Wildlife and Gardens Thread

[Trav Le Bleu]

For those who underestimate the growing power of bamboo...

 

 

[MC Prussian]

On 13/01/2026 at 23:44, Trav Le Bleu said:

If you want something that grows faster than bamboo? Are you sure it was bamboo? It's notorious for getting out of control pretty quickly!

 

Are you growing in pots on a balcony, up against rails or fence? Personally I love ferns. Huge range of shapes and sizes and easy to look after.

 

On 14/01/2026 at 09:34, FoyleFox said:

I was thinking similar. MC must have had the only slow growing bamboo, if it was. We bought a black one, allegedly the slowest growing variety and it's gone nuts. I think we're going to take it out this spring. The shoots are spreading everywhere. 

 

Laurel is good for screening and grows quickly. Or a photinias for more colour. 

Took me a while to look it up – I had fargesia rufa, a garden bamboo variation. Just wouldn't grow much at all, sadly.

I was told by the seller – a garden pro – it could withstand wind and was frost-resistant.

 

I'm looking for something similar that can grow up to approximately three feet high, but not much in width.

Edited 15 January by MC Prussian

[MC Prussian]

21 hours ago, Spudulike said:

Fatsia Japonica  

 

Not pretty enough for my balcony.  In all seriousness, I think that's a plant that needs more space, thus a proper garden.

[JonnyBoy]

moved into a new build and looking to do the garden in spring, looking at getting some tall (nice trees) or bushes that can cover as it is a bit overlooked. We have managed to get a mature Acer planted as one of the trees has died when we moved in as hadn't been watered all summer which will provide a canopy effect when in full flower which will be nice. 

 

Any suggestions? no fruit trees as dog has severe IBD and would see him off if he ate something that isn't his regimented diet. 

[Spudulike]

37 minutes ago, JonnyBoy said:

moved into a new build and looking to do the garden in spring, looking at getting some tall (nice trees) or bushes that can cover as it is a bit overlooked. We have managed to get a mature Acer planted as one of the trees has died when we moved in as hadn't been watered all summer which will provide a canopy effect when in full flower which will be nice. 

 

Any suggestions? no fruit trees as dog has severe IBD and would see him off if he ate something that isn't his regimented diet. 

Evergreen Pleached trees are good for screening. Lots of suitable, non-fruiting varieties to choose from but can be quite pricey.

 

I've got two Prunus Chanticleer in my garden that do a good job of screening. Deciduous but in leaf for most of the year. Nice spring blossom and brilliant autumn colours. Potential for very small, non-poisonous fruits that mine have never produced that I've noticed. Perhaps the birds ate them.

[Bellend Sebastian]

Another fox visitation last night, this time one sauntering down the middle of the road in front of the house, doing that horrendous screaming thing they do. I've heard it before but it's usually in the middle of the night and very brief, but this lad was screeching his head off at about 9.30.

 

I knew what it was and saw old Foxy having a good old shout, but if you didn't know what it was you'd wonder WTF was going on, as evidenced by nearly everyone on the street peaking out of their curtains 

[Spudulike]

36 minutes ago, Bellend Sebastian said:

Another fox visitation last night, this time one sauntering down the middle of the road in front of the house, doing that horrendous screaming thing they do. I've heard it before but it's usually in the middle of the night and very brief, but this lad was screeching his head off at about 9.30.

 

I knew what it was and saw old Foxy having a good old shout, but if you didn't know what it was you'd wonder WTF was going on, as evidenced by nearly everyone on the street peaking out of their curtains 

I actually thought that a woman was being assulted the first time I heard it. Scared the bejeebers out me. 

[Foxdiamond]

1 hour ago, Bellend Sebastian said:

Another fox visitation last night, this time one sauntering down the middle of the road in front of the house, doing that horrendous screaming thing they do. I've heard it before but it's usually in the middle of the night and very brief, but this lad was screeching his head off at about 9.30.

 

I knew what it was and saw old Foxy having a good old shout, but if you didn't know what it was you'd wonder WTF was going on, as evidenced by nearly everyone on the street peaking out of their curtains 

The way this season is going more than a few Foxes screaming horribly 

[Bellend Sebastian]

1 hour ago, Spudulike said:

I actually thought that a woman was being assulted the first time I heard it. Scared the bejeebers out me. 

