Spring is definitely in the air. Time to cut back, tidy all the detritus, let the new shoots emerge unhindered by the last year’s has beens. At The Farm on Thursday I was merrily pulling defunct crocosmia foliage when I had the distinct feeling that I was being watched. Then I spotted the culprit, so well camouflaged I was almost upon her, Mrs Duck. She didn’t move. Not one iota. Her beady eye watched my every move, but she was not shifting, not even an inch. This made me wonder, in fact made me certain, she was sitting on a brood. Right outside a holiday cottage, which is going to be occupied in a matter of a few weeks. Perhaps 200m from the pond. Oh dear. This probably isn’t the best place to set up a nursery. We looked up timings, 28 days from lay to hatch. Apparently they rarely leave the nest except for a quick snack and a leg stretch. We might just get away with it before the Easter hoards arrive. Otherwise there will be warnings and vigils and great expectations.
But now I am worried. She is vulnerable here. Foxes roam, stoats are active. She can’t be moved. It is all down to fate now, and that fickle queen isn’t always kind.
Off The Edge Gardening 
Can you keep us updated
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I will, I left all the vegetation I had pulled up close to her close by, thought she could pull it in around to hide herself more. Wonder if she is a first time mum?!
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Oh, dear: one more thing to worry about. Great photo, though. She probably is a first-time mum, and feels much the same way I felt when the twins were born. I had no idea what I was doing! They seemed to know it, too. 😦 Of course, that was a long time ago and they’re doing a great job looking after their own children now.
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Well let us hope she catches on quick, like you did! 🙂
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I hope that she’ll be okay. xx
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Hope so too. x
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Camp bed, bedside table, candle, good book, glass, gin … You should be able to mount a vigil easily enough. We’ll all be with you in spirit. And it’s only for four or five weeks.
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And the weather is very mild at the moment, if it rains I could just chuck an old tarpaulin over myself! 🙂
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Well she looks quite comfortable so fingers crossed for safe hatchings.
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Hope so, feeling a bit nervous about looking on Thursday …
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I have seen one nest on the ground once before, although I always thought they nested up in trees.
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But perhaps never in crocosmia!
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