No Mow May in the park, love seeing so many plants thriving in one small patch; ribwort plantain, verbena, comfrey, red clover and so many other beautiful grasses!
Lush understory native plants coming back and thriving in the Deschutes National Forest which was scarred by a devastating wildfire a few years ago. To see the renewal brings great hope.
Saw a lovely orchid this morning standing proud on the heath. I've noticed that there are masses of buttercups this year making the meadows look golden. The trees seem to be floating in a sea of sunny yellow!
Crows on some sort of early morning patrol shouting and waking me up at 4.30am, sparrows shouting all day all over the garden, going back and forth to feed their young under the eaves. The rain getting me down and reminding me how the lighter months can sometimes seem full of expectation (pressure,even) and often fall short of the ideal. I’m an autumn fan - sorry to use the A word so early 😄 Then I saw a big dragonfly emerging from its nymph exoskeleton on a leaf in the pond this morning. It really is all about the detail.
Sharing from Italy this week where the welcome shade of trees, the heady scents of Jasmine and clover and the sparkling, azure blue of the sea have caught my eye.
Making peony simply syrup before the last of the blooms fade; encountering newborn fawns curled up in corn field and woodlot where the does hide them; first-cutting hay drying under the ever-lengthening days of late May; killdeer birds making their presence known day and night.
Rumbling storms and squally showers have left roses sighing with the weight of the rain. In compensation, everything is still so green and full. I'm waiting for the peonies to pop here.
A week of birds, wildflowers in my garden and lots of rain. The front gardens of our terraced street became the killing fields for the local bruisers aka Jackdaws. Blackbirds screeching and dive bombing while I helplessly watched from afar unable to offer assistance to the parents as they witnessed the greedy jackdaw clasp their baby in its sharp beak. Its life hung in the balance and the blackbirds heroically working together to try and make it drop it. But alas they failed and flew off to mourn their loss while I contemplated the way of the natural world and the cycle of life reaching the conclusion that that's just the way it goes as with all things.
Mallow, Mugwort and Mustard seem to be stealing the show in Kent right now, plus floofy elderflowers (and sugary syrup)... Resulting in a lot of sneezing!
No Mow May in the park, love seeing so many plants thriving in one small patch; ribwort plantain, verbena, comfrey, red clover and so many other beautiful grasses!
it's amazing how this has taken off in the last few years, Hooray!
Makes me really happy! Love seeing our council embracing it!
I watched the raindrops standing up in spheres all over the enormous peace rose bloom yesterday, it felt like it was trying to show me something,
That north wind making garden forays short and focussed.
Picking bunches of love in the mist, verbena, mock orange, buttercups, fern etc from the garden for friends' birthdays
The Peace rose has just started flowering in our garden too. Such a powerful story to that flower.
I have one of those too a stunning rose 🌹
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Peace
Thank you! It's good to know that.
Yes - so beautiful. I have one in my Wooler garden x
Lovely! I don't know the story, please share?
This something I will have to find space in my garden for 🥀
This weeks main excitement was caused by the welcome return of the hummingbird hawk moth to our garden (south Norfolk) always a pleasure.
Wow indeed 🥰
Just looked that up - wow!
I’d love to see an elephant hawk moth, they are pink! X
Lush understory native plants coming back and thriving in the Deschutes National Forest which was scarred by a devastating wildfire a few years ago. To see the renewal brings great hope.
Saw a lovely orchid this morning standing proud on the heath. I've noticed that there are masses of buttercups this year making the meadows look golden. The trees seem to be floating in a sea of sunny yellow!
Yes, I’ve noticed that too. Beautiful!
Crows on some sort of early morning patrol shouting and waking me up at 4.30am, sparrows shouting all day all over the garden, going back and forth to feed their young under the eaves. The rain getting me down and reminding me how the lighter months can sometimes seem full of expectation (pressure,even) and often fall short of the ideal. I’m an autumn fan - sorry to use the A word so early 😄 Then I saw a big dragonfly emerging from its nymph exoskeleton on a leaf in the pond this morning. It really is all about the detail.
I love the detail! thank you.
Finding wildness in the city along Parkland Walk in north London, ending up in ancient woodlands and eating ice cream (with coats on!)
Rhubarb season is at its peak in Minnesota and making a batch of rhubarb shrub this week made me so happy (and it came out delicious!)
The first flower om my new pink scented rose 'Eustacia Vye'. It is beautiful.
Sharing from Italy this week where the welcome shade of trees, the heady scents of Jasmine and clover and the sparkling, azure blue of the sea have caught my eye.
…and my nose.
A trip out to Belsay Hall, seeing the swifts slicing the sky, catching the last of the peonies but finding the blue poppies fully open and perfect.
Belsay, such a special, atmospheric place! We visited for the first time last month. The poppies must be beautiful.
Love Belsay - I’m missing it this year 🥰
Making peony simply syrup before the last of the blooms fade; encountering newborn fawns curled up in corn field and woodlot where the does hide them; first-cutting hay drying under the ever-lengthening days of late May; killdeer birds making their presence known day and night.
The gardenia is full of heavenly scented blossoms. The light has shifted once again, and it wakes me up a full hour earlier than my alarm.
Rumbling storms and squally showers have left roses sighing with the weight of the rain. In compensation, everything is still so green and full. I'm waiting for the peonies to pop here.
A week of birds, wildflowers in my garden and lots of rain. The front gardens of our terraced street became the killing fields for the local bruisers aka Jackdaws. Blackbirds screeching and dive bombing while I helplessly watched from afar unable to offer assistance to the parents as they witnessed the greedy jackdaw clasp their baby in its sharp beak. Its life hung in the balance and the blackbirds heroically working together to try and make it drop it. But alas they failed and flew off to mourn their loss while I contemplated the way of the natural world and the cycle of life reaching the conclusion that that's just the way it goes as with all things.
Oh goodness Kat - Nature raw in tooth and claw - tragic and dramatic 😢
I couldn't like this post but do appreciate it.
Mallow, Mugwort and Mustard seem to be stealing the show in Kent right now, plus floofy elderflowers (and sugary syrup)... Resulting in a lot of sneezing!