Yes, it's mental isn't it? I was like 'I THINK that's a fox, but I'd better check', was quite relieved to see it was

[Trav Le Bleu]

15 hours ago, Bellend Sebastian said:

Another fox visitation last night, this time one sauntering down the middle of the road in front of the house, doing that horrendous screaming thing they do. I've heard it before but it's usually in the middle of the night and very brief, but this lad was screeching his head off at about 9.30.

 

I knew what it was and saw old Foxy having a good old shout, but if you didn't know what it was you'd wonder WTF was going on, as evidenced by nearly everyone on the street peaking out of their curtains 

Maybe he was looking for his mate, Foxy Peter, who he hasn't seen for years.

[VLC86]

16 hours ago, Bellend Sebastian said:

Another fox visitation last night, this time one sauntering down the middle of the road in front of the house, doing that horrendous screaming thing they do. I've heard it before but it's usually in the middle of the night and very brief, but this lad was screeching his head off at about 9.30.

 

I knew what it was and saw old Foxy having a good old shout, but if you didn't know what it was you'd wonder WTF was going on, as evidenced by nearly everyone on the street peaking out of their curtains 

Yeah they make a right racket.

 

I’ve got a few that come in my garden so I’ve been leaving dog food out for a while. Now I think they are getting better food elsewhere so they rarely come so the neighbours now have very fat cats.

[Bellend Sebastian]

3 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Maybe he was looking for his mate, Foxy Peter, who he hasn't seen for years.

In fairness, I've seen a couple of decrepit looking ones of late that could pass for Peter himself.

 

Imagine if he came back now. I think people would say "what is this?" even more, and more angrily, than they did back in the day

[Bellend Sebastian]

4 hours ago, VLC86 said:

Yeah they make a right racket.

 

I’ve got a few that come in my garden so I’ve been leaving dog food out for a while. Now I think they are getting better food elsewhere so they rarely come so the neighbours now have very fat cats.

If I did that I'd just get bigger rats, and to be honest they're plenty big enough as it is

[Bellend Sebastian]

Bastard heron's had all my fish innit

[Bellend Sebastian]

Cheeky sod was back again this evening. At least one fish has survived, but for how long? I give him until tomorrow

[Trav Le Bleu]

2 hours ago, Bellend Sebastian said:

Cheeky sod was back again this evening. At least one fish has survived, but for how long? I give him until tomorrow

Get some piranhas 

[MPH]

9 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Get some piranhas 

 

i don’t think the lone fish would survive that..

[Izzy]

Completely gutting the garden and starting again (much to my old man’s disgust)

This is how we inherited it last summer,  overgrown, covered in weeds, ivy and bramble.

 

 

 

Edited 15 March by Izzy

[Izzy]

And what it looks like today 

 

 

 

Edited 15 March by Izzy

[Jattdogg]

4 minutes ago, Izzy said:

And what it looks like today 

 

 

 

 

 

Fooking heck you must be the incredible hulk.  Solid 17 minutes in between posts.  Lol

 

 

Looks much better. Is this your place?

[Trav Le Bleu]

What did you use, agent orange? 

 

I love how your garden used to look

 

[Trav Le Bleu]

8 minutes ago, Jattdogg said:

Fooking heck you must be the incredible hulk.  Solid 17 minutes in between posts.  Lol

 

 

Looks much better. Is this your place?

No, he thought he'd gut some stranger's garden.

 

Of course it's bally well his place!

Edited 15 March by Trav Le Bleu

[Izzy]

Just now, Jattdogg said:

Fooking heck you must be the incredible hulk.  Solid 17 minutes in between posts.  Lol

 

 

Looks much better. Is this your place?

Haha, yeah it's our renovation project. Not sure about the incredible hulk, my back is absolutely fvcked 

 

We've probably filled three skips full of old shrubs, roots, stumps, rocks, slabs, bricks, rubble, weeds, old trellis/gates, posts, and various shite.

 

It's been a bitch digging it all out and a bigger bitch trying to level it (and now doing the same out the front)

 

Nearly ready to put down seed and fertilizer. Thought about turfing the whole lot but ran out of money! 

[Jattdogg]

1 minute ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

What did you use, agent orange? 

 

I love how your garden used to look

 

I think he could make it look much nicer (if he added some other trees and like a gazebo or cozy sitting area.

 

Or a mini football pitch with city player dummies he  can kick a ball at (or axe throwing practice).

[Trav Le Bleu]

Just now, Izzy said:

Haha, yeah it's our renovation project. Not sure about the incredible hulk, my back is absolutely fvcked 

 

Bend with your knees. Advice I've always followed.

 

My knees are completely knackered mind.