Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Ask Lynne’ for the Western Mail. 16th July 2016
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Ask any gardener at this time of year, ‘How does your garden grow?’ and they will probably answer, ‘Far too quickly’. But now you could actually watch your geraniums grow and your buddleia blossom with the GardenWatchCam.
It is an easy-to-use 1.3 megapixel time lapse camera with the photos stored as JPEG images for easy playback as a movie file on computer. It uses a high quality lens to target your chosen gardening area, or even a single bloom, and is designed to take photos at predetermined time settings chosen by the user. You can choose from 7 different time setting options. The first 6 settings are chosen by simply opening the camera and turning the switch to the desired time – 1 minute, 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, 24 hours – even I can manage that bit! There is also the custom (7th) option which is set by inserting the included 2GB USB flash drive into the camera, which downloads Brinno software onto the drive. You then insert the USB drive into your computer and follow the directions on screen to customize any time setting at which you want to have GardenWatchCam take photos. The lens adjusts from 20 inches for close ups (like a flower blooming) to infinity and the camera fastens securely into the top of a custom designed flexible mounting stake for insertion into the ground, or can be used with any camera tripod. And apparently it ‘sleeps’ between photos – clever!
It has mixed reviews on Amazon but a friend has reported very favourably on hers.
Eggs-ellent Products.
My hens have begun the really annoying trait of eating their own eggs. Not only is it irritating but it is quite expensive as now I have to buy chicken food and eggs. I have tried a few old wives remedies – like filling a shell with chilli paste and curry powder but was then told that hens can’t taste hot spicy food so that wouldn’t (and didn’t) work. So this week I have tried a Roll Away Nest Box Insert which is a rather grand description of a very simple product. A sort of plastic basket, it has a chute, which allows the freshly laid egg to roll away from the nest box, preventing ‘lunch’ for the chicken! It took a little while for the hens to get used to laying in it but so far it is working a treat. And like all good things – it is from Wales!
Green Valley Poultry Supplies are based in Ebbw Vale and stock everything you will need for happy hen keeping – including automatic chicken door openers which is something I will be considering as I want to go to bed before my chickens at this time of year!
For more details, call Simon on 01495 371502 who says, “If I’m not in the office, I will be building chicken coops or packing orders so please leave a message.”
And whilst they don’t have a retail shop you are welcome to visit by appointment.
Water Beautiful Sight!
Barafundle Bay is one of my all-time favourite places, and last weekend, even in the drizzle and the fog, it was as special as ever and I discovered a new ‘Welsh Wonder’ too. Inspired by the other half and Yogi, (and driven by the rain) we walked inland and found the magical Lily Ponds at Bosherston. What a well-kept secret that is – or was! It is beautiful – acres of floating carpets of white water lilies (presumably our native white water lily, Nymphaea alba), which begin blooming once the water temperature holds steady at 60 degrees, and will continue blooming until the first frosts. The beautiful bridges crossing the water make it all feel very ‘Monet’ and it is most definitely a gorgeous Welsh version of Giverny.
Another favourite place of mine (and Yogi’s) is Pembrey Beach and I was surprised to discover the beautiful water lilies on the lake in the Country Park behind the dunes too. These are mixed in colour and apparently the flowers can change colour shades over the life of the bloom.
Water lily flowers open in the morning and close late in the afternoon – Dad used to say they opened at 10 and closed at 4 but I think that may have been poetic licence. You can also get tropical water lilies which open at night but I think the Welsh weather will have to improve a bit before we see those at Bosherton or Pembrey!
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