Binsey

Our local fell affords some beautiful views!

Looking down Bassenthwaite towards Keswick.

...and across to Dash Falls.

Overwater....

Herdies.

Enjoying the view...

Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite.

Happy lad! 

Drumburgh Moss

The mosses are really beginning to colour up. After all the hard work of Hesket Show and a sustained period re-finding the garden, it was nice to be out in a big landscape with big skies. There were lots of Speckled Wood butterflies, Back Darters and many Swallows and Martins, that were preparing for their southwood departure.  

Conservation grazing - Exmoor ponies.

Male and female Black Darter.

Speckled Wood and Small Tortoisehell.

Part of one of the old carved interpretive board: an adder and moth just about distinguishable.

Looking across to Skidddaw.

Bog Asphodel and Heather.

Strong colours.

A nice expanse.

Walking back.

Nasturtiums

 Just a wonderful display! 

Bilberry time

It's  that time of year again! Where there aren't sheep, the Bilberries are in fruit ....so it's time for Bilberry sorbet, frangipans and pies. Bilberries on muesli and with meringues and icecream....

Bilberries....and below.

A berry comb really helps! 

Carrock Fell.

Heath Spotted-orchids.

Despite the 'dry' weather there's still plenty coming off the fells! 

Juniper and Bog Asphodel.

Cranberries - a long way off being ripe.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly.

The different heathers: Ling, Bell Heather and Cross-leaved Heath. 

Bog Asphodel.

North Cumbrian Frogs

Headend Quarry can now be regarded as the last reliable site for Frog orchids in North Cumbria.  There were over 75 recorded in 1987, but numbers have dwindled. This year appears to have been a decent year for them and earlier in the week we found over 20 flowering spikes. Their position is very vulnerable to trampling and their numbers could be increased by better management of the site, as areas where they have been previously seen are now overgrown. Perhaps their position, where they are vulnerable to trampling, may be a blessing in disguise? 

The quarry grassland...

Searching for Frogs....

Sucess...and below...

View from the top....

...and in the evening. 

Into the garden

Returning home, it was straight into the garden to catch up on what needed doing. We have been trying to make inroads into what has been neglected over the last few years, while we have been working and these are the reuslts so far....I haven't photographed the rest as it has rather a large proportion of Ground Elder, Nettles and Creeping Buttercup! Withe a dry spring it has been lovely to see so many insects in the garden - it's positively humming.