Nesting

 

As the year unfolds we have found ourselves collecting and foraging beautiful gifts from nature on our walks on the mountain and also from our own small garden. We are lucky that many of our friends often drop lovely gum nuts, seed heads or moss that they have gathered and saved for us, on our doorstep. We realise, too, that we have developed quite a keen eye for natural treasures that might be perfect for our nests, so we often walk rather slowly to carefully observe the garden and bush around us! We always carry a small collecting bag where ever we go because you never know what you might find but only ever pick up what has fallen and no longer living if it is not from our own or a friends garden.

The making process then begins with sorting which of our finds will work well with the nest we are making at the time. I create a nest shape using the vines and twigs first, let it settle and then begin to weave in small elements to the nest. It always amazes me that each nest seems to have a definite mind of its own that determines which seed pods, dried flower heads, twigs and feathers it actually wants! This makes the nest creating process always interesting and ever changeable, which I love. 

The most recent nest (pictured above) measures approximately 25cm in diameter, so it is quite large. It is on its way to the lovely store at Salamanca Place in Hobart called Wild Island Tasmania.