Bob starts his day in one of his 'why walk when you can run ?' moods. Upon reflection there is nothing unusual in that. Bob starts every day in one of his 'why walk when you can run ?' moods. The young sparrows nesting in the gutters practise flying in the pre-dawn cool. They squabble loudly as they flutter inelegantly from the Rickety Old Farmhouse to the branches of an oak in the courtyard. Sophie sits and glares at them.
The standard roses we bought for the war memorial bloomed in May then did absolutely nothing. They have started to bloom again two days before the garden judges visit on Friday. How's that for timing ? 'The Font' will go to Toulouse later today to find some Hidcote lavender to plant between the smaller rose bushes and tone down the mayors jaunty colour scheme.
The most amazing large butterfly on the French lavender along the driveway.
A line of serrated black probosces and two long probosces along its tail.
The sunflowers are suddenly everywhere and covered in happy honey bees who've struck it lucky. The PONs play hide and seek among the sunflower stalks. The bees ignore them. The fields literally sing with contented buzzing interspersed with whoops of delight from Sophie. PONs are not a quiet breed and Sophie is not a quiet PON.
Another day when a lot happens in a village where nothing happens.
This song is apparently enjoying something of a renaissance amongst those too young to hear it 30 years ago: https://youtu.be/X8lQFZ1OBWQ?t=6
17 comments:
So clever of you to supply a strain of roses able to sense an imminent visit by the garden judge!
Your butterfly is the Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius (Fr. Le Flambé). I should point out that it is only called the Scarce Swallowtail in English because it is rare in Britain. It is not rare in France, but its numbers, like all these things, are declining here (due to habitat loss, insecticides, road kill ... all the usual suspects). It's possibly a climate change beneficiary though.
The summer gardens look lovely and we are glad your roses have timed their blooming so perfectly.
I love that song. And anything Simon and/or Garfunkel. Had no idea it was trending. Wonderful lyrics, never more appropriate.
Roses and Lavender - what could be more English than that? Even if they are in deepest France Profonde ! I do hope that your little village is successful this year.
I was delighted to see that photo of the sunflowers yesterday and now another one. That shot of a washed out field you posted previously didn't look very promising. Following their progress is something I look forward to every summer.
We have a very similar butterfly here, the "Eastern Tiger Swallowtail," which is the state insect for Virginia. Quite common for us to see, I'm sorry that they are not for you. I enjoy seeing them.
A good thing the sunflower fields are not competing in the gardening contest.
Angus is good at gardening that requires contemplation rather than action.
Climate change is certainly doing great things for it. Probably a dozen or so along the driveway this am. They clearly love lavender. Never seen so many cabbage whites. Flocks of them.
Lets hope the judges are similarly impressed tomorrow !
There is something 'contemporary' in the lyrics.
A blue and red colour scheme. Probably best to skip the white.
Sunflowers appear to be the hardiest of crops surviving floods and then drought in close succession.
The sunflower fields tend to overshadow the rest of nature - or the mayors floral displays.
Hari OM
...sigh.... sunflowers... I's happy... YAM xx
The flowers and scenery is absolutely amazing and beautiful. Sunflowers are my absolute favorite. Hope you have a nice rest of your week, thanks for the share. Love stopping by your blog.
World of Animals
Why is Hidcote lavender preferable over French lavender for the war memorial, and what is the difference? Now I'll have to go look them up.
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