Lazy Hazy...

What a difference a day makes!  The effect of sunshine on the spirit is well documented, as these stunning roses show it is the same for the plantworld.  Vibrant blooms cascade over the garden wall with abandon; light reflecting fuscia petals create a kaleidoscope of colour.

This rose was planted in waves to reflect the lazy hazy afternoons of days gone by; panama hats and linen dresses with homemade lemonade, victoria sponge and Earl Grey tea for refreshment. Delicious!

Golden Harvest

Despite difficult weather conditions our first honey harvest has exceeded expectation, forty two and a half pounds.  Cleo was without doubt a prolific young Queen, her vigorous laying expanded her colony at an unprecedented rate here at Valley Garden Paradise.  Queen Banba in contrast is gentle, stoic and measured, her bees, calm and unruffled. Despite a ragged appearance in her third season, her green Queen mark is wearing away, she still lays consistently and the colony show no signs of wanting to supercede.  It brings to mind the story of 'the tortoise and the hare'!

Our new Buckfast Queen, Diana, has won acceptance from Cleo's bees; she is laying well, her first brood have now hatched and integrated with Cleo's colony.  Diana's first two supas of honey are now ready for extraction.  We are preparing for a few sticky days ahead!

Go Girls!

Olympimania is everywhere; this morning I met these girls going for gold in nature's heptathlon. Leading the field as they approached the home run they were oblivious as I nestled in the bushes to capture their moment.  Enthusiasm for our national obsession was not shared by the rest of the flock who found the long grass infinitely more pleasurable. 

A statuesque thistle stood referee at the end of the track.  Royal purple plumes interspersed with fluffy seed-heads looked magnificent, brimming with pride, as the thistle stood to attention for its moment in the spotlight. 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder'; on this occasion I find it difficult to classify this plant as a weed!

Walk on the Wildside

Wandering through the bracken in between showers with Vulcan and Isis, I was taken by surprise when a fledgling Tawny Owl swooped down from its perch in the trees onto the path. His wings brushed Vulcan's ear as he sailed overhead, still shakey in his manoeuvers.  Elementary flying skills and a lack of co-ordination added humour to the spectacle. Biggles he was not!

Our surprise was tangible when the woodland highway man landed and introduced himself.  Curious, he swivelled his head 180 degrees to study us closely.  Each time we took a step forward he would paddle his wings through the bracken a couple of feet, matching our pace. The dogs were equally intrigued; quietly they waited as he led us through the copse. 

After ten minutes, as we all acclimatised to the situation and the little Tawney Owl closed the gap between us. For a few moments we walked as one; it was a magical encounter.