Making plans. Worcestershire.

I love this time of the year. My garden looks a little scruffy in places as things start to die back. Tidying up in the garden is so satisfying as you know it will stay looking great for months.

On top of that the spring bulbs and winter bedding are in the shops. Lidl is particularly brilliant for bulbs this week. A very satisfactory morning spent planting bargain bulbs means I am looking forward to more hyacinths, tulips, crocus, and allium next spring. Deep joy.

Circular walk, West Malvern, near Worcester.

This walk starts and ends by the Outdoor Centre in West Malvern, at the top of Old Hollow road. Walk down the path through the outdoor centre and on to the farm. You cross the yard through the two metal gates and then stick to the path through two fields in which sheep are grazing. At the top far corner f the next field you go up through the next field and in the top corner you pass under trees to a path entering the wood. After you pass through the wooden gate you go a little further up before meeting a path making a t with the one you are on. You have now done the hardest part of the walk. Take the left hand path and you follow the ridge through the woods until you reach a metal gate. This is a long flat section of the walk. You now go through a farm yard and then on to the bottom of a private road. Just past a few houses on the left is a footpath sign, and following this you go through a few fields and then are back at the first farm at the outdoor centre.

Sheep freshly shorn

Here are a few of the sights I saw today following this walk.

First field

View north

Towards wooden gate onto ridge

Tree detail

Ridge path

Path in dappled shade

View west towards Herefordshire

View east across to Malvern Hill from second farm

Lower path back to first farm

Interesting burr in hedgerow

Beautiful butterflies in my garden, Malvern, Worcester.

Cabbage White butterfly

I have at last found the secret to photographing butterflies. I have been trying to photograph the butterflies in my garden for weeks but they kept flying off before I could focus the camera. If you go out first thing on a sunny morning they haven't yet warmed up enough to fly off as quickly as they do later on. Using this tip, hurrah I finally got some decent pictures. Hope you like them.

Peacock butterfly and a Bee

The garden they were enjoying

Romantic Roses, Malvern gardens, Worcestershire.

Roses are very much the traditional flower of the English country garden. Climbing, standard, bush and traditional forms, all are beautiful. They come in every colour and grow reliably. Dead head them once they bloom has passed it's best, and you prolong the number of flowers and length of flowering period. Enjoy these pictures of some of my roses.

Beaches and coastline near Morpeth, Newcastle.

I enjoyed a fabulous couple of days exploring around Morpeth in Newcastle. One day we spent exploring the East coast of North England. There are many castles dotted around this area but it was the sand the sea, the fabulous rock formations and the incredible sky that I fell in love with. here are just a few of the pictures I took.

Bees and Vegetables at a friends allotment, Morpeth near Newcastle.

Whilst visiting friends in Morpeth near Newcastle, they took me to see their allotment and the bees they have. They have only been keeping bees for a short while but already have had two honey harvests. The bees clearly love it there an now they not only have the two original hives, but a new young swarm, which are currently housed in the middle nursery hive box.

We were very lucky whilst we were there as the queen from one of the two established hives decided to go on a walk about. When still young queens will leave the hive occasionally to go out on mating flights, and the worker bees crowd around the entrance waiting for her return. The queen returned while we were there and you van see her in the close up picture, she is the largest bee in the centre of the frame.

Two hives and centre nursery hive

The return of the Queen

St Lawrence Parish Church, Appleby, Cumbria.

St Lawrence's church in Appleby is rather sweet. It has many stunning stained glass windows but it is the ornate stone carving that really sets it apart. There is a large marble carved monument to a local lady, but it is the jolly sandstone buttresses that make the place. Each one is different and looks to be based on an actual person. My favourite is the rather jolly foppish chap with the elegant moustache.

Exterior of St Lawrence's

One of the stained glass windows

Organ top

Two of the old locals?

My favourite

Beautiful moth, Malvern, Worcestershire.

My garden is full of fabulous butterflies, peacock, admiral, orange tips, cabbage white and loads I don't know the name of. Unfortunately they flit around from flower to flower or dance in the air spinning around each other like the DNA helix. This constant movement makes them impossible to photograph. I have spent many hours attempting to sneak up on one or patiently sitting next to the flowers which a few moments before I sat down had been covered in butterflies, waiting for them to return. So far all this effort has been with out success. Which is why I love this moth so much. Not only is it rather stunning compared to the common brown moths, and the markings on its wings look so like love hearts, but it spent all day sitting on my honeysuckle having a snooze. Unfortunately I have no idea the name of the variety, but a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. If you know its's name or have any tips on photographing butterflies please I would love to know.

Evening recollections

Evening recollections

On a warm summer evening such as this
The years recede and I remember young loves tender kiss
Warm perfumed air enfolds us in its caress
You relaxed and cool, me in my summer dress
Two young people too young to recognise and know
The gentle flutter of first feelings from which love will grow
I still recall the tilt of my head as I gazed
Absorbed in your eyes but feeling quite fazed
By the strength of emotion
Recollected and still felt.

By Izzy Silver

July poetry and pictures, Worcester.

July has been hectic, so it didn't help that the computer was playing up, but it's all systems go again so here is a bit of a catch-up. The next few entries will contain poems and pictures taken or written this month. For the poems I am starting with the blackest and moodiest, progressing to happier brighter stuff. So here goes.

Sometimes optimism isn't an option

The black dog rides again

A monkey on his back.

The demon with the pointy stick

Is going jab, jab, jab.

You smile and try to carry on.

You have to come what may.

Inside your on the floor and being kicked,

It's just another perfect day.

On the face of it the smile remains,

Though it cannot reach your eyes.

Politely you say, "Thank you"

Whilst inside hope dies.

By I. Silver

Ross-on-Wye, River walk.

Town centre

Fish statue

Rowers racing on the river Wye

Little girl feeding swans

Ducks statue by river

View back towards Ross

                                Today I walked along the river Wye from Ross. Parking in Ross is free on a Sunday, otherwise I recommend the long term car park which is pay and display. The town centre is a mix of Tudor and more modern buildings. Horatio Nelson once stayed here and there is a plaque commemorating this. 

Following the brown tourist signs to the river walk, which is an absolute delight. When I was there the local college team were practising rowing on the river whilst children were feeding the ducks and swans.

The trees along the river were dotted with spiders web nests. these curious nests were dotted with hundreds of baby spiderlings whilst a mother spider in the centre guarded them. Quite beautiful but rather scary.

Spiders webs

Panoramic view