Signs of Summer

I thought we'd better move from Signs of Spring to Signs of Summer as summer is now officially here

I'm very excited today to have had our first punnet of home grown strawberries and raspberries - quite delicious and that's me happy now, thankfully the hasn't done too much damage to the strawberries! Also I picked the first bunch of Sweet Peas on Sunday, they smell beautiful and look lovely, if the rain stays away we should have quite a lot this year.

Lai

Ahead of us as well, we do'nt have a garden as such, pots, and baskets, we have one basket with strawberrys in, but no sign yet I saw a weather forecast today that said warm weather for next week 28 Deg, but it did'nt say whether it would be sunny or warmer rain.
WS

Lai you are so right. This is the summer (apparently). You talking about Sweat Pea reminds me of my childhood. We used to have wild Sweat Pea that grew every year on the hedge along our driveway. I was an amazing display of colour and the smell was beautiful, though too short lived.

SM

I saw a bramble bush in full flower today, very lovely

Best sightings of the weekend - 2 Kingfishers on the river (thankfully not outside the bedroom window again) - they were so fast but beautiful to see.

Barn owl in the field (Pete saw when walking the girls last night) and a couple of little owls (not seen but heard) out in the apple trees last night.

Any photos PPH ?

Lai

Not seen any brambles in Flower yet. Bet it was great to see the Kingfishers, and the Barn Owl, its lovely see them hunting over the fields. I dont think we have little Owls round here, not heard of any. Lucky you
WS

I went out for a walk at a local National Trust property today and got some lovely photos of some butterflies

You've got some lovely Pics there PPH, recognise the first two, and I think the fifth one. Lai's quite good on Butterflys. It looka lovely day for a walk as well. Thanks for sharing
WS

Nice Hummingbird Hawk Moth,not seen one for a year or so.

Beautiful Butterflys PPH and also loving the flowers. Looks like you are enjoying your new camera as much as WS

littlewid-x-

Mmmmmmm thanks WS

I think

Small Tortoiseshell photo 1 and 2
Gatekeeper photo 3
Hummingbird Hawk moth photo 4 and 6

Over to you TB for photo 5 and 7

Great photos PPH - thanks for sharing

Lai

Glad you like the pictures, the hawkmoth hummingbird one was hard to catch as it was so quick around the flowers. I went for the point in the general direction and hope for the best method and they came out really well

Staffslass was talking about gardens and low maintenance areas. This is our wild meadow area which really needs digging up at the end of the year as the daisies have taken over being perennial and all the pretty poppies and bits and bobs from last year are no longer there. But the bees and butterflies like it and so do the pheasants, and of course Tamu and Penny.













Lai

Cracking wild flower meadow,I don't have enough room for that.Could you dig up just part of it for the annuals and leave part as it is?

Laikipia wrote:Mmmmmmm thanks WS

I think

Small Tortoiseshell photo 1 and 2
Gatekeeper photo 3
Hummingbird Hawk moth photo 4 and 6

Over to you TB for photo 5 and 7

Great photos PPH - thanks for sharing

Lai

I thought 3 might be a Meadow Brown,not too sure,the others look suspiciously like the dreaded "Cabbage" White to me.

I think you are probably right about the Meadow Brown TB. I couldn't really tell whether 5 & 7 had a hint of blue or not. If not then I think you've got it, Cabbage White.

Yes, we can and will TB - the Daisies are lovely really, it's just that this year they've gone from strength to strength and I like some other colour in the meadow area, poppies and vetch and cowslip for instance, and I'd like to try some linseed. I think I only saw 3 cowslip this year.

Lai

Great shots of Tamu and Penny Lai.I dont envy you if your going to dig that lot up, my back hurt just looking at it but it does look a lovely Meadow. Thats sometimes the best way PPH aim ,and hope.
WS

I was wondering if photos 5 & 7 were a Wood White ?. This is a link Lai put on earlier this year. I had a look, and it could be one of the others on there

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species_family.php?name=Pieridae

WS

Butterflies are so difficult to photograph as they are always on the move - i've just given up trying to get some photos this morning, they looked like tortoiseshell, but I'll try again later.

Well remembered with the link WS

Lai

Loving the meadow Lai.......I would leave it wild.......then Nero and I can come and pitch a tent and enjoy all the butterflys, bees and birds .........only kidding but it does look gorgous.

Great to see Penny and Tamu, they are so lovely

littlewid-x-

We were sitting outside at tea time today, when there was an explosion of Swallows out of the stables opposite. The Swallows must have second brooded, and they just fledged as we were sitting there much to fast to get on camera, but brilliant to watch as the parents kept an eye on them, and then led them back to the nests in the stable, and we've finaly got flowers on our strawberrys, we're well behind you Lai
WS

Lucky you WS - I really miss seeing Swallows and Swifts now. You'll have to sit tight with your camera

Our strawberries are delicious - but not only is there a rabbit around but also the voles are having a great time happily they can't get at the raspberries! You sound like a good few weeks behind us WS


Lai

Enven if I had my Camara ready its going to take a lucky shot to get anything. They are so fast, and change direction so quick
WS