Thursday 12 March

Dry morning

 Bramble - Rubus fruticosus

 Two Frogs spotted 

 I was beginning to get a complex as everyone had seen them.

Herb Robert - Geranium robertianum

Take Care

Wednesday 3 December

Below freezing this morning, plenty of frost about - there is a beauty in the plants when they have been touched by the frost even though it means the end for some of them.

 Big Lodge

Frosted Bramble - Rubus fruticosus

Frosted Ivy - Hedera helix

 Polyanthus looking as though they love the cold - these are in tubs scattered about the village

View overlooking the Rucks

Cold night and the Swans are glad to see us

Take Care

Sunday 30 November

Last day of November - we expect cold and we get mild

Sun hitting the Big Lodge

 Bramble - Rubus fruticosus still flowering

  Darwin's Barberry - Berberis darwinii new buds

 Darwin's Barberry - Berberis darwinii this years berries have been stripped by the birds, don't think it will get to berry again.

Highclere Holly - Ilex aquifolium x perado = I. x altaclerensis

Birkacre Rucks - part of the old colliery

Path on the Rucks

Take Care

Saturday 22 November

Damp but mild for the time of year

Quite a bit of Bramble - Rubus fruticosus flowering 

Usually find lots of Jelly Ear - Auricularia auricula-judae, this year only found it twice

The Kingfisher is back in the channel

Cheeky Charlie Robin on the carving - someone has put a wreath of ivy & flowers on it

Take Care

Saturday 15 November

A good morning and we wandered all over.

All the fungi has been ID by my expert friends - they will say enthusiastic amateurs, well they are good.

 I can't say I have seen this before so another first, there was only one among the roots of a Sycamore Bulbous Honey Fungus - Armillaria gallica

The path to Lowes Tenement Farm

 Photographer setting up for a long wait - hoping for a shot of the trout or salmon jumping.

On Silver Birch, Glistening Inkcap - Coprinellus micaceus

 Sulphur Tuft - Hypholoma fasciculare var. fasciculare

 Tansy - Tanacetum vulgare

 

It was only the other day I found out the name of the cottage that once stood here, I am stood on what was the fire/oven looking out toward the weir, it was called Whet Stone Cottage, demolished in the 50/60s

Flowering again Bramble - Rubus fruticosus

Take Care

Friday 6 June

Back to the sunshine

Soon be Blackberry picking, Bramble - Rubus fruticosus

Tern & youngster

The new feature in the village old pump fitted over the trough

Our village is getting some good features to remind us of a time some of us remember

Take Care

Sunday 8 September

Damp this morning being Sunday we are on our own and heading for Dry Bones

Path at the side of the Top Lodge

 Passed the weir and onto Dry Bones where the prize awaits us.

Blackberries ripe on the Bramble - Rubus fruticosus plenty for the picking this year, jams, wine and just as they come. I can tell you that they are delicious.

When we were kids and sent out with our bags and tubs to pick them for the kitchen, we ate more than we collected, yet I still remember pies and jam being made from what we brought home. Happy days :)

Take Care

Sunday 21 July

Dry & Mild

 Big Lodge view

Pink flowered Bramble - Rubus fruticosus they are common in Lancashire. 

 Field Rose - Rosa arvensis

 Raspberry - Rubus idaeus had a good crop this year.

 Tomato - Lycopersicon esculentum found growing in a pavement nick, it won't get much to grow much more - I have no doubt it will meet with the weed killer or just pulled.

Flowers and a few tiny fruits on it.

Take Care

Thursday 13 September

Damp morning

Billy the Winner of Grade 7 at the Shrewsbury show last weekend

 Bramble - Rubus fruticosus

 Guelder Rose - Viburnum opulus

Large Bindweed - Calystegia silvatica

Take Care

Saturday 23 June

Rain this morning

 Bramble - Rubus fruticosus

 Coot Babe

 Hedge Woundwort - Stachys sylvatica

 Hedge Woundwort - Stachys sylvatica

Swan Family

Take Care