Sunday 30 August 2009

Sunday safari

There is a chill in the air....I am wearing a jumper. Many little frogs sit on top of the floating lettuce......but some are still at the in between stage. I always think they look a little strange.......
Wasps gather on the Cosmos stems.....they are stripping the bark......

Bumbles are few but there are many Carder bees.......


There are many whites in the garden....too numerous for those who grow cabbages.....I do not........
Brightly coloured butterflies are scarce......
but this Red Admiral stayed for quite a while.....
It liked Poppi's patch....she will be pleased.......
A few dragonflies arounds........this one looks a little sad, don't you think?
I wonder if the chilly breeze has taken them by surprise.......
It felt good to work in the garden today......the cooler air has allowed me to achieve much. I had a good day.......
Mr P is helping out at daughter's tonight (bless him). I am going to put my feet up, pour myself a glass of chilled wine.......and watch the first episode of a new two-part adaptation of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. I am so excited, this is one of my favourite novels......I have seen some clips and boy does it look good.
Have a good evening ...........



26 comments:

Liz said...

Wonderful photos Cheryl, amazing to see the Wasps stripping the bark from the Cosmos!

It's definitely got colder over the past two days, Autumn is coming in, and another phase will begin...

Have a nice glass of wine, I'll have a cup of tea! :)

Cheryl said...

Hi Liz.....I think the wasps must be taking it back to their nest....they have been very busy for the past three days......

It was very cold here last night.....autumn is without doubt coming it.....it is amazing how things can change so much in 24 hours.....

There is nothing like a cup of tea........

Liz said...

I'm surprised they're taking it back at this time of year when they will begin dying... Perhaps they are making some repairs to their nest?

I hear in some parts of the country there have been massive problems with Wasps... Have you had any?

My sentiments regarding the weather! The same happened here, today hasn't been too bad.

Tea... Had far too much over the past few days, luckily I only have decaff though.

Cheryl said...

Hi Liz.....they are stripping an awful lot for repairs......but you could be right. It is situated in the bog garden......a strange place but that shows you how dry it is. We have a lot of wasps at the moment but I tend to ignore them. I always show the grandchildren where the nests are.......

I drink Redbush tea....I really like it...has an unusual flavour and is supposed to be good for you.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Your garden is still abuzz despite the cooler weather. We haven't had many big colorful butterflies this year. It is quite the same in so many gardens this year. This cooler year really has kept them down. My neighbor just told me she has only been in her pool 4 times this summer. Unheard of for her. Enjoy your wine and story. It sounds like it would be a good one.

Gail said...

Dear Cheryl, Cooler temperatures revive our energy for long hours of work in the garden~~I was hoping the rains had returned to your part of the garden?

I saw my first dragonfly at C and L! It was exciting, but he was gone before I could get a photo~~They sure are wonderful creatures. Are they drawn to your pond? Would they be there without the water?

It will be years before this new Wuthering Heights reaches us! Put your feet up, sip your wine and have a good evening. Do let us know if it is good!

gail

Wendy said...

It sounds like you are going to have a wonderful and relaxing evening! I also liked Wuthering Heights. Never seen it on T.V., but will watch for it.

I also am surprised by the wasp's activity so late in the year. Must be repairs as you've mentioned. I do like your Red Admiral butterfly. So colourful. I was impressed with the angle of the White's wings. It looks sharp somehow.

Yes, I agree, those dear little froggies do look funny. Did you ever find Fred? Or was it Frieda? LOL! Has it been a year already? This summer has flown so fast, I don't think it was this year.

We also are having a cool spell, but it should be nice and sunny all week. Happy gardening!

marmee said...

cheryl...now i am having header photo envy...this is gorgeous.
abbey and i have watched this series of wuthering heights...please tell me what you think of it. it was a little dark but that is the book.
your garden and flowers still look great despite the drought. it is so great when any wildlife decides to visit...love the red admiral.
we are in a bit of cool down again. the weather can't make up it's mind...trying to fluctuate into fall i suppose. it has been hard on the butterflies.
enjoy your glass of wine and the instensity of your wuthering heights. we watch masterpiece theater on sunday evening.

CIELO said...

May our Heavenly Father continue to bless your earthly sanctuary, may you find peace and solace and many hours of pleasure in your garden....

Is always so good to come here... Love you my dear blogging friend!

cielo

ShySongbird said...

Another great safari Cheryl! How pretty the Red Admiral looks, I haven't seen any butterflies this weekend but I am not surprised, it has been more like November we went out yesterday and it was cold, I actually could have done with gloves!! There was a high gusting wind, drizzle and no sun and as we got within 15 minutes of the car for our return journey it poured and poured and we were drenched to the skin!

