Birds have quietened down for summer, but we had the excitement of a hummingbird hawk moth in the evening garden. And hedgehog poo on the grass, so leaving plenty of water out.
Blackberries. Already. And they are ripe and sweet. This is the earliest I’ve seen them in this state. By the time we get to August, they’ll be shrivelled up and inedible.
The heat feels so much more manageable, I had to put on my hoodie when going out at night, and I weirdly enjoyed that!
The fields are cut and the’ tractor poos’ ( aka hay bales, as my son used to call them) stacked. Dust and debris is bleached by the sun and scattered across the cut fields making them look like sandy beaches …
I’m noticing the absences this week. My morning walks are quieter and the skylarks have fallen silent. The swifts still screech overhead in the evenings though.
The temperature is rising again. Bark down, plants starting to go in, welcoming nature back in the our garden. A wonderfully noisy flock of longtailed tits. Warm evenings in the garden reading Unwilded - Finding Our Way Back To Nature by Alastair Humpherys. Rowan berries in shades of rust.
A handful of sweet, juicy blackberries eaten during a gentle walk, wasps using the waterlily leaves to sip from the barrel pond, swifts screening and skywriting over the beach, sultry hot nights and the joy and heartbreak of Englands journeys end in the World Cup.
Gorgeous gardens in the heat full of bees & butterflies -the early morning watering . Watching evening primrose flowers open at à friends gathering in the evening light . Second flushes of wisteria flowers and of course seeing the remarkable tulip trees at the botanical gardens - archaeology walk to the nine barrows and dancing in the evening light at à festival -à time to enjoy evenings as the heat lowers and the skies are full of colour 🌞🍃🌱🌿
The clatter and chatter of graduation in the searing heat of Bristol. All black squares and soft gowns within the majesty of the Wills building. And just how is that boy graduating already - even after four years? Haven't I just dropped him for his first day at school?!
You must be really proud Wendy, how lovely. I don’t know where the time goes either, I’m sure I shouldn’t have an adult child and be so youthful myself 😀
So many different butterflies! Two excited friends told me they've seen hummingbird hawk moths on their lavender. Infant Corvid up in the pine branches, talking to his parents. Bees making the most of the last of the purple toadflax Planting Gaillardia and Eringium to extend the season for the pollinators. Saving the washing up water for use in the garden. My elderly neighbour adding a lavender hedge to his plot, encouraged by his youthful, caring neighbours. Roses, roses, roses!
Corn tassels emerging as millions of warning flags this week in the surrounding farm fields: 'summer is half over. don't let it slip by, time to make it count.' I should heed their call, but have been working overtime instead...
A swallow tailed kite soaring and circling overhead, one of many that will flock to southwestern Florida before migrating to South America, an early messenger of seasonal change. Orange and pink tropical sunset swims in the bathtub warm Gulf and the promise of a new crescent moon high in the twilight sky.
Last choir session of the term, so we sang in a garden, watching 4 kestrels hovering over the valley. A plum tree so smothered in fruit, never seen anything like it before!
The birds quieter now. Standing in our tiny garden, surrounded by a jungle of plants, I caught a whiff that reminded me of the smell in those big glasshouses in botanical gardens - all green and dank and humid, extraordinary.
Birds have quietened down for summer, but we had the excitement of a hummingbird hawk moth in the evening garden. And hedgehog poo on the grass, so leaving plenty of water out.
Blackberries. Already. And they are ripe and sweet. This is the earliest I’ve seen them in this state. By the time we get to August, they’ll be shrivelled up and inedible.
The heat feels so much more manageable, I had to put on my hoodie when going out at night, and I weirdly enjoyed that!
The fields are cut and the’ tractor poos’ ( aka hay bales, as my son used to call them) stacked. Dust and debris is bleached by the sun and scattered across the cut fields making them look like sandy beaches …
Daily bunches of sweet peas upstairs and downstairs, bringing colour and the perfume of summer and home.
We walked in the leafy shade into the evening and there were butterflies as we watched the city from Parliament Hill.
I’m noticing the absences this week. My morning walks are quieter and the skylarks have fallen silent. The swifts still screech overhead in the evenings though.
The temperature is rising again. Bark down, plants starting to go in, welcoming nature back in the our garden. A wonderfully noisy flock of longtailed tits. Warm evenings in the garden reading Unwilded - Finding Our Way Back To Nature by Alastair Humpherys. Rowan berries in shades of rust.
I love that the bench has a friend.
A handful of sweet, juicy blackberries eaten during a gentle walk, wasps using the waterlily leaves to sip from the barrel pond, swifts screening and skywriting over the beach, sultry hot nights and the joy and heartbreak of Englands journeys end in the World Cup.
Gorgeous gardens in the heat full of bees & butterflies -the early morning watering . Watching evening primrose flowers open at à friends gathering in the evening light . Second flushes of wisteria flowers and of course seeing the remarkable tulip trees at the botanical gardens - archaeology walk to the nine barrows and dancing in the evening light at à festival -à time to enjoy evenings as the heat lowers and the skies are full of colour 🌞🍃🌱🌿
The clatter and chatter of graduation in the searing heat of Bristol. All black squares and soft gowns within the majesty of the Wills building. And just how is that boy graduating already - even after four years? Haven't I just dropped him for his first day at school?!
You must be really proud Wendy, how lovely. I don’t know where the time goes either, I’m sure I shouldn’t have an adult child and be so youthful myself 😀
Ha! I know what you mean Cathryn. X
Oooooooo, the new moon! Slowly, slowly appearing as an ochre crescent quite low in the night sky. She’s been quietly poised with Venus to her right.
I too have been madly cutting sweet peas and dotting vases about our home. I have also had a runner bean pick; enough to go in for a meal!
You are so right. I was struck by the moon’s size and peachy colour, a contrast with bright Venus, last night over the Thames. 🌙
So many different butterflies! Two excited friends told me they've seen hummingbird hawk moths on their lavender. Infant Corvid up in the pine branches, talking to his parents. Bees making the most of the last of the purple toadflax Planting Gaillardia and Eringium to extend the season for the pollinators. Saving the washing up water for use in the garden. My elderly neighbour adding a lavender hedge to his plot, encouraged by his youthful, caring neighbours. Roses, roses, roses!
Corn tassels emerging as millions of warning flags this week in the surrounding farm fields: 'summer is half over. don't let it slip by, time to make it count.' I should heed their call, but have been working overtime instead...
A swallow tailed kite soaring and circling overhead, one of many that will flock to southwestern Florida before migrating to South America, an early messenger of seasonal change. Orange and pink tropical sunset swims in the bathtub warm Gulf and the promise of a new crescent moon high in the twilight sky.
Last choir session of the term, so we sang in a garden, watching 4 kestrels hovering over the valley. A plum tree so smothered in fruit, never seen anything like it before!
The birds quieter now. Standing in our tiny garden, surrounded by a jungle of plants, I caught a whiff that reminded me of the smell in those big glasshouses in botanical gardens - all green and dank and humid, extraordinary.
The garden is so quiet, hardly any birds to be heard although still plenty visiting the garden for a drink of fresh cool water.