gilding the lily

the heart of the flower head of a guelder rose, and the oddly extravagant and unnecessary (it would seem) false flowers on the periphery.

like a needle in a hay field

the effectiveness of the camouflage that butterflies use is not always obvious when they are on the wing and showing their brighter sides. It is almost impossible to see the meadow brown in the top picture even if you know where it is, and it is only just visible at much closer range.

flocking to church

Attendances are up at our church, standing room only!

laurel Cottage

It not only looks nice it smells heavenly! 

meadow life

for the first time this year the butterflies are stirring in the meadows. There were dozens of meadow browns (top) and skippers (middle) and the occasional ringlet (bottom), but no sign yet of the bigger and more colourful species, and no painted ladies.

Harriet's house

Our martins continue to do well behind the sparrow barrier. Meanwhile swallows have built a nest in the porch of our neighbours and it is now full of hungry mouths. The nest is very similar to a martin's nest but more coarsely built and with much wider access making it much easier for the adults to fly in and out.