tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.comments2014-07-02T16:25:16.223+01:00Windowbox WildlifePatrick Roperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05656486045726647263noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-38760894004448151222014-05-26T13:42:30.728+01:002014-05-26T13:42:30.728+01:00Generally I leave the plants alone. There are, ho...Generally I leave the plants alone. There are, however, several sallows (Salix spp.) and I coppice these back each year.<br /><br />Removal of plants is only very occasionally necessary (or something I feel I want to do in order to maximise biodiversity as naturally as possible.Patrick Roperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05656486045726647263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-27031099890547352862014-05-26T05:33:06.390+01:002014-05-26T05:33:06.390+01:00Hi Patrick, did you set this up and strictly leave...Hi Patrick, did you set this up and strictly leave it alone or do you remove totally dominating plants?Leauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02822152687755782989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-32567785829239982922013-05-17T17:06:16.820+01:002013-05-17T17:06:16.820+01:00A wonderful sequence of photos.A wonderful sequence of photos.Richard Carterhttp://lifesgrandeur.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-43915176097262772932012-02-15T14:58:18.709+00:002012-02-15T14:58:18.709+00:00Larry. Thanks for your comment. My bryologist fri...Larry. Thanks for your comment. My bryologist friend Howard Matcham says "This species is found from British Columbia to California and inland to Idaho and Wyoming. Newfoundland to Minnesota, south to Massachusetts, North Carolina and Tennessee; Ohio, Michagan and Iowa in N. America but is probably even more frequent as an introduction over a very wide range. I have seen it in Africa and in the Antipodes."Patrick Roperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05656486045726647263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-16214312882416792552012-02-15T01:05:43.658+00:002012-02-15T01:05:43.658+00:00It may surprise you to get a comment after five ye...It may surprise you to get a comment after five years, but I just wanted you to know that we have a whole lawn full of C. cuspidata in front of our house here is (are you ready?) Clinton, Washington. That's coastal Pacific Northwest.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11272417700217386333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-26701462622060869402011-04-05T16:43:05.289+01:002011-04-05T16:43:05.289+01:00Gloria. The window box must warm up and cool down...Gloria. The window box must warm up and cool down more quickly than the normal ground in the garden.<br /><br />I don't think this affects the flora and fauna as almost everything in the box flourishes elsewhere in the neighbourhood. The exception is hairy tare (Vicia hirsuta) which I have not seen elsewhere locally. It could be a bird seed introduction.Patrick Roperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05656486045726647263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-28822686300980169052011-04-05T16:18:23.465+01:002011-04-05T16:18:23.465+01:00Is the windowbox much quicker to warm up than the ...Is the windowbox much quicker to warm up than the ground nearby and do you think this might influence what grows there?Gloriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02510052722805573141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-21950735772865809542009-05-06T00:28:00.000+01:002009-05-06T00:28:00.000+01:00Excellent and interesting project. I have been thi...Excellent and interesting project. I have been thinking for a while that I might make such a windowbox for my balcony. Trouble is I live in a tower block. It's 200 yds from the Thames in Sth London. It has a clear view of the river and faces NW, it gets a lot of sun. Do you think anything will find it, apart from flies and ladybirds - get plenty of them.Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17380840914579659712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-85408721941256217412009-03-12T16:27:00.000+00:002009-03-12T16:27:00.000+00:00I think it's fascinating: the spontaneous recreati...I think it's fascinating: the spontaneous recreation of Wealden plant associations in a highly manufactured container!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-48515407161063721052008-11-11T15:50:00.000+00:002008-11-11T15:50:00.000+00:00Interesting to know.Interesting to know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-6019412187793917152008-10-29T19:28:00.000+00:002008-10-29T19:28:00.000+00:00No, the creature that buried it came and took it a...No, the creature that buried it came and took it away again. Such is life!Patrick Roperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05656486045726647263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-55206283369106097962008-06-29T15:15:00.000+01:002008-06-29T15:15:00.000+01:00Thank you Carol. The secret seems to be detailed ...Thank you Carol. The secret seems to be detailed attention to very small spaces on a daily basis.Patrick Roperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05656486045726647263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-25213494063043028152008-05-12T21:00:00.000+01:002008-05-12T21:00:00.000+01:00I love your site. I found it through the link from...I love your site. I found it through the link from "Square Meter" A colleague I work with is doing a similar project with some primary school kids in Northern Ireland. I think it's great to look at such a small place. <BR/><BR/>I didn't realise there were so many others doing sites like these. I have been a big fan of a fella doing this in Donegal for years online. He only recently moved to a blog format. But you might be interested to see, if you didn't know his site already:<BR/><BR/>http://donegal-wildlife.blogspot.com/<BR/><BR/>I also linked to the young students journal from my name below.