Ramson lane

walking down the woodland path surrounded by ramsons, which in their own way are just as pretty as bluebells. Martins and swallows are around if not quite back. Several started rebuilding the old nests at the front of Orchard House but then left and have not returned (yet). What is going on?

Ramsons

Ramsons (wild garlic) in flower by the Lynher near Golberdon being inspected by his lordship.

dunherdin

 

this very old collie can be seen every day sitting at this spot where he spends his retirement guarding the gate to Ashburton farm near Kelly Bray

lady's smock

and a few days later (qv)

violet oil beetle

 

Bug Watch  have asked for sightings of oil beetles (link), and today on a walk along the Inny valley and up through Carthamatha we found this one (male, probably violet species) wandering across the footpath. As the link explains these beetles have the most amazing life cycles. Unfortunately when we tried to submit our sighting the site link broke down.

  

the lower picture is a better picture of the same species outside our house a few years ago (and qv ). I think they must be quite common around here

home guard

Spot on duty