Greenfinch

A few years ago greenfinches were common on our feeders but numbers have declined and we had not seen any for some time so we were delighted to see one today.Let's hope numbers are on the increase.

Mid Summer

The Summer Solstice has arrived and we are enjoying long days and  short nights and the sun is setting at it's most northerly point. We enjoy some beautiful sunsets over the Severn Vale from the edge of the Cotswold escarpment.
It has long been a time for celebration and feasting and we shall be enjoying a gathering in our lane this evening.

Summer meadow flowers,

Summer seems to be here today as the rain and gales have abated.
The limestone grassland of Uley Bury is looking good with a fantastic variety of wild flowers including ox-eye daisies, yellow rattle, vetch, buttercups and cinquefoil. Orchids should follow soon.

Shorn Sheep

These freshly shorn sheep looked happy a few days ago in the sunshine but the wind and rain of
the last two days must be making them feel chilly.
The unshorn lambs now look as big as their mothers.

Rabbits

Gardening in the country seems to be a constant battle with rabbits which always like the tender shoots of new growth.This one is pruning a shrub but they particularly like anything freshly emerging in the vegetable patch!

Tellima grandiflora

This plant grows abundantly in our shady woodland. It is a native of North America which has escaped from gardens in the UK and become naturalised.The  National Trust  recognises this as an invasive species.

Jet stream brings stormy weather

A stormy evening in the Cotswolds after a day of wind, sunshine, showers and even hailstones!

Wild Garlic

 The leaves on the trees are now starting to shade the woodland floor and the last of the woodland spring flowers carpet the ground with white.
Wood garlic is my favourite and it not only looks spectacular but leaves and flowers are edible. The white flowers have a strong garlic taste and make an attractive garnish while the leaves are used in soups and pesto.

Apple Blossom

The Apple blossom this year is looking good in our part of the Cotswolds. We have plenty of insects for pollination, no frosts and seems to have survived the gales earlier in the week. Fingers crossed for a good harvest of cooking apples later in the year.

Dandelion

 Not a popular plant as it is an invasive weed in gardens and farmland alike but the fields full  of their yellow flowers make an impressive sight at the moment.