may is out

you can start casting clouts, the May is out. (There is some dispute about the origin of this old saying, but I like to think it refers to the hawthorn coming into flower, whatever the time of year, and it is a bit late this year). So out with my clouts.

beautiful Spring, Pempwell, Cornwall 2016

It runs in the family

Out snigging today, and, below, the view of the Tamar valley from Greenscombe, with a snowy Dartmoor in the distance

the road to nowhere

winter sun, starlings and a buzzard in a tree

strange days - bumblebees in winter

It was the coldest night of the year, with a hard frost and a contemplative horse. Nevertheless, much to my surprise there were bumblebees about on the mahonia, and viburnum, both of which lent a sweet scent to the crisp cold air.

new moon time

New moon at Christmas. And a happy New Year from Spot.

rainbow over Lammerhooe

something to brighten up the morning walk on the road to Latchley

autumn colours

Once again it has been exceptionally mild this autumn. Mushrooms are out in abundance and they provide a few flashes of vivid colour in an otherwise black and brown world. It was genuinely amazing and pleasing therefore to see the brilliant flash of blue of a kingfisher flying swiftly through the bare trees deep in the woods at Inny foot. The rivers are quite swollen, fast flowing and turbid now and I wonder how kingfishers are seeing enough fish to survive on.

autumn is upon us

Autumn is here even though it is warm and sunny.  Early in the morning the mist lends a mysterious feel to the lane. Meanwhile stinkhorns are out. When they first emerge the head is covered in a glistening grey green slimy skin. It has a very pungent smell which attracts flies. This one was covered in blue flies, many of which flew away at the approach of the camera lens, but enough remained to illustrate how effective this method of spore dispersal is.

pony nekking

Ponies on Bodmin Moor this (lovely) morning. The stack of Kit Hill can just be made out to the left on the far horizon. The bracken is turning, and the leaves are falling, Autumn is upon us already.

gardeners' nightmare

As was predicted last year, there is a developing plague of white butterflies. There are 6 small whites (and a tortoiseshell) on this one small lavender bush. There will be no brassicas left.

bridle paths

Although the bluebells are past their best in the woods, they continue to flourish in shadier areas like this stretch of Rowden lane, an old cattle droving pathway now used as a bridle path. Buttercups and campion mix in with the bluebells to create some magic.

out with the clouts

The hawthorn is out!

and nothing goes to waste around here, exotic fallen Camelia flower tea

rarity value

It has been a beautiful day. All the early butterflies (brimstone, red admiral and tortoiseshell) were out, the sap is rising, the birds are singing, the buzzards are trying each other out soaring above us; all is well. Purple toothwort used to be an absolute rarity but as can be seen from this photograph it is spreading quickly and now provides a purple haze across the forest floor reminiscent of the blaze of bluebells that will follow in May.

Signs of Spring 2

The fields are full of them!

Signs of Spring 1

Two cock pheasants having a territorial dispute. Usually very shy birds, they were too engrossed in each other to notice us.

Spring like

It was warm and almost Spring-like today, daffodils and snowdrops are out and there are signs of plants beginning to come into leaf already giving the landscape a hint of fresh green.

rain over Dartmoor

raincloud over Dartmoor this evening, illuminated by the evening sun; very striking.

Happy New Year

thank God 2013 is over; welcome 2014

have fun

And peace on earth!