Lake Break

End of June holidays and we've had a few days away in the Lake District - saw some old friends, and actually did a fair bit of walking (as well as shopping, eating and drinking of course!).

Started with an evening walk alongside the River Kent out to the Strickland Arms at Sizergh - nice walk, although a bit overgrown in places, and a fantastic meal in good company.




Followed this up the next day with a rather damp walk from Staveley to Potter Tarn - clouds were low but it was still a good walk.


Spotted another butterfly (or is at a moth?) along the way, again not sure what it is (ideas anyone??):

After a slightly wetter day off the fells (walking round the shops!) got the boots back on and headed down Borrowdale for the walk up to Watendlath.

We ate flapjack in the cafe, the midges ate us, and we watched the local bird population pick up the crumbs:

For our final walk of the holiday we tackled something a little more ambitious, and ascended Skiddaw - must admit it was something of a slog (for me at least), but the views were fantastic (unfortunately it was also extremely cold at the top, so we weren't inclined to linger).


Will have to keep up the momentum now we are back in Wales, although we're currently back in hedge-cutting mode . . .

Update:  I am reliably informed that it was actually a moth - a Brimstone Moth in fact (must be something to do with the sulphury colourations!).

Blooming June

 Don't think I've ever blogged the summer flowers, so here we go . . . here's what is currently in bloom:


Starting with the last of the azaleas (the others are all long over) and the view down the garden.  Then we have the white irises . . .










something I can't remember the name of (but it is extremely pretty) . . .

and some incredibly flashy peonies (or they would be if they weren't hiding behind a rhododendron bush) . . .

Finally, out in the front garden we have a border of yellow loosestrife . . .


. . .  and a really rather gorgeous delicate pink foxglove (pictured against the porch window reflecting back a view of the hills):

Woodland Flutterby

Time: Early June

Place: Nant yr Arian forestry

While Martin was being terribly active( breaking his personal best round one of the mountain bike trails) I meandered round a forestry path or two following butterflies as they fluttered by.

Eventually managed to get a couple of halfway decent shots - both specimens were on the small side (as can be seen relative to the buttercups).  Really not sure what this one is - it appeared faintly blue to me, but doesn't match anything I can find.  Any suggestions?

Fairly certain this one is a Small Heath:

Update: I'm informed the mystery butterfly could be a Green-veined White although I'm not entirely convinced - it looked blue to me!

Maytime!

Time to get blogging again - so let's start with the weather for May - a bit of a mixed bag to be honest - cooled down considerably after the hot Easter weather, and a decidedly windy month as well, but still a fair amount of sunshine:




















At least we're not in the middle of a drought here in West Wales!

Green Stuff - One Month On . .

Time for an update on the Green Stuff . . .

The greenhouses have both been planted up now - here we have the main greenhouse, replete with plum and beefsteak tomatoes, cucumbers and some very small aubergine plants (hopefully they'll pick up over the next few weeks).




The small greenhouse (as well as the vine) has the cherry tomatoes and a few more aubergines . . .





Progress in the main veg plot has been mixed - the potatoes are on their way up, but the courgettes and butternut squash haven't really come on much - fed them today so hoping for better things to come.




Also planted up some green beans, a week or so ago, hoping they'll get going soon too . . . (decided against peas this year after last year's less than impressive harvest).





The onions (and stray potatoes leftover from last year!) are doing ok in the smaller veg plot, and there are some leeks to plant out in due course as well.



Finally we have the broad beans, which are doing very nicely thank you, despite a bit of a battering from the strong winds.

 A bit of sunshine and we should also have our first strawberries sometime very soon!

Aerobatics

Swallow aerobatics . . . can't accuse them of being camera shy!

Supposedly Spring Weather

I suppose March was fairly Spring-like:

But April seemed to by-pass Spring, for the latter part of the month at least, and move straight into Summer - we had some glorious sunny and hot days, and the bank holidays were actually nice for once:

May has finally brought some much-needed rain mind you, but hopefully the sunshine will continue!