natural opportunism

our old dead apple tree has suddenly flowered again. I am not sure what sort of flower this is but I suspect the seed has come from the bird seed put out in the garden, and has been dropped by one of the birds that uses the tree as a perch. It looks like a malnourished sunflower.

a band of happy followers

done with the vet, off on our hols to pastures new

more from the meadows

Spot taking a close look at some red bartsia, a semi parasite of grass. Maybe he has toothache (qv).The last flowers of the summer are coming out in a tangled profusion, including from the bottom up, water mint, birds foot trefoil, purple loosestrife, meadowsweet, and hogweed at the top

there was news this morning of a new initiative at Kew Millennium Seed Bank to generate seed of our native meadow plants (link). Nearly all of the plants mentioned grow locally except the harebell, although the ivy leaved harebell is found in local woods. The devil's-bit scabious is just beginning to flower (the violet flowers top left) in amongst the purple knapweed

Fern brooch

The fantastic remnant of a darter dragonfly rests on a fern leaf like a swarovski jewel.

muscovy sauce

Calstock viaduct at low tide, and below, in close up, a surprising resident.

for dog lovers only

her favourite toy(aka the Puppy)