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-68760142819430409082008-05-12T10:19:00.000+01:002008-05-12T10:19:00.000+01:00Thank you HeatherThank you HeatherPatrick Roperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05656486045726647263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-20364672720745288412008-05-09T21:56:00.000+01:002008-05-09T21:56:00.000+01:00your photos are lovely :)your photos are lovely :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09706717804671414535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-39077240217601377162008-01-29T02:56:00.000+00:002008-01-29T02:56:00.000+00:00I find your work fascinating. How wonderful that ...I find your work fascinating. How wonderful that you are able to identify these plants and insects. <BR/>I suppose you have made it manageable by working within a restricted space. You have created a treasure.<BR/>CaroleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-28071762426285979142007-07-21T23:15:00.000+01:002007-07-21T23:15:00.000+01:00Gloria, thanks for your kind remarks. The papers ...Gloria, thanks for your kind remarks. The papers on the table did include my records of species to date and, yes, I was there to answer questions.<BR/><BR/>Please use the idea wherever and whenever you want. The more wildlife windowboxes the better.Patrick Roperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05656486045726647263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-10756365215755011002007-07-18T07:02:00.000+01:002007-07-18T07:02:00.000+01:00Great idea! A little local exposure where you can ...Great idea! A little local exposure where you can keep an eye on the box. Is that a chart of your recorded observations that is on the table? Were you available to answer questions? <BR/>I so like this idea. I am a Master Gardener volunteer for the extention service at universities throughout the U.S.(Chicago)which does many demonstrations each year at various locations including elementary schools.http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/blogs/eb6/index.html<BR/>May I use your idea of the Windowbox Wildlife, I will give you full credit I promise.Teachers would love such a great tool.Gloriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02510052722805573141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-23118983506838246692007-06-30T11:03:00.000+01:002007-06-30T11:03:00.000+01:00Patrick, How about placing fresh earth on the top...Patrick, How about placing fresh earth on the top and using earthworms to mix it in?<BR/><BR/>Alternatively, it may be part of the ecology of a wildlife box reserve - the soil will eventually collapse and will give rise to species which survive best in these conditions. <BR/><BR/>Just some thoughts<BR/><BR/>Richard.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13049987106163260521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-17639589242018196672007-06-29T12:33:00.000+01:002007-06-29T12:33:00.000+01:00Jess - good to hear from you. It is easy enough to...Jess - good to hear from you. It is easy enough to get soil wet again but I think with potting composts some element of the soil structure must collapes irretrievably after droughty conditions. I will have to work out how to get more earth into the bottom of the box. Any ideas?Patrick Roperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05656486045726647263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-76138677695510489162007-06-29T11:56:00.000+01:002007-06-29T11:56:00.000+01:00Hi Patrick, am glad the box made it back safely, s...Hi Patrick, am glad the box made it back safely, sorry it has come back drier than it left you, i was wondering how you get soil to "undry" itself as it has happened to some of my plants after being away for a long time. I have tried ploughing the top soil and watering but it doesn't really work, maybe i will just have to re-pot?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06727098016385062172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-39542957063422076422007-06-15T09:34:00.000+01:002007-06-15T09:34:00.000+01:00Yes Gloria, I am afraid the man in front of the c...Yes Gloria, I am afraid the man in front of the camera that is me - looking rather more old and shabby than usual!<BR/><BR/>The Springwatch programme here in UK gets a very large number of viewers - over 3 million I think - and it outshines the popular reality shows like Big Brother (I expect you have those too).<BR/><BR/>Thanks for yopu kind comments an d good to hear about your bees and hoverflies.Patrick Roperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05656486045726647263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-2167244338883939722007-06-15T05:08:00.000+01:002007-06-15T05:08:00.000+01:00Is that you standing in front of the windowbox,Pat...Is that you standing in front of the windowbox,Patrick?<BR/>How exciting for you!<BR/>I saw that the square metre was filmed as well. Congratulations...<BR/>and Thanks. I may never see the film here in the U.S. but I have enjoyed your Journals.<BR/> There is an area behind our garage I call the wild garden. Today greenfaced bees and hover flies along with so many other flying creatures eluded a good picture. <BR/>What you do is not easy...Gloriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02510052722805573141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-72764533006974025412007-06-14T21:52:00.000+01:002007-06-14T21:52:00.000+01:00I think managing any small nature reserve is simpl...I think managing any small nature reserve is simply a matter of judgement. If things seem to be getting out of hand, introduce control measures. In the wild there are many controls like grazing and browsing.<BR/><BR/>So far as identification is concerned, that is part of the challenge and part of the fun. Over the years I have bought or borrowed many books to try and name something, and there are now many Internet forums where pictures of this or that can be posted for identification.<BR/><BR/>Patrick RoperPatrick Roperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05656486045726647263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23376881.post-76707344203036480112007-06-14T18:11:00.000+01:002007-06-14T18:11:00.000+01:00Patrick,Thank you for an excellent idea and for yo...Patrick,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for an excellent idea and for your comments on my blog.<BR/>I'm interested to read that, like many nature reserves, you manage your wildlife box. I'm undecided yet on what approach to take with mine, but do you have any advice on what do and how to identify the species?<BR/>I will be returning to your blog frequently to see how it develops.<BR/><BR/>Many Thanks<BR/><BR/>Richard.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13049987106163260521noreply@blogger.com