02/02/2020 Spring has sprung.........

Maximum temperature in the Charente today 18C, minimum 10C. Rain measured this morning 3mm but we have a blue sky today. 111mm of rain so far this year.  23km/h South-Westerly wind up to 43 km/h.

I say spring has sprung, but I suspect it might be short-lived as the temperatures drop again in the middle of the week.  If the forecast is right though, they then go back up again......

Photos were taken today on a walk in the garden.

We have not been without roses at all this year so far - amazing.

Moss and Lichen.

Common Speedwell - A pretty weed.

The first crocus.

Buds on the Red Robin. (Photinia Fraseri).

The first snowdrop. (Galanthus nivalis).

Buds on the Viburnum (Viburnum tinus).

The return of the fly!!!! Also Viburnum tinus)

Gendarme beetles or firebug, (Pyrrhocoris apterus).

As above -African masks!

Fairies a the bottom of the garden... no, I cannot identify it!

In the house, buds on the orchid...

The Christmas poinsettia is still thriving..

and cheating with a fridge magnet

See also my

 Bird blog

09/07/19 Just around the garden. Plus one photo out on the road.

Maximum temperature today 28C, minimum 17C.  Dry.  21km/h North-easterly winds with gusts up to 47 km/h.  No sign of rain in the forecast for the next week so lots of watering!!

We saw this stunning sight while out on the road.

Back home bumblebee on the sage.

Crane-fly on the Californian poppies.

Bubblebee on the cotoneaster.

Bee on the cotoneaster.

Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina) on the lavender.

Hopper on a Calendula.

European Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis).

Bombylius species on the lavender.

Gendarme beetle or firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus).

Web spinning garden spider, possibly a Cross Spider (Araneus diadematus).

Hydrangeas.

Raspberry,

The flower of the succulent Echeveria, not that pretty but interesting.

Quinces.

Hazel nuts.

and last but not least another wall lizard. (Podarcis muralis).

See also my Bird blog 

and My life In the Charente

25/09/2017 In the garden yet again.

Maximum temperature 20C,  minimum 14C. 11 km/h NW wind with 23 km/h gusts. Some rain this afternoon not measured yet.

A young black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

A fly (I think) of some kind!

Fritillary again but this one is different to yesterdays! Note the white around the wings which yesterday's did not have...

As above,

Common wall Lizard (Podarcis Muralis)

as above.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

A wasp of some kind ?

Pyrrhocoridae beetles.

The flowers of the topinambour.  Seconds after I came in from taking this photo with a blue sky it started raining!

For those that are interested Part four of our trip to Botswana and Southern Africa is HERE

04/09/2017 Yesterday's photos today. WiFi is on the blink so things are not working too well!!

Maximum temperature 20C, minimum 14C.  21 km/h NW chilly wind with 49 km/h gusts.  A light shower last night that did not register in the rain gauge.

One of the blues but not sure which one...

I think this is a Common Blue male ...

and this one looks slightly different again!!!!

Californian Poppy.

Le gendarme or fire bug  (Pyrrhocoris apterus).  They always remind me of African masks.

Grass hopper, well camouflaged.

We have a nest of Hornets (Vespa crabro) – Frelon or Guêpe frelon in our roof....

I try to keep away from them though they do not normally sting unless annoyed!!  Sadly they also kill bees though!

20/06/2017 A few odd photos from around the garden, too hot still to do very much outside during the day.

A bit cooler than yesterday!  

Pale Californian poppy with bug.

 Californian poppy with what I think is the female of Oedemera noblis, the male was on the blog a few days back. Not sure what the disappearing backside is, or the one bombing out above the flower.

Cranesbill.

Le Gendarme beetle (Pyrrhocoris apterus).

Great tit taking a drink.  The water is evaporating as fast as I can fill the dishes!

Ladybird pupa.

The lawn is already starting to go brown with the heat.

Lunch on the veranda, I actually took this a few days back and never put it on the blog for some reason. Too hot at the moment to eat outside.