25/02/2020 Out for another walk....

Maximum temperature in the Charente today 12C, minimum 5C. Rain on and off all day not measured as yet.  24km/h north-westerly wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.

I apologise for my late replies to comments, we seem to have been very busy and also a number of visits for me to the dentist - still more to go!!

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

As above.

A lone daffodil with a bug!

Our neighbour's chickens.

Our neighbour's lamb...

As above in plural.

Do you think it still works!!..

These look in slightly better shape.

A lost feather.

Dandelion and bug.

Ivy.

The quiet track leading down to a stream.

Self-seeded rapeseed by the side of the road.

Rose bedeguar galls caused by the wasp (Diplolepis rosae). The female lays up to 60 eggs within each leaf bud. The grubs develop within the gall.  I put a picture of one on an earlier blog but this is a better photo.

Long-leaved Lungwort (Pulmonaria longifolia).

Last but not least there were still some cranes around flying North but I was in thick woodland so photos were almost impossible.

See also my

 Bird blog

17/03/2018 Not much in the garden today!

Maximum temperature today 11C, minimum 2C.   5 mm of rain measured this morning; 7 km/h North Westerly winds with up to 28 km/h gusts.  

357 mm of rain so far this year!  

Not an insect in sight today, not even a fly! This male blackbird seemed to be doing well in the wet soil finding worms though. (Turdus merula.)

The camellia are struggling in this weather and are going brown very quickly.

Someone lost a feather!

Japanese Quince (Chaenomeles japonica)

As above.

Red robin.

Unknown!  Maybe if it opens up more I can work out what it is.

Hyacinth.

Viola.

Wild violets.

24/10/2017 More around the garden.

Maximum temperature 21C, minimum 12C.  9 km/h SE winds, 16 km/h gusts. Dry.

Smelling the roses 😏

Speckled wood ( Pararge aegeria)

European Hornet  (Vespa crabro).  Our nest has gone but they are still around!

Eurasian blue tit  (Cyanistes caeruleus)

As above

Great tit (Parus major)

Feather on the rosemary !

Brought in the last sweet potatoes (yams) today.  Two plants produced 7.126 kg  (15.71 lbs) of potatoes so I am pretty happy.

This evening's sunset, so different to the one on yesterday's post.

Not sure I like this fungus on the viburnum!! Does anyone know what it is??

26/06/2017 Around the garden.

Maximum temperature 28C  minimum 14C.  15 km/h NE winds. Rain forecast....Still waiting.

Thirsty bees....

and wasp...

and an even bigger wasp!

Courgettes (zucchini).

Mirabelle plums.

Lavender.

Rose.

Hydrangea.

Fly.

Shield bugs are everywhere and guess we are going to have even more!

Soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva).

A lot of feathers in the garden, guess the neighbours cat has been back :-((

15/10/2016 Very windy and not much excitement in the garden after yesterday! Autumn having its way.

Maximum temperature 19C, minimum 8C.  41 km/h SW wind. Dry.

Last nights sunset.

All the leaves are brown..........

Autumn crocus.

Wonder which bird this belonged to.

A bedraggled Speckled Wood.

Pampas with the red Euonymus.

Holly.

Under the oak tree.

Topinambour flower.

A few Granny Smiths though not a lot on the trees this year.

A fly taking shelter in the greenhouse and enjoying the warmth!