14/07/2019 Wow what a weekend of sport, but I managed a quick walk out early before it go too hot.

Maximum temperature today 27C, minimum 16C.  Dry. 18km/h North-easterly winds with gusts up to 43 km/h.  Still, no sign of rain in the forecast for the next week so lots of watering!!

My first photo was of the neighbour's gladiola.

A little further on I saw this flower that I have been unable to ID.  I found an identical flower on the internet that said it was an orchid but nothing further,  I am not convinced though that it is even an orchid!

Common chicory, (Cichorium intybus)

Blackberries forming.

I think this is a Marbled white (Melanargia galathea) but it was still for barely a second for this photo.

Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina).

I think this is a cranesbill from the geranium family...

as above,

Saint John's-wort.

Cattle keeping an eye on me....

as is this youngster number 88...

and I guess dad is also being watchful as well.

Maize.

Making hay while the sun shines...

and obviously, it is coffee time.

Sunflowers in abundance...

and the bees seem to be enjoying them.

See also my Bird blog 

and My life In the Charente

Belated Happy Easter........ Out for a drive and around the garden.

Maximum temperature today 22C, minimum 11C.  Dry.  15 km/h South-easterly winds with gusts up to 49 km/h.

Spent today day working in the garden, half of the potatoes planted, grass cut and edges trimmed.

Looking across the fields,

Down the road,

Citroën 2CV at Massignac.

Château de Montbrun. 

(In B and W as I had a lot of reflection from the windscreen and this was better than colour!)

Winding roads...

as above.

Presumably the ancient stone entrance into Saint Auvent.

Choisya ternata and bee.

Black tulips.

Iris.

Lilac in the neighbours garden next to our hedge.

Bluebell with what I think is Red-tailed bumble bee (Bombus lapidarius).

Orchid, the first flower from one of my own cuttings so I am pretty happy about it.

Weed in the lawn but pretty - Cranesbill.

Peony look carefully - 2 bugs.

Quince blossom. I hope we do better with fruit this year! Last year was not good!

See also my Bird blog 

and My life In the Charente

25/07/2018 A few more photos from the week away. Too hot for the insects here they are all in hiding

Maximum temperature today 32C, minimum 17C.  Dry; 9 km/h North-easterly winds with up to 22 km/h gusts.  

The car reading today was 37C!

Marbled White butterfly (Melanargia galathea)

Common blue (I think) (Polyommatus icarus) ...

As above...

As above - female.

Cosmos with a little bug.

Cow parsley with bugs.

Cranesbill.

Dandelion and bee.

I think this moth may be a Geometer but........

Marbled whites at play.

N.B. My bird blog is updated  HERE 

Part 18 of the birds seen in Africa.

01/04/2018 No April fool, but not much change either.

Maximum temperature today 14C, minimum 2C.   11 mm of rain measured over the last two mornings; 8 km/h South Westerly winds with up to 22 km/h gusts. 

Rain this afternoon and forecast for the rest of the week - again!!

Total so far this year now 406 mm.

 30/03/18  Minutes before the rain arrived...

As above

Full moon.

01/04/18 Bee on the ground ivy...

as above.

Fly on a buttercup.

Camellia.

Tulips.

Cranesbill.

Hyacinth

A possi of Gendarme beetles!

Rosemary.

Violas.

N.B. My new bird blog is HERE