The Summer display in my hanging baskets was well and truly over. The Fuchsias came to nothing. They stayed still at about 3 inches high. Fortunately the trailing Lobelia put on a really nice display. Though watered every dry day even they eventually gave up the ghost.
I emptied and relined the baskets then filled them with new compost ready, I hope, for a Winter and Spring display. Round the perimeter are trailing Winter flowering Pansies. Taking up the centre portion are bulbs; Hyacinth, Dwarf Iris (all those are blue) and Puschkinia libanotica (Russian Snowdrops) which have white petals with a blue stripe. I've not grown those before so we will see how they get on.
As for the garden wildlife. A couple of days ago I spotted a young frog on the path
This one was a bit larger than others seen recently so may be a two year old.
While I was troweling compost from the bag to a hanging basket what should decide to leap in to have a close look at what was going on? A common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius)
Weird looking creatures.
Finally a butterfly landed in the garden.
A Small Tortoiseshell
Happened to spot one of the few ladybirds I have seen this Summer.
It was much smaller than the common seven spot
Once I enlarged the shot (as seen above) I could count eleven spots.
The problem identifying it is there are a couple about the same size with 11 spots.
The Adonis and the Eleven Spot ladybirds.
The only way to tell which is which is by the markings on its 'face'.
Unfortunately I didn't get that in shot.
The 11 spot is much rarer and more likely to be found around sand dunes at the coast.
On the subject of seeing ladybirds - I found out where my resident ones have been hiding from me. As I was cutting the grass yesterday I saw quite a few crawling in the lawn. I spent nearly as long trying to move them out of the way as I did actually mowing the grass. Now I have to watch out for young frogs (I saw four leap out of the way) and ladybirds.
Tuesday morning Penny and I drove the 13 minute journey to the village of Legbourne, Lincolnshire. There is a delightful walk alongside a stream I haven't visited for many years. The short walk totals about 0.5km there and back but well worth the visit for the serenity and change of view.
First a video of the last part of our journey. Mill Lane, Legbourne.
Always a pleasure driving our village country lanes - as long a nothing large is coming in the opposite direction. All clear on that anyway.
As usual the video is in HD but may have to be forced to show it as that.
Lots of photos. All can be clicked on to show larger.
Our starting point
Walk across the footbridge
Along the path by the side of the stream of crystal clear water.
Not very deep as we have had little rain recently.
Me enjoying the peaceful views as we strolled gently towards our destination.
Penny enjoying new odours in the vegetation.
Last time I walked this path there was an old ramshackle wooden structure.
Now there is a very inviting dwelling or summerhouse surrounded by a terrace.
Sitting by the tree:
Our destination now in sight in the village of Little Cawthorpe.
A place where a road fords the stream, known locally as The Splash.
Both sides of the ford have signs reminding drivers to try their wet brakes.
Next to the footbridge is a notice which tells of an ancient stone brought down from Scotland to Lincolnshire by a glacier in the last Ice Age.
I guess this is the stone in question:
From the footbridge one can see where the stream flows through a garden.
Not just water wheels here:
After a look round, time to return the way we came.
A closer look at the garden ape
Back to the car after an enjoyable breath of fresh air
Surprisingly I heard only one bird and saw only a couple of skinny Wood Pigeons during this walk. I saw not a single butterfly or any other insect.
For identifying last week's WidsMob Montage modified photo very close were -
Adrian, Wilma and Ragged Robin who suggested it was a eReader / Kindle
and close with 'iPad' was The Weaver
Impossible to see exactly in the montage the make but it was a photo of
my Kobo eReader which I mentioned a couple of weeks ago.
For this week have a go at identifying what this montage is hiding
As always, please leave any guesses in the comments.
They, along with the original photo, will be revealed next Monday.
