June in Bloom

As the month comes to an end, a roundup of some recent blossomings…

In the early spring, when the outside world is not very hospitable, there is a temptation to home everything in polytunnels. Then, come June, they are starting to burst

These candulas should have been outside, in here they need coralling to keep them in their place

In winter the perennial sweet pea completely recedes into the ground but by the end of June it would have taken over the whole polytunnel if permitted

It will definitely have to move outside before next year. Meanwhile it gives a continual supply of cut flowers

This is the arch of fragrance

where roses and honeysuckle combine into a heady mix.

The lake margins are studded with jewels

and the bullrush is producing heads after not doing so last year

Behind the lake we raised a bank to catch the sun and included plants to help our bees, who live nearby

They are now well established and hold their own amid the grass

This patch of birdsfoot trefoil has arrived by itself on a nearby bank

and foxgloves pop-up everywhere

Pansies are always a welcome sight

Strong colours mark this part of the year, be it campanula blue

or loosestrife yellow

Too Hot… for Rabbits

A couple of rather warm days

Rabbits need ice-water bottles

and time for all to vacate indoor quarters

Anna’s litter enjoy a bit of extra space, indoors…

with ramp…

to outdoors…

That space is not available for all so some indoor houses are moved outside

in a cool North facing prospect

where Heidi’s young litter can get some cooler air

Rabbit Report

After a load of palava and song and dance three out of the four does have eventually managed to produce offspring.

First off was Easter, who only managed to produce one (visible) kit

By being an only child, Comet has asserted an identity which makes it harder to label her “freezer”. She has also required vet attention (ie bills) to correct an ingrowing eyelash

which is now healing nicely. So currently she is down as a replacement breeding doe – for Lettuce who has shown no interest at all in the whole breeding thing.

Next up was Anna with a litter of four, here two weeks ago

and thriving a week later

And then there is Heidi

who has been through a couple of rounds of ripping out her fur to make nests and exhibiting highly temperamental pre-natal behaviour.

This week she actually managed to produce – eight at birth with seven survivors

So now the veg patch has a section for growing rabbit food

(with protection against The Wrong Kind Of Rabbit)

Gold in June

Now the dry glare of May has been replaced by at least a little moistness the pieces of gold can be better appreciated.

Size is Relative

The juvenile woodpecker

seems small to its parents, but when it comes to feed all the other birds keep clear.

The “small” Blue Tit looks bigger than its parent

a big mouth is the way to get fed.

All chicks are small but some a smaller than others

says Hubble the hobbled, now holding her own.

Outside, the older teenagers, while larger

are cultivating the mean scrawny look.

Bees might be small but a Bumble Bee

is a big bee.

We tend to see the big small things, whether they are beetles

or moths

Although this Elephant Hawk moth doesn’t need to claim the name of such a large mammal in order to prove its point.

The vast majority of living creatures who live here are much, much smaller than any of these.

Raindrops on Roses

Raindrops on Roses:

in fact, Raindrops on anything at all

are definitely our Favourite Thing right now

June Rainbow

A spectrum of colours:

 

 

Home Schooling

It is learning time at Gribin Isaf

Anna’s four kits have had their security bed removed

They look a little lost

“No time for sulking” says Anna “time to come next door”

“Listen carefully – you need to learn to feed yourself. I know water is not as good as milk, but you need to move on”

“Well done”

“Now it is time to try some proper food”

Later in the day (hence the low light photos) another family is trying the same thing:

“I am hungry, but I can’t see any food anywhere”

“Don’t know what this stuff is”

“No, I can’t get the hang of it”

“Can someone come and help?”

“Ah, now this I do understand”

“I didn’t ask you to help my sister though”

Veg box filling

We seem to have been more organised with our veg growing this year, getting more ground under control and keeping to a sowing plan – although note for next year is just because a packet contains 150 seeds doesn’t mean they all have to be sown.

The greenhouse is thinning out a bit

as seedlings move out. The chillies are going to stay here this year

The small polytunnel has a good round of salad on the go

plus the fig is fruiting

Outside beds are filling up

Courgettes getting going

Runners are grasping their poles

Next door, the broad beans

and French beans making a start

Trying to stop the raspberries escaping

The birds will probably get to the gooseberries before we do

The large polytunnel is filling up

Keeping tomato plants trained

first ones coming into flower

We have had to create a new overflow bed for flowers

Also today the blue tit brood nearest to the house fledged

A Rose in June

and a special Blue one

plus some other June Blooms