The Blue Meadow

I've had a more productive day today, thank the stars, getting my bike repaired this afternoon at the local bike shop, and then heading out on a long early evening walk out to Farndon and back.

The himalayan balsam is now in rampant flower along the river in the Willow Holt reserve. This invasive plant, that out competes native species thanks to its voracious seeding habits, provides attractive colour - it is the UK's largest annually flowering plant - but at a cost.

I think they look rather like triffids, personally, although without the blinding stinger and habit of feeding off corpses.

A good view of a fox running across a ploughed field was a bonus.

I went to Cottage Lane reserve in search of dragonflies, but found none. What I did find was a meadow that was absolutely blue with tufted vetch. I've never seen so much in flower in one place.

It made it very much worth the visit. And a two hour walk at times like this is very beneficial to mental health.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 22.07.20

The Magic Traffic Island of Delight

So, a few weeks ago I noticed the  council workers were out seeding the traffic island near where I work, the one that has a romantic McDonalds background.

Well, in the last couple of weeks, it has become the nearest thing to a tropical hideaway this side of The Seychelles. One shouldn't be surprised, as they do it every year, but I just love how a barren, polluted wasteland becomes a colour riot for a few weeks every year, as if a Sony Bravia TV advert was being filmed there.

It starts off white and red, as the dog daisies and poppies come into bloom first, but soon after they are overwhelmed by the sun orange arrival of the corn marigolds, which give the island a kia-ora glow for a month or more. Cornflower is also present, and seems to be attraction for the pollinators that visit.

I stranded myself there for a little while as I rode home this evening, a modern day castaway marooned amid roundabout traffic, wondering how all the nature survived the exhaust emissions, and wondering how I was as well.

Indeed I couldn't stay for long. This beautiful asylum is in every sense, only a temporary one.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 28.06.18

The linnet

Photographed this lovely lady at work, where she and her fellow are nested in a thick hedgerow somewhere.

We've been making good progress with our campaign for a greener campus; our unmowed area has turned out to be almost twice as large as we first envisaged, and has rewarded us with bee orchids, self-heal, birds foot trefoil and enough white lover to cover a football pitch.

The red tailed bumblebees love it.

Next week we seed our second wildflower meadow, and we have some herbs to plant in a herb garden we extended. Looking forward to it.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 15.06.17