birthdays

Sally is seven dog years and a bit today.


That sounds quite young to me.

happy 11111/0






lots of love the orchard house mob

don't forget its my birthday very soon and I am expecting lots of presents. Spot.

hawthorn

the hawthorn is out everywhere now. This hedge shrub/tree is regarded with some indifference these days but has a rich and ancient lore attached to it, especially by anglo-saxons. This is covered in detail in Richard Mabey's fantastic book Flora Britannica.

more orchids

another attractive orchid at Beals Mill. I am not sure what this one is, it looks like an early purple orchid but the horn is very long. It could be a hybrid of some sort. Any ideas?

pink purslane

not far from the disappearing river bank, a large patch of pink purslane, campion and ramsons.

destroying the planet

this 50 yard stretch of the river bank by the lovely Inny is being destroyed rapidly. The erosion has gradually been extended each year by cattle out to pasture. Why? There are other ways in and out.

Farmers don't own the land, they hold it in trust for all living things, human and otherwise, not just their own family. A little care is all that is needed, more husbandry less butchery.

Spot is justifiably very sad.

cow wheat

cow-wheat is a very variable but very interesting liitle flower, you can just see the complex upper lobe with masses of little hairs. The woodlands are full of it now.