more from the woodland folk

this little path through the wood wends its way along the crest of the valley and is surrounded on each side by acres of wild garlic. The hillside faces south east but is very shaded, except at the top where the light is very dappled.

Why we should always take a camera

well we very nearly didn't, we have done enough bluebells and spring stuff for one year, but Spot insisted so we went back to the house to pick it up, and lo we came across a kingfisher nest, and were treated in a few minutes to a display of fishing and flying. We didn't stay long because we did not want to disturb the kingfisher, but what a wonderful treat.

ocean of blue

It is really difficult to convey to you either in words or pictures the sheer beauty of the woodland floor at the moment. This year everything has come together to flower at the same time. The woods by the mouth of the Inny are an ocean of blue. It is the most wonderful, peaceful, English sight. (ps I haven't altered the colour of this picture of Spot in the bluebells in any way).

gill ale rarity

one for plant geeks, this is the rare pale pink variant of ground ivy (see link on earlier page for normal variant of this pretty little plant). I have never seen it before.

mousetails

Spike and the Laurel cottage mob reported these strange little flowers in their garden (actually where he is not allowed). In fact they are mousetails, closely related to lords and ladies, a member of the arum family. As my book says they have "almost ludicrously" long tails, certainly longer than Spike's. They are not native, but maybe the warmer climate is encouraging them to spread. The blue flower to the lower left is bugle (see earlier pages as well)

furrows to plough

These wide smooth furrows have appeared in fields on the road to Launceston, creating pleasing geometric patterns in the soil. We remain very busy blurbing. But not so busy we couldn't appreciate the beautiful symmetrical complexity of a dandelion seed head.