We Are Pleased To Announce

We are pleased to announce the hatching of thirteen ducklings, seen for the first time today. The proud parents are two of our ten ducks who arrived last year. (The Fledgling Duckies filmed in the Blog of 9th February)

The Official Opening

The gardening team have worked hard this week making sure the Ruskin quadrangle gardens and the surrounding area were spotless for the official opening of the Ruskin Building development. The opening ceremony was performed by the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Tim Stevenson with the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Susanna Pressel in attendance.

Cheers! And now for the team photo.

Blooming Marvellous

The calming white of the Snowdrops and the yellow of the Aconite's and Narcissi have now left us, but have been replaced by the bold, but graceful, Tulips. The college gardens are now bursting with colour, the graceful tangerine tulip, Ballerina and the deep maroon, almost black, Queen of the Night, encouraging the rest of the plants to join them in this colour spectacle.

The Wallflowers, Wisteria, Viola's, Polyanthus and Bellis are joining them in this explosion of colour. Red, yellow, blue, white, orange and black, a floral rainbow in the college grounds. The colours will continue over the Summer, it just keeps getting better!

I Need A Volunteer

" I need a volunteer......" The words of Simon, the head gardener.
What for? the team wonder. As can be seen from the photo, Graham volunteered. He put on the waders and into the lake he went to cut down the grasses. Ali stayed on dry land to assist in the taking away of the cut down material.

Ady, like Ali, opted to remain on dry land, continuing to tidy the surrounding area.

Finished

Since the blog of the 4th April "Rejuvenation", the corner of the Ruskin Building has been updated and rejuvenated. As can be seen in the photo's, the project has now been completed and this tired, overgrown corner has been given a new lease of life.

Let's Twist Again!

As the plants grow rapidly in the hebaceous border, it is now that time of year to add support to them for the coming months. These plant supports are made from material harvested from coppiced Birch and supplied to the college by Harcourt Arboretum, part of the Oxford Botanic Garden.

Each piece of Birch is

twisted and weaved

into shape and

then bent around

the plant that

requires support.

This is a slow process as some plants require more support then others. Several pieces of Birch are placed around the plant and a frame built by joining the pieces together.

Who Lives In A House Like This?

In the words of Lloyd Grossman "Who lives in a house like this?" As you wonder around the college grounds at this time of year, the wildlife are busy creating their homes for the Summer. Within the lawns, the mines of the Tawny Mining Bee, Andrena fulva, can be found. Their homes easily recognised by the miniature volcano shaped mounds of the excavated material and an entrance hole. They are solitary bees, so each mine is inhabited by one russet coloured female bee and one grub. This mine is stocked with pollen and nectar for the grub which will remain underground until emerging next spring.

So who lives in a house like this? Found in one of the Holm Oak trees, Quercus ilex, the nest is currently being built. The answer, our returning pair of Sparrow hawk, Accipiter nisus. For the last two summers, the Sparrow hawks have successfully reared their young and have returned again. Hopefully they will be successful again and will give joy to the twitchers amongst the gardening team watching their progress. To listen to their call use the link: http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/sparrowhawk.htm

Lastly, the box that Ali built is still available. Maybe next year, heres hoping!