Under the clouds

It has rained A LOT….and that is all I am going to say about that.

There were a couple of sunny days in April and May. I have the photos to prove it.

The wild flowers bloomed,

particularly the cuckoo flower which I left last year to self seed all over midge farm because……

…..it brings in these beauties.

My collared dove with the partial albinism has found a partner this year.

A pair of willow warblers are visiting for the first time. They are nesting either in the garden or very close by as I see them collecting insects all day long.

Midge farm has got jungle fever in the rain.

The birds have got a new bird table which they use mainly as an umbrella,

and I have got a new rhodie which produced these lovely, girly, pink bells.

Two years after they were planted the verbascums are finally establishing and putting on a show.

My lovely song thrushes have also established and produced at least one healthy fledgling.

The gold finches have produced two, although they do look more like drowned rats than fluffy baby birds.

Speaking of rodents, the mouse is back but very much a fair weather visitor, I don’t think she likes getting her fur wet.

She would never have dared to sit on the step like this when old fatso was around.

And finally, my new toy, a butterfly feeder, with its first visitor, a hungry red admiral who sat and fed for at least five minutes. I have my fingers crossed that there will be many more over the summer.