It seems a long time since our last diary entry.

Well you know how it is, lots to do in the garden as we move out of summer towards autumn again.

The grass has been to say the least enthusiastic this summer and much of our effort has been directed at just keeping nature a little under control!

But needless to say we have been capturing the last few weeks in images so you will see these in the Gallery soon.

No not some species of dinosaur, but a plant descendant heralding from the beginnings of time. Between May to November the Pteridium Acquilinium or Bracken can be seen emerging. In the woodland areas we first had the fall of the autumn leaves carpeting the ground, then the promise of new life in the form of the amazing carpet of bluebells. Now as the bluebells have receded they have made way for the branched frons of the Bracken which gives the hill its name, and they can grow as high as 6 feet!

If you would like and further information on ferns in the UK then a trip to the Fern World website is a very interesting departure.

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted-sites/bps/index.htm

They really do give the lodge an amazing  green carpet to nestle in!

The amazing thing about the pond is the variety of natural life that is drawn to it throughout the year. Of late it has really been the sole preserve of the the tadpoles and the Newts, scuttling around the ever expanding water lilies until these

chaps arrived on a rather balmy slot one Saturday.

The Common Blue (Enallagma cyathigerum) is one of the most abundant damselflies in Norfolk, according to the dragonflies of Norfolk website  http://www.norfolkdragons.co.uk. They are around three inches in length and are really irridescent, with the red chap being the The Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) again a fairly common site around Norfolk watering holes but it clearly shows that our efforts during the winter in getting the pond back on track are now really paying off!

Well its no greeting but the genus of the edible mushroom known as the Morel. We recently picked some of these really handsome chaps (and no there aren’t any more as we scoured the hill in anticipation )But they are most welcome and an interesting addition to the other species of fungi that inhabit the hill throughout the year. Clearly fungi need to be treated with care as many are not for consumption but these chaps are right up there on the mushroom gatherers hit list!

As you can see the blooms have finally started to arrive, this is just the beginning and what a sight!

The rhododendron’s really are extensive at Bracken Hill so much so that they had to be hacked away in the 1960’s to form the site for the lodge! But we still have plenty of really mature specimens which we will attempt to catalogue this year,

the effect will be quite amazing when they are all finally out.

And just as a contrast to all that pinkery the bluebells are finally here and they do look rather tremendous, the weather over the last week has hampered our image gathering but should the sun shine we will better document their extent in next weeks entry!

A special thanks to our latest guests who due to their expert observations and knowledge pointed out an RSPB “amber” status visitor to the hill.  The Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus) has been spotted a number of times over the last week, this energetic chap has been seen joisting with his own reflection on a number of windows in the early morning! This allowed the viewer to see him raise his red fiery crest up close and what a site! a bird with such  beautiful colouring. If you want a little more technical information please follow the link below to the RSPB’s website and all will be revealed.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/f/firecrest/index.aspx

It appears that both the Goldcrest ( see our diary entry of April 6th, 2010, small but beautiful! ) and Firecrest are direct competitors for Britain’s smallest bird so it is fabulous to have them both at the hill, they like differing habitats so I presume there will be enough to go around for all!

Spring just keeps getting better, everything has really taken advantage of the amazing weather over the last couple of weeks, with only the odd thunderstorm punctuating clear blue skies.The Icelandic volcano gave the horizon a kind of historic quality, with the only things visible the clouds and the birds. Food for thought in these energy strapped times!

Although the daffodils are nearly over we thought we would record some of the numerous species that inhabit the Hill,  here are just a few to give you a feel!

The blossom is now out, and the Bumble Bees seem drunk on the nectar as they bounce from flower to flower! It really is a beautiful sight and sadly not long enough, but as with all things it makes way for more natural magic.

Oh by the way, the bluebells that we have been talking about over the last few months in the diary have just started to flower! we will bring you more images as the carpet gradually reveals itself it really will be spectacular, as its only now that the extent of their cover has been determined and they seem to reach all areas of the woodland!

the star magnolia has finally come into bloom and what a sight!

Just adjacent to the front door of the Lodge is this tremendous specimen plant.As the temperature rose on Saturday morning the buds began to open and revealed these beautiful flowers.They should be in bloom for some months to come.

Also the warmth has woken the slumber of the ladybirds, so garden pests beware!

The fantastic weather over the last week has led to real photographic opportunities.We will add some more images to the galleries when our IT guru returns from a much needed sabbatical to the land of the rising sun!

Thanks to our keen eyed regular guests (you know who you are) we are now constantly spotting Britain’s smallest bird. It appears we have the right habitat at the Hill to make these visitors welcome.They appear to be a very much at home flitting among the Larches.

So we welcome to the Goldcrest (Regulus regulus ) to the Bracken Hill menagerie!

Oh and whilst we are on the subject of wildlife, an early hours of the morning cup of tea requirement allowed one of these characters to be spotted crossing the front lawn!

We have certainly spotted their nocturnal activity at the Hill previously, hoof prints, the sweet shoots of the daffodils & tulips munched off etc, etc. Apparently Chinese in origin these little deer are now considered a pest, but we have an open house policy for all creatures who stray through our boundary here at Bracken Hill. So you too might glimpse one of these timid creatures on your stay!

WOW! is really the only word to describe this weeks developments at the Hill.

The excessively harsh winter played havoc with the pond and despite breaking the ice constantly there were sadly a number of amphibian fatalities along the way, nature can be pretty cruel sometimes as if the poor creatures havent got enough to contend with!

Well this week saw spring really get into gear with some 40 or so common frogs descending on the pond, they brought some newts to the party as well and the rest is way to blue to discuss!, but thats frogs for you.. But suffice as to say we think there will be the wagging of tiny tadpole tails in the not too distant future!