Don't you just love June

 The dog roses are out in all their spectacular glory making arabesques across the skyline. Funny that so called common plants are known as dog this and dog that. They are full of simple elegance whatever they are called..a rose by any name would smell as sweet and all that!

Gentle, soft pinks so hard to capture with a paint brush.

Fading almost to white. I could see these being draped around the curls of country brides in days gone by. So pretty and delicate.

                           And here a few dog daisies mixing with fragrant chamomile.

A large droopy daisy with tiny speedwell growing at her feet.

I'm not a religious person but I can't help but think of how as a little girl we sang our hearts out to

1. 
Daisies are our silver, 
Buttercups our gold: 
This is all the treasure 
We can have or hold. 

2. 
Raindrops are our diamonds 
And the morning dew; 
While for shining sapphires 
We've the speedwell blue. 

3. 
These shall be our emeralds 
Leaves so new and green; 
Roses make the reddest 
Rubies ever seen. 

Such beautiful evocative words by

by "Jan Struther",
pseudonym of Joyce Maxtone Graham, 1901-1953,
author of Mrs Miniver.

!!

And at last young Jack turned up just before the thistles went to seed..yippee Last year he came just after..that wasn't so good.

The grass and various shall we say weeds..were chest high and even the Jack Russells no longer wanted to walk through for fear of the newly grown thistles making too many holes in their feet.

So happy to see it looking tidier..next time he comes in July I'll have cleared away the remains of the brambles to give him a better run at the long grass over to the left. The black thorn are still there along the right flank..I only managed to cut down about a third of them..hey ho..

walking the asbos and some very handy wild bird food

When I first saw this strip planted up with sunflowers and millet or maybe it's sorghum..I thought it was for the wild birds to help them through winter...and maybe it is..but having now read up a bit about these seed laden grasses it is also used for providing a wind break and cover for game birds..hmm I've been picking a few armfuls so at least some of it will hang in reach of the lively little folk that inhabit the garden.

Millet and sorghum were grown 3,000 years ago as an early crop for animals and probably for people. They are poisonous in the early stages so I guess trial and fatal error revealed the better periods.

This is the field at the back of the house..standing looking back toward the buildings..you can just see the rooftops across the way. The crop of wheat has been cut and the the stubble provides a great expanse for the dogs to run.

 And run and leap they do..especially Scrabble who is like a serious drug addict when it comes to balls...

This is Tata..very short legs!! but like a little lioness when she stands over her prey..the dead ball...

 Scrabble is willing me to stop messing with the camera and throw the darn ball....

Tata too....

The paddock is totally over grown hence my ruminations about getting a few sheep..but it would have to be for life....couldn't send them for slaughter. I can hear the mocking laughter and cries of rural derision..but I've been a veggie for the past 45 or so years..and just can't get excited about eating meat.not the proper four legs and a tail variety any way..My parents had a small holding and they used to send stock off to market but I'm too soft when it comes to the fairness of it all..and the trust they place in the hand that feeds them. I know..I'm a wuz !! On a lighter note....I love these amazing trees..but just look at the size of the hogweed!!

Some silly little tomato plants decided to come late..I'll see if I can nurse them through the winter.

hedgerows feasting

 The raspberry tree in my garden with extraordinary fruit that look just like fat raspberries

You can see what a big tree it is.

Fruit of the Chinese Dogwood..just like a big raspberry

So pretty and the huge white bracts in springtime are also wonderful.

Linden tree loud with bees a little earlier in the summer. 

Crab Apples they make such a sweet scent

Have lots of pics to download and no time to do it...more soon
16.10.13
Ah finally sneaked in two minutes to load some pics taken during my walk with the resident asbos..two Jack Russells

Rather tattered and torn elder but still bright and bouncy in the breeze

Rose hips that can be collected and made into wonderfully sweet and soothing to the sore throat hhhmmm Rosehip syrup of my childhood

Good old blackberries..ever friendly and refreshing on a long walk at the very least. Pies and crumbles call to be made when you see these fat beauties shining in the sun.

It's always a complete delight to come across a crab apple tree. Nothing quite like smelling them before you find them on the path and overhead..They make a fabulous jelly but are way too tart to eat without some kind of cooking.

 Dark, sexy sloes..where's that gin to soak them in for Christmas

Well the birds have enjoyed these late elder berries..

More lovely rose hips

I seem to remember my mum saying the pithy centre made good itching powder substitute..but goodness knows what kind of modern allergy it might trigger so leave well alone..

Lovely hawthorn

In my garden I have a glorious red hawthorn blossom tree..usually its pale pinky/white.

White Rowan planted for Isabelle twenty years ago..it's branches are like a ballerina's arms.

Toxic Berries Look but don't touch

 I think these are bryony but beware to quote good ol' Wicki ' all components of the black bryony plant, including the tubers, are poisonous due to saponin content. Therefore, it is not typically used internally; however, it has been used as a poultice for bruises and inflamed joints.' Personally I wouldn't use it for anything..just enjoy it sparkling in the sunshine.

 Red as bright as this can mean poison and in this case it does..Bryony twisting through the branches

Well these believe it or not are spindle berries..usually bright and pink but this year rather like old germolene.

These spindle berries are a bit more like it!!By the way they are also highly toxic so don't be tempted to do anything other than look at them. Euonymus europaeus

 Some additional delights

 These are not in the hedgerow as such but they are rather lovely..

 End of the summer Mullein also known as

Adam's flannel, old man's flannel, woollen, rag paper, candlewick plant, wild ice leaf, Jupiter's staff, Jacob's staff, Flannel Plant, Hag's Taper

The umbelliferous  Dill I love the sweet tangy seeds of this amazing plant.