />

Guess I failed the test……. <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//biggrin.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’biggrin.gif’ />

SO……..What does a groundhog look like….. <!–emo&<_<img src='style_emoticons//dry.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’dry.gif’ />

Margaret…….. <img src='style_emoticons//wink.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’wink.gif’ />

[katita]

#24747

<img src='style_emoticons//biggrin.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’biggrin.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ /> Oh, Margaret, too funny!! <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ />

Go to http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/stat…y/groundhog.jpg

and you'll see a pic. They are also called Woodchucks. They are marmots.

I watch way too much animal planet and discovery channel <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ />

[chowlover2]

#24748

Groundhogs look like beavers but without the large front teeth. They are vegetarians, and hibernate in the winter. I have a male and female who I have named Gus & Gertie. They had 4 babies last spring and I see them daily, as they like to graze on my back lawn. One year they were particularly bold and moved their den close to the house. I was growing tomatoes and I never saw one that summer as Gus, Gertie and the young ones ate them all! Last year I saw my male grazing on the lawn at the end of February, but still no sign of him this year. They live underground in dens, and first sight of them means spring is here to stay. The weather in the PA is crazy as well. We have had more than our fair share of rain this year, and now the temps have dropped again after warming up to the 60's the last few days. And more winds as well….

[katita]

#24749

Hi Chowlover2,

Our weather here in Jersey is very close to yours. I don't have any groundhogs living close to me but I have dogs on my property so that would make sense. We can't post pics anymore but it would be fun to see your “outdoor pets”

[Ar]

#24750

Hi all,
Last weekend I saw two animals at the edge of the woods behind my house that I first thought were otters. However, they were grey in color so I told my cousin I thought they were weasels. We looked up weasels on the internet and found it is a generic term and there are many varieties. So I'm not sure what I saw!
I also have raccoons, possums and armadillos (hate them – they tear up my garden). The hummingbirds have returned so I think summer is near.
Ar

[VEGAS LADY]

#24751

Hi everyboby…… <img src='style_emoticons//smile.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’smile.gif’ />

Groundhogs look so sweet, wish we had them over here, I would welcome them in my garden…..Thanks for the pic's Katita. I'm not sure about the armadillos, can't say I would like to meet one on a dark night….. <img src='style_emoticons//ohmy.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’ohmy.gif’ /> I bet they dig up anything you plant.

We have two beautiful pigeons that come into the garden and we have named them Fred and Ginger. Fred is all white with brown wing tips and poor Ginger is just a dull grey…..but Fred seems to love her a lot and they have been together for about three years now.

The one thing we have is yet another large frog…..AND I HATE HIM…. <img src='style_emoticons//ohmy.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’ohmy.gif’ /> He's so fat and has a bad habit of sitting just outside our back door, we have a post-it-note stuck on the glass saying FROG as I am terrified of stepping on him. Ive only seen him twice this winter but I just know that he will be around full time any day now…. <img src='style_emoticons//ohmy.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’ohmy.gif’ /> UCK.

Chowlover2……..Do Gus & Gertie eat your garden plants ?

Today has been springlike with us and I have managed to do a little work in the garden.

Regards to you all…….Margaret

[chowlover2]

#24752

Gus & Gertie have only eaten tomatoes, but I have bunnies that ate my lettuce. It's amazing, I will look at the plants and think it should be picked in another day, and when I return the next day, the bunnies have beaten me to them. The same goes for my plum & peach tress. I have a herd of female deer, who manage always just to eat them as they ripen. I have yet to have a peach in 10 yrs! The squirrels climb the 2 plum trees I have in my backyard, and shake he plums down, derr & squirrels like them whether they are ripe or not. I feed the deer corn and apples daily, in the hopes they will stay away from my roses and daylilies, but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. They just love eating the buds. I also have a raccoon that I see on occasion, and a female fox I feed every night ( I am quite the animal lover ) Her name is Jojo. It was originally Hobo Joe when I first spotted her in my compost heap, then I discovered she was a female. She was raggedy about 2 years ago when I first started feeding her, but now, she looks quite like the Strongwater Fiery Fox. I give her whatever scraps are left over that I don't feed to my dogs. I started to encourage her, as she eats the moles and voles that were digging tunnels in my yard. Since Jojo has taken to living here, no more problems with that. She also eats whatever snacks I pick up for my 2 Chow Chows that they won't eat. I try something new each week, and all they want are pig ears and chicken jerky. They Chows are in a fenced-in portion off my house which I call the “hosegow”, as it is in their minds a Chow prison. They would love to chase all of my visitors and are particularly jealous of the fox. I have had as many as 3 other fox show up, but Jojo defends her territory so to speak. She is quite the litle scrapper!

[VEGAS LADY]

#24753

Gosh!!!!! Chowlover2 how interesting, YOU HAVE YOUR VERY OWN LITTLE ZOO…. <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ /> Its amazing what other people have in their back gardens.

