Today I spent an interesting seven hours in the driving wind and rain hard-pruning a stand of oversized hydrangeas and fuchsias. If I didn’t know any better I would say these shrubs had been mainlining steroids. Looking my glamorous best in full waterproof attire with mud streaked visage and singing a medlay of christmas carols (generally only the first line, dum di dums and improvisation for the rest) I enjoyed myself in a rather masochistic way. I discovered this tiny nest close to the top of one of the fuchsia mammoths, about 3m high but attached so firmly that not even a North Devon gale could shift it. A little googling has led me to believe it could have been the summer nursery for a chaffinch family. As the Discover Wildlife website describes “Decorated externally with lichens and cobwebs and lined with hair.” So beautiful, the jewel in the crown. I wonder whose hair they used? Do you think that might be George’s shade? I proudly took my find to George’s mum who tried to look pleased that I had brought her a stick. I suggested that she should practice her “that’s a rubbish present but I am going to pretend I like it” look before Christmas. In GM’s defence she hadn’t actually noticed the delicate little house nestled amongst the rather large twig that I was thrusting towards her. In the end she was as charmed as I was. Either that or “The Look” had been quickly perfected!
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Off The Edge Gardening 
It’s beautiful Gill, almost perfection. I only wish I could sing a carol at the moment – the best I can manage is the frog chorus, the verse replaced by a hacking cough! Merry Christmas to you – I hope you have a fantastic break X
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Sorry that you are still on the mend, hopefully you will be in fine fettle for the real deal. love to you both and big scrumptious happy christmas x
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You too!! 🙂
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What a beauty. It looks like something someone created as an interior design piece. Ah, Mother Nature and her crew are something else. 🙂
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Isn’t that a beauty! But maybe they would have return to it next year?
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Don’t think so, hope not! Maybe I should put a substitute in the general vacinity, I don’t think my handywork would be of the same standard.
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My goodness, it’s amazing what chaffinches can do with lichen, cobwebs and hair! It really is a jewel.
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Glad you liked it, it was even more beautiful in real life, and looked pretty snug too 🙂
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Oh that’s gorgeous. We once had a thrush build a beautiful nest in our viburnum where she laid three perfect eggs, which she then unfortunately abandoned. It was completely lined with used but carefully shredded cigarette butts!
Have a great Christmas:)
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How funny! Do you know where she got her fag ends from? Have a lovely Christmas both and hope to see you very soon x
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What a beautiful find.
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