With good reason too, they are stunning.
Last year was a bit of a poor year for poppies, this field was empty, and the half poppy half oilseed half buttercup field that looked like a Zimbabwean flag at a distance - off Clay Lane - was also very subdued. I don't know how that field is looking this year yet, but these Hawton Lane poppies have suddenly exploded into fiery glory in the last few week, compared even to the attractive sight they made a few weeks ago when I last photographed them.
It's a pity the butterflies are struggling to match them. The only ones I'm seeing at all the last few days are speckled woods here and there; orange tips have had a disastrous year with the cool spring and second flight small tortoiseshells and peacocks have yet to emerge. Hopefully the expected blizzard of painted ladies will even things up.
My tree bumblebee nests are incredibly busy. Today, managed to get a photograph of the little ginger buzzers!
Enjoy!
Si
All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 18.06.15
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Polish cornflowers getting the customers again |
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Tree bumble factory clocking in |
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4 woodpigeon eggs broken in my garden this morning |
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Bumbles love this garden plant |
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Abandoned blackbird egg |
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Look at the colour of this field |
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Beauty from a lower angle |