What fabulous colour the rowan berries are Lia. Have a lovely and well-deserved month off! I really enjoy the weekly posts, the community and monthly poems - thank you so much for all of this. I am sure a break will be refreshing - I always find a week or two away, and I come back re-energised! I am looking forward to a week away in Normandy next month in a little house in the dunes so I am sure there will be lots of opportunities to enjoy the natural habitat there.
I am praying for rain soon to remove the threat and damage to nature and people from the fires in the UK and Europe.
I am heart sore this week with the ongoing fires. Have spent much time over the years at Dunwich - and that fire is devastating for wildlife. Poor Minsmere. I am continuing in my drought water saving ways - (only shower on a hair wash day, save the washing up water etc,) so I can throw some water on the garden. In response to Mel Harrison's excellent free post this week, have taken responsibility for watering three street trees out front, in the spirit of DOING rather than hand wringing.
Deeply concerned about how much of the world is burning. Grateful for some rain. Towering ferns, now taller than me. You can barely see the water for lily pads on the pond at work. Full moon hidden by cloud, but you can feel her. A beach walk on a Thursday instead of work, magic. The deepening colour of Rowan berries.
Well! Hello to this week! I had the privilege to watch this month’s full moon rise up from the horizon and then float effortlessly above the tree line. I was driving and needed to pull over as I was completely mesmerised by her beauty. An awesome Buck moon.
Missing the bird song now that they are busy with raising broods, or maybe just surviving in the ongoing heat.
Blackberries ripe so soon and catching their scent in the heat from sunny hedgerows. Rowan trees in berry - surely early? Husband diligently topping up water stations on our village playing field, rewarded by regular sightings if hedgehogs at night
Blackberry picking walks round the almost dry ponds accompanied by dragonflies patrolling the parched grass paths, orangey red hips and haws, ripening sloes noted for picking in a few weeks along with night creeping in at both ends of the day, autumn is making itself felt. The birds are returning to the garden and joyfully an adult wren feeding 2 young and bathing in the Portland stone birdbath carved by my late father in law.
We’ve had rain on and off this week but nothing of note, and everything is still parched. Hummingbird hawk moths again in the garden, they must be having a bumper year.
As I write this my next-door-but-one neighbour is having a garden fire. I am gobsmacked at the utter stupidity and recklessness of it. I'm keeping a very close eye on it from our upstairs windows and if it shows signs of getting away from him I'll happily dob him in to the fire brigade.
We picked our first ripe cherry tomatoes this week and they were delicious. Probably the only nice thing that’s happened because of the constant heat we’re experiencing.
Torrential rain this week means the tomatoes are enormous and loaded with fruit; I foresee a great many tomato sandwiches in my future! The herbs are lush and green, but all around us the landscape is fading, as if it, too, is tired and longing for rest.
Feels like summer has gone on for ages because of the heatwaves starting in May. Escaped my overheated North Kent town for the Suffolk coast to stay with parents and experience sea breezes. We visited Dunwich woods and beach on Tuesday so couldn’t believe the bad news on Wednesday. This is a crazy crazy summer. Praying for rain and more moody summer skies which personally I prefer.
The birds left some blackberries which I baked into a chocolate cake for extra darkness and goo.
Sounds delicious, maybe try making blackberry brownies as I did last week, easy and yummy!
What sadness about the fires , the loss of wildlife on Dunwich Heath, all the birds that never make it , So much grief!
a terrible time for animals and those who care about them ❤️
Yes it is Aster!
What fabulous colour the rowan berries are Lia. Have a lovely and well-deserved month off! I really enjoy the weekly posts, the community and monthly poems - thank you so much for all of this. I am sure a break will be refreshing - I always find a week or two away, and I come back re-energised! I am looking forward to a week away in Normandy next month in a little house in the dunes so I am sure there will be lots of opportunities to enjoy the natural habitat there.
I am praying for rain soon to remove the threat and damage to nature and people from the fires in the UK and Europe.
I am heart sore this week with the ongoing fires. Have spent much time over the years at Dunwich - and that fire is devastating for wildlife. Poor Minsmere. I am continuing in my drought water saving ways - (only shower on a hair wash day, save the washing up water etc,) so I can throw some water on the garden. In response to Mel Harrison's excellent free post this week, have taken responsibility for watering three street trees out front, in the spirit of DOING rather than hand wringing.
Yes indeed Wendy , we can do something locally as you are, watering those trees out front
Reading about raging fires with terror and sadness, watching a serene moon.
Deeply concerned about how much of the world is burning. Grateful for some rain. Towering ferns, now taller than me. You can barely see the water for lily pads on the pond at work. Full moon hidden by cloud, but you can feel her. A beach walk on a Thursday instead of work, magic. The deepening colour of Rowan berries.
Well! Hello to this week! I had the privilege to watch this month’s full moon rise up from the horizon and then float effortlessly above the tree line. I was driving and needed to pull over as I was completely mesmerised by her beauty. An awesome Buck moon.
Missing the bird song now that they are busy with raising broods, or maybe just surviving in the ongoing heat.
Blackberries ripe so soon and catching their scent in the heat from sunny hedgerows. Rowan trees in berry - surely early? Husband diligently topping up water stations on our village playing field, rewarded by regular sightings if hedgehogs at night
Morning dog walks are taking longer as the 5 month old puppy picks his own blackberries and today found he could also snack on wild plums.
Blackberry picking walks round the almost dry ponds accompanied by dragonflies patrolling the parched grass paths, orangey red hips and haws, ripening sloes noted for picking in a few weeks along with night creeping in at both ends of the day, autumn is making itself felt. The birds are returning to the garden and joyfully an adult wren feeding 2 young and bathing in the Portland stone birdbath carved by my late father in law.
We’ve had rain on and off this week but nothing of note, and everything is still parched. Hummingbird hawk moths again in the garden, they must be having a bumper year.
I read yesterday Cathryn they're escaping the heat in Europe. :(
Oh dear, that’s not good.
Early morning walk. For a brief time everything is slightly damp and brown rather than very dry and brown.
As I write this my next-door-but-one neighbour is having a garden fire. I am gobsmacked at the utter stupidity and recklessness of it. I'm keeping a very close eye on it from our upstairs windows and if it shows signs of getting away from him I'll happily dob him in to the fire brigade.
We picked our first ripe cherry tomatoes this week and they were delicious. Probably the only nice thing that’s happened because of the constant heat we’re experiencing.
Best year my tomatoes have had for ages
Torrential rain this week means the tomatoes are enormous and loaded with fruit; I foresee a great many tomato sandwiches in my future! The herbs are lush and green, but all around us the landscape is fading, as if it, too, is tired and longing for rest.
rain? i think i remember that!
Feels like summer has gone on for ages because of the heatwaves starting in May. Escaped my overheated North Kent town for the Suffolk coast to stay with parents and experience sea breezes. We visited Dunwich woods and beach on Tuesday so couldn’t believe the bad news on Wednesday. This is a crazy crazy summer. Praying for rain and more moody summer skies which personally I prefer.