31st May 2009
31st may 2008
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31st May 09: Light breeze riffles the leaves as a warm sun bathes everything from early this morning.
In the hedge the first of the Honeysuckle ( Lonicera periclymenum) is about to burst forth. I can't wait for the delicious scent that fills between the hedges when the flowers are fully open.
29th May 2009
29th May 2008
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29th May 09: An early morning mist hangs in the trees. As I stand looking down between the hedges it suddenly tumbles over the top of the hedge in folds of gossamer thin white billows, absolutely magical.
27th May 2009
27th May 2008
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27th May 09: Red clover (Trifolium pratense) flowers in the centre grass of the track, attracting bees after the nectar.
26th May 2008
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26th May 09: The sun is up fully with a delicious light wind blowing that brings a crisp freshness.
The yellow Vetch ( Hippocrepis comosa) is now out in flower within the banks.
The Vetch lightens up the bank with it's delicious yellow flowers that get hints of red in them as they get older.
24th May 2009
24th May 2008
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24th May 09: As i stepped outside the gate this morning straight away I noticed the Badger had been busy overnight. The grass verge had been disturbed with scrapes made by our night visitors as they searched for worms, one of their favourite foods.
Sat in the ash tree as I walked back from taking the photo was an old friend, a Blackbird.
I stopped to listen to his wonderful song. Because of his distinctive white side patches each side of his face, I have been able to identify him easily. All through the winter he made his presence known, coming up into the garden for food when it was scarce. Since the warmer weather he has not bothered with food put out, preferring wild food within his own territory.
22nd May 2009
22nd May 2008
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22nd May 09: The Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) are fully out. When the day warms up their gentle scent is in the air.
18th May 2009
18th May 2008
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18th May 09: A brisk blustery day. The wind is blowing from the South West and although mild the wind is keeping it feeling quite cool.
Walking down the track I saw the Buttercups buffeted by the wind and could not resist taking a short video of them.
16th May 2009
16th May 2008
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16th May 09: A really blustery wind blows across the field and moves the hedge to the right of me with large gusts. Periodic heavy showers keeps everything wet.
Here is a short video of the leaves and trees blown by the wind.
14th May 2009
14th May 2008
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14th May 09: New leaves start unfurling within the hedges, a little behind some of the trees themselves due to the cooler shadow cast by each of the hedges.
Small delicate newly emerging leaves of the common Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
13th May 2009
13th May 2008
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13th May 09: Hidden in the cooler shady areas of the hedge Hawthorn flower buds await to bust out. Delightful pure white beads catch the eye.
Shooting up and ready to unfurl, a frond bud of Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) starts to unfurl.
It can become a bit of a nuisance in the banks of the hedge. Growing quite rapidly it will soon overshadow all other plants. Bracken contains lots of Potassium or Potash and can make a Potash rich liquid feed by packing it into a container, covering it with water and steeping for a few weeks. Diluted it's ideal for feeding Tomatoes or flowering plants.
June is the best time for cutting the Bracken when the Potash value is at its highest and just before the spores start to be produced. There has been some association between Bracken spores and cancer.
I cut as much as I can from our side of the hedges and as there is so much I compost it on our heap.
