This week we are being encouraged to look up and down. In nature there is much to see above our heads. Like wonderful birds soaring.
But I think I spend more of my time looking down, especially as bees and flowers!!
Nature is my inspiration.
July is proving to be a pretty grey month so far here in the west of Ireland, with little sun. Thankfully some dry days despite the clouds. Still plenty colour in the garden to bring us some sunshine.
2. Yellow Loosestrife
3. Day lily
4. In the flower meadow, orchids are really abundant this year. When we started the meadow we had about three orchids. This year we counted 18 a week ago, and a couple of more have appeared since. They are all common ones but still lovely to have.
5. Also in the meadow more ragged robin – it looks lovely against the white ox-eye daisies.
6. The bees are certainly enjoying all the wild flowers.
Thank you to The Propagator for hosting Six on Saturday.
Thanks to The Propagator for hosting Six on Saturday. Hard to believe it is July already. The delphiniums are now at their best.
This rose grews in our hedge……………..
Along with native honeysuckle which is flowering really well this year and being enjoyed by the bees.
I generally prefer pink foxgloves but I do like the markings on this white one.
The lavender is also being enjoyed by the bees in this case an early bumblebee male.
And finally this week – a newish arrival – little chick “Dream” with his mum “Miranda”.
In the garden at the moment the delphiniums are in full bloom. This week’s lens artist challenge asks that we show the same subject captured using multiple, different approaches, so I have chosen these flowers as my focus.
They are regularly visited by the Garden Bumblebees
Nature makes it a wonderful world
Mid June – and like The Propagator my garden “has been running away from me” too. Weeds everywhere but particular the vegetable path. So I am not going to show you that – just some pretty flowers (and a few insects) instead!
First this week a pink geranium – sorry don’t have a name, with a visiting hoverfly (Rhingia campestris).
Next one of my favourite June combinations – buttercup and red campion – these are both flowering under the hedge.
Delphiniums are another summer favourite – just coming out now.
The garden is busy with bees at the moment – always a joy to see. The white tailed bumblebees seem to particularly like the lupins.
Sitting on the lupin leaf I spotted this lovely blue damselfly too.
And finally this week a red and yellow aquilegia. The white tailed bumbles also like this one.
Thank you to The Propagator for hosting Six On Saturday.
This week our weather still remains cool and changeable. Our Robin friend is run-ragged (literally) collecting grubs and worms for what I assume is a nest full of chicks. He enjoyed searching in some soil that I was turning over today. He appears to have a preference for grubs, including leatherjackets (though one was left behind as I think it was just too big) over worms. The fork handle proved to be an excellent spotting post.
Second this week are bumblebees. Numbers are increasing slowly with plenty queen bees still around. The kale flowers are proving popular as always. I try to leave some kale and other brassicas to flower each year as a bee food.
Third this week, is red campion. I love this wildflower as it adds so much colour to an area under a hedgerow, not far from the kitchen window.
Fourth this week are Rowan flowers.
Perennials are a little behind this year but the lupins are not far off flowering now.
And finally this week sage . This one is in the greenhouse. It will be a couple of weeks before the outside ones have flowers.
Thank you to The Propagator for hosting Six on Saturday.