I love the story of your fox. How kind of you to look after her and feed her. We used to have a lot of foxes that lived in a field near to us but over the years they have disappeared hunted out of existence….. <img src='style_emoticons//mad.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’mad.gif’ /> Fox hunting is now banned over here (or supossed to be) Its the one thing that my hubby and I don't agree on. He comes from a farming family and tells me that I want to see the damage that a fox can do in a hen house. I can agree with farmers shooting them but running them to death with hounds makes me sick..its so barbaric.

Things are changing very fast over here in the garden animal and insect world. A lot of our native species are falling into decline and being taken over by their continental cousins. This last ten years or so we have lost over 50% of our little house sparrows and now our British ladybird is being over taken by the European one.

Margaret…. <img src='style_emoticons//smile.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’smile.gif’ />

[chowlover2]

#24754

The residents of the UK are so wonderful in their treatment of all animals. This past summer, a raggedy fox showed up and came to live outside my basement. He had a severe case of the mange. You can't tell any game officials about it here in the States as it is against the law to feed them. Anyway, I went online and found a wonderful woman in the UK who had foxes in her yard and one had had the mange. In the UK they trapped it and nursed it back to health at a an animal shelter. When he was well they brought him back home and he has been well since. Anyway, Adele found out how much medicine I should give him, which I did. Luckily it was the same medicine I give my dogs for heartworms every month. He didn't make it, but I like to think he lived out what was left of his life protected and with a full belly. Another one showed up with a lesser case of the mange, and I managed to get all 3 doses of the meds in him and he is doing well. Jojo chases him when he tries to steal her food. I am thinking I may hear the pitter patter of little fox feet as she is starving lately. She can eat as much as my Chows do, and she is only about 13 lbs.

[SINNETT]

#24755

Hello everyone again from rural FRANCE.

Sorry I have been out of touch, but with nursing Paul back to health after he broke BOTH his heels and building two houses – I'm sort of tired. <img src='style_emoticons//blink.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’blink.gif’ />

Anyway Paul is walking a lot steadier now and will have another operation to remove all his screws and plates this summer.

I'm afraid my garden got very little attention last year and will be a big struggle. This spring I had about a dozen crocus only – the wild boar ate the rest last year. And of course we have lots of deer in the garden too – I love them and they are not as destructive as the Boar!!!!!! <img src='style_emoticons//smile.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’smile.gif’ />

Margaret – this is a no go area for you – we have Frogs everywhere <img src='style_emoticons//ph34r.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’ph34r.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//ohmy.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’ohmy.gif’ /> – and the noise phew!!!!!!!!!!! <img src='style_emoticons//tongue.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’tongue.gif’ />

The “pleased to meet you” bird is back from Africa (I don't know what it is but it's mating call is a short whistle and then it says “pleased to meet you”). Unfortuneatly at 5am it gets into your head and you could murder it. <img src='style_emoticons//mad.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’mad.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//wink.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’wink.gif’ />

We are awaiting the HooPoo which is very beautiful – looks like a cross between a Zebra and a Punk!!!

Our two cats have taken all this in their stride – the wildest animals we had in the UK were the neighbours HORRIBLE children!!!!! <img src='style_emoticons//huh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’huh.gif’ /> <!–emo&<_<img src='style_emoticons//dry.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’dry.gif’ />

And as for summer in the UK – why do you think we moved to France!!!!!!

Caroline

[VEGAS LADY]

#24756

HI CAROLINE…….. <img src='style_emoticons//smile.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’smile.gif’ />

A BIG WELCOME BACK TO YOU…… <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ />

Margaret

[VEGAS LADY]

#24757

Hello Chowlover2….. <img src='style_emoticons//smile.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’smile.gif’ />

Yes, here in the UK we are well known for our good treatment of animals. There are many, many animal charities all willing to help in whatever way they can.
Its unfortunate that there are still people that take on animals without really knowing what a commitment they are. Many poor creatures still get thrown out onto the streets for the charities to pick up when people get fed up with them…… <img src='style_emoticons//mad.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’mad.gif’ /> but the good side is that they are then rehomed to people who have been vetted.

It does sound as if Jojo is having cubs, lets hope all goes well and do keep us informed as to progress….. <img src='style_emoticons//smile.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’smile.gif’ />

Caroline…… You can keep your frogs, I would sooner face Ar's Armadillo…… <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ />

Margaret

[SINNETT]

#24758

Or Margaret – you could do as we do here – and EAT them!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <img src='style_emoticons//tongue.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’tongue.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//biggrin.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’biggrin.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//ohmy.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’ohmy.gif’ />

Lovely cooked in butter and garlic <img src='style_emoticons//wink.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’wink.gif’ />

Caroline

[Author]

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