A few orchids

 

A few marsh orchids at Messingham, taken a few weeks ago. Afraid not a patch on the numbers we saw in the alpine meadows in Switzerland.

and alot of twayblade this year on our local verge

Golden Plover at Toft Newton Reservoir

 

What a cracking bird !

A few waders from last week

 

Spotted Redshank at Blacktoft Sands

Ruff

Green Sandpiper

Black-tailed Godwits out on the mud

A few butterflies from last week

 

Red Admiral

Peacock

Elephant Hawk Moth in our garden, we have had 2 so far this year

Ringlet and comma

Comma

Gatekeeper

Banded Demoiselle

Lots of banded demoiselles in the beck again this year

and this is the very first dragonfly (brown hawker) that Simon has photographed in flight !

 

Bee Orchids, Moat Road, Scunthorpe

Sorry, another moan from me. For the past 20 years, bee orchids have flowered in one of our industrial estates. North Lincolnshire Council know they are there. They were always safe while we were at work as we made everyone aware of them. For the past 3 years, despite many emails to the relevant section, they were always cut down while flowering. For the past 3 years I have been promised that it won't happen again.......and yet again this year, despite a further promise, they were cut down while flowering. Just one remained and that was tucked into a shrub bed. I was promised that the area would be fenced to stop the grass cutters going on it (council). I know it's hard to believe that any section could be so incompetent but these take first prize as they have fenced the wrong panel. 

So, a formal complaint was made which I took to the second stage and am now going to the Ombudsman with my complaint. From the Leader of the Council, every section head and manager involved in grass cutting down to the mower operator, are totally and utterly incompetent. 

The only spike to remain this year from over 100 spikes of bee orchid.

Fenced the wrong panel and despite me informing them, this fencing remains

Mown to within an inch of it's life.....three times - the first while the rosettes were growing and twice with orchid spikes and flowers

Happy Birthday Tom

 

Tom's 36th birthday.......where did all those years go ! We don't eat out very often so decided on a trip to the Marrowbone and Cleaver in Kirmington (Guy Martin's pub). Just pub food but decent and beer and I was the driver home. A nice night xx

Neither would smile for a pic....too busy tucking in !

and I had my usual......I am so predictable and easy to please !  Gorgeous haddock, lovely and fresh x

A few from the garden

 

A couple of tubs of sweet peas, love the smell, brings back memories of childhood xx

Our potatoes have been splendid this year, a decent crop that we have enjoyed nearly every day.....and we still have a few left xx

We have grown purple dwarf beans this year which are going to give us a bumper crop. Pity that they turn green when put in boiling water.......feel a bit conned !

Just a few of our spectacular planters, they look beautiful despite the scorching heat. We have over 100 pots and planters around the garden so you can imagine the watering.......at the moment it's a full time job !

Pixi taking a snooze in a pallet !!

We have grown peppers planted in the greenhouse this year......they are laden, a fantastic crop. It is 40 degrees most days in the greenhouse with the maximum 50 degrees being reached one day this year. They obviously like it hot !

We have planted some out in the garden and they all have decent peppers on them. Who would have thought you could grow peppers outside in northern Britain. A sign of our ever warming world.

A small amount of our onions drying before being put into storage. We planted around 500 onion sets, so we will be ok for onions for the next year !

Sweet corn growing away, it's about a foot taller now and all with cobs forming. Love home grown sweetcorn with a decent knob of butter.

5 buckets of carrots

Inundated with courgettes this year......not the tastiest veg and we have a bumper crop. Keep giving them to neighbours !  Beans going in the freezer.

Peppers in the greenhouse, now waiting for them to ripen

Just a smittering of our tomatoes, recon we have at least 150 plants, now all laden with fruits. Good job we like them but still have some left in the freezer from last year !

Can't beat fresh tomatoes on toast for breakfast. Picked, cooked and eaten within 10 minutes, freshness at its very best !