Grass

 The grass in the parts of the garden we are leaving unmown is getting quite tall.

It was interesting to see how many different varieties there were.

I picked a blade of each different grass.

 

Paul knew quite a few of the different grasses from when he used to take students on Biology field trips. Others we found in a reference book

We found Rye Grass, Oatgrass, Yorkshire fog, wavy hair grass, agrostis, fox tail, cat's tail and common oat grass.

Also in the garden we have some lovely produce and flowers to bring indoors.

 

The sweetpeas have been wonderful this year and after a slow start both strawberries and tomatoes are now ripening.

All for now.  Take care.
 

Meadow Flowers

Yesterday we took a short walk in the meadow at RSPB Coombes Valley.  The sun was warm on our backs, the birds sang as we made our way along the designated path.  Little black moths flittered around the grasses and bees were buzzing around the flowers.  It was a delightful half an hour.

I'm not very good at identifying all the different wildflowers but together they looked wonderful. 

Below are some of the flowers in the meadow.  I think I've identified them but I know there are people out there who know more than me so please tell me if I am wrong.
 

Oxeye Daisy.  It has lots of names like Dog Daisy, Moon Daisy and Moon Penny.

Butterfly Orchid

Common Spotted Orchid

Butterfly Orchid

Ribwort Plantain

Birds Foot Trefoil also known as eggs and bacon or fingers and thumb.

Red Clover

One of the little black moths, I'd like to know what they are called.

The meadow is called Valley View.

 All for now.  Take care.

 

Having a go

Dipping my toes in the water of blogging again.  My breathing seems to be getting slightly better after a down turn last week.  The daily blood thinning injections seem finally to have begun clearing the blood clots in my lungs.  It has seemed a struggle at times but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I've been reading and enjoying your blog posts which have taken me to many wonderful places including Herefordshire, the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Skye as well as many other places of interest.  You will no doubt recognise yourself from these places.  I've also seen inside some lovely gardens too.

Our garden here has been a Godsend whilst I've been unable to travel far.   I've added some photos of flowers below.  I will get back to commenting on your blogs again very soon.  

Unfortunately there are a couple of blogs I still can't leave a comment on.  I've no idea why.

All for now.  Take Care.

Still Here

 I've just got home from five days in hospital.  Still feeling very fragile so I won't be blogging for a while. I'm reading your posts but forgive me for not making comments for a while too.  I hope to be back as soon as I can.

Meanwhile here is a collage of photos taken in the garden over a week ago.  Of course by the time I got home all had changed.

 

Cuckoo, Bluebells and Little Ringed Plover

It seems ages since I wrote a post.  I've been around and about not going far until I feel better.  I've been trying to walk more throughout this week and whilst out and about on Friday I bought a step tracker.  Not an expensive one but it does link to a device so I can see progress.  

Whilst out walking last Sunday across nearby Fenton Fields. We heard Skylarks and then, joy of joys, I heard a sound from my childhood, the call of a Cuckoo.  We stood still and listened and heard it again. Just two calls.  I was used to hearing them over the village woods, where, as children, we played on the stone walls of the old sheep dip by the brook and scared ourselves into screams and giggles by peering in the cobwebby windows of the old, derelict gamekeeper's cottage.  By the 1950s the gamekeeper had taken up residence in the old station house as the local line had closed, way before the Beeching cuts of the 1960s, and the tunnel had been filled in for safety reasons.  I seemed to have drifted a little.

  On Saturday we walked in Biddulph Grange Gardens (National Trust).  On Thursday we walked in Hem Heath Woods (Staffordshire Wildlife Trust) to see if there were bluebells and on Friday we walked at Tittesworth Reservoir (Severn-Trent Water).  

Below are some photos of things that caught my eye.

Cat, tulips and blossom at Biddulph Grange Gardens.

Bluebells at Hem Heath Woods

I think they will probably be at their best next week so we will go back.  It's so hard to capture the intensity of blue as they carpet the forest floor.

At  Tittesworth Reservoir we spotted some lovely wildlife.  We walked down to the stream with views of The Roaches.  Later we crossed the road and visited one of the bird hides, it was new and  empty so we had it to ourselves for quite some time.

 It was delightfull to see the Little Ringed Plovers, I've never seen them before.  We watched them for ages. 

 

Nice to see a bunny too.  This photo was taken by Paul as I wasn't quick enough to take its photo before it ran off.

 

 

I've been enjoyng reading lately.  Three books from the library.  It's so good to be able to browse the shelves again. One down two to go.

 

 All for now.

 

A Woodland Walk and New Plants.

 We went out for an early morning walk in the local woods this morning before popping to a nearby garden centre.  Compost and horticultural grit were needed for various jobs around the garden.  We hope to spend time in the garden over the weekend if it stays dry.   The forecast seems to imply that it will.  Fingers crossed.

Hem Heath Woods belongs to the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and is well maintained by volunteers.  In two or three weeks time the forest floor will be covered in bluebells but for now it was a pleasure just to walk under the greening trees and listen to the birds.

After our walk we headed to the garden centre for a cup of coffee before making purchases.  A few plants fell into the basket as well.

Two Courgette plants as both lots of seeds we planted haven't germinated.  The Primulas will add colour near the pond.  The other plant is a Lavender, you can't have too many of those.  This one is called Vera.

At home, in the garden there is quite a bit of white around.

I'd forgotten about the Narcissi bulbs we planted in a pot.  They are delicate and white and have three heads.  Some of the Wood Anemones we bought on-line as small plugs last Autumn have flowered.  The Spirea Bridal Wreath is in full flower as is the Amelanchier.  We have bird feeders close to the Amelanchier and both Long Tailed Tits and Blue Tits sit in it before launching themselves at the fat balls in the feeders and then swooping low over the grass to disappear in the Holly hedge at the top of the garden.  I love to sit in the conservatory and watch them.  Sometimes they are joined by a Robin and a Coal Tit. Dunnocks peck around underneath to pick up the bits that fall to the ground.

 

 All for now.  

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.