Des res

 This is a group project, hubby did the building, I did the collecting, Molly helped with the filling, we have solitary bee holes in three levels, and a butterfly box at the top, the holes or shelves are filled with different stuff with hay added, I used hay as I thought it might be beneficial to the bugs, who I hope will move in. 

My plan was to pop it infront of the raised garden by the pond, hubby made it the same height, but there is just not enough room and I did not want it to go over the water, it could go on the side behind the blood red grass, I'm sure it would just fit in there. For now outside the greenhouse in this corner, where we don't often go, it's on a concrete base, so it's stable, it's also a sunny spot and the raised bed will protect it from some of the rain. 

We have corks from wine bottle, pinecones, bark and wood which is going soft, twigs, I have also popped a few broken clay pots in the hay for extra homes, everything is natural and untreated. The butterfly house I have had for years, I've never seen a butterfly close to it.

I have had this in mind and been working on it since the summer, it's bigger than I first thought, hubby decided the size, the frame is old decking boards, which should stay good for years, our only purchase was the front wire grid, it came in a bigger roll, I shall make a few cloches in the spring with the rest of it. 

Now as it's getting cooler is the perfect time to have it in place, another completed job outside, there is very little to do, I added half a bag of mushroom compost to my tiny broad bean shoots, I'm sure it will be better on the garden than in a bag all winter. I'm still picking up leaves, most drifting in from neighbours garden, I have a pile over my rhubarb crown, in hope it will help the crown grow next year.

I am really enjoying these sunny dry days, my mood has improved so much, it's good to be out in the sunshine, with nothing to do, I can spend ages outside. We have my sister and her partner here for a few days, so going to a garden centre later.