The few I have sighted are normally on the ground in quiet shaded areas around the garden, nice to enjoy the odd times we see them in the open.
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The few I have sighted are normally on the ground in quiet shaded areas around the garden, nice to enjoy the odd times we see them in the open.
So true. When I water the garden, they always show as well because the bugs surface. They are one of the most beautiful birds for me.
When we had a watering system setup around the garden little birds used to love flying through the spray, alas that now a thing of the past as well.
That is so cute, and sad that it is not happening any longer. I see that every single time I water the garden, the birds somehow know what I am doing. They always inspect, either to bathe or to eat the worms and bugs coming to the surface.
Over 20 years turning garden to indigenous I no longer own a hosepipe let alone watering system, some ferns or plant under cover get bucket of water sip when dry.
Pond for birds to drink or dip in also available as birds requirements high on my list of priorities.
I wish for that day! I planted mostly indigenous plants, but the ground/soil where we live is far from indigenous, I think. The ground/soil is clay, which is not ideal for fynbos, as far as I know. But it is what we make of it. I have seen tremendous growth and return of life, but I still need to water it as the summer kills even indigenous plants.
Break down the clay using bone meal, mixed with compost which has everything but the kitchen sink already. Compost all leaves raked up, kitchen peelings, egg shells crunched up, manure if farm close to you, chicken shit is excellent! Dig up hard clay before applying to aerate it, repeat every couple of years before wet season.
When I started buying massive bags of it, my dogs used go behind me licking up the bone meal, so I mixed it. This creates a protective layer at foot of plants, breaks down slowly with water, rain, dew.
Not sure that will help with Fynbos
It is funny, I think fynbos prefer dry sandy soil.
I make vast amounts of compost, and I use it more like mulch. I have never seen so many earthworms in my garden since using it, and even some of the fynbos loves the compost. I see my whole garden in relation to the compost, the compost is the life and heartbeat of the garden! Every single leave and everything from the kitchen "feeds" the compost, which then breathes live into the garden. I also get a good workout when I "turn" the compost every other day.
I should invest some money in the bonemeal, I totally forgot about that! Thank you so much.