Lovely photos as always. I do hope you enjoyed your relaxing evening :)

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

It's been quite brisk overnight here, too. I took in my potted elephant ears for the season and it's early to do so! I love the pollywog with legs, no arms, and tail. It's amazing to me how frogs develop! Also love the photo of wasps stripping the stem; I've never seen that. Are they eating the material or using it somehow?

Rose said...

Cheryl, it has felt like fall here as well the last few days. I had to put on a jacket yesterday to do some work in the garden. I had a little safari yesterday, too! Two of the grandsons were here and found a praying mantis and then were intent on finding it food:) We had an enjoyable hour or two looking through the garden for insects.

A glass of wine and Emily sounds like a great way to end the day; I wonder if that adaptation will be broadcast here any time soon.

NCmountainwoman said...

Lovely post. I also love "Wuthering Heights."

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
I am so happy you had a cool down...hope rain was part of the gift.
Your Tadpole is so cute!!!
I love the "in between" stage...reminds me of the kids when they were pre-teens.
I think it is the end of summer and the bugs know to prepare. The wasps seem to be preparing! So interesting to watch. Time seems to stand still when I am outside with the bugs. I love seeing yours! Time stands still when I am in your gardens too.
I have seen very few Red Admirals this summer. I am thinking as we get closer to Autumn the second broods will hatch.
Thank you for a delightful safari.
Hope you enjoyed your movie.
My time on the Prairie filled me with awe.
Mother Nature is so amazing!
Sherry

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Cheryl, your dragon fly does look sad, even his wings are a little droopy;) The red admiral is beautiful.

Let us know how the movie was. Maybe it should go on my list to watch when the weather gets bad.
Marnie

Cheryl said...

Hi Lisa....it has without doubt been a strange summer...Reading many blogs I have noticed the same stories, hardly any butterflies....this is so sad....they do love warm weather.....

Cheryl said...

Dear Gail....it was wonderful working in the cooler weather yesterday....today it is humidand temperatures have risen....

Yes the pond without doubt attracts dragonflies...although they will not breed in it. It is not deep enough. They do hunt above it though and settle on the long stemmed plants in the pond to eat their prey. I do not have fish in my pond so wildlife is abundant....snails (which keep the pond clean) greater diving beetles water boatman etc.
It is wonderful for attracting all sorts of creatures....many birds bath there now....

The BBC's new drama was amazing...the second episode is tonight. It is very intense.....and my, I was glued to my seat. Mr P says I should have been an actress as I tend to play every part. I must confess he is right.....I do have a vivid imagination.
I am getting the next glass of wine ready.....so exciting......

Cheryl said...

Hi Wendy....you get ten out of ten for remembering Fred and Freda....nothing wrong with your brain cells......

I never saw them again but of course if they came back they were probably adults.....perhaps they are the parents of all the tadpoles.....who knows??

I have never before seen wasps behaving like that....it is quite fascinating....but I have to say my Cosmos are not looking very happy......lol

Cheryl said...

Hi Marmee......the header was a fluke. I took that shot because of the bees behaviour....it actually looked like a cartoon bee. When I enlarged it....well I was amazed, I really love it and shall keep that for a while.

Is it the BBC's latest adaptation that you and Abbey watched?? If you get that before us I will be really interested to know.......so that I can tell others....

It was great.....the start was very dark....but in some ways that is good....life is not all light.
I must say I do like intense drama's.....I cannot wait for tonights conclusion.

I read the book as a child and loved it........

Cheryl said...

Hi Jan.....The weather is strange isn't it. We are back to 26 degrees today....so humid....I can't keep up with it, so goodness knows how the wildlife is coping.....

You outing does not sound the best in the world. Sadly we cannot control the weather. But us Brits are a resilient bunch at the end of the day......

Cheryl said...

Hi Monica....someone suggested the wasps may be repairing their nest and that sounds possible...not that I am an expert. I have never seen that behaviour before....

Cheryl said...

Hi Rose....that sounds beautiful....I wish I could have been with the young ones to watch the preying mantis......

The BBC's latest adaptation of Wuthering Heights is amazing. It concludes tonight and I am glued to my seat already.......I love intense drama's.....

Cheryl said...

Dear Sherry....it has been amazing watching the wasps work....they are so busy......they were back again early this morning.....I always think they are trying to tell me something about the season to come....I will understand them in a few weeks time as the weather changes....

I am glad you enjoyed safari.....I am looking forward to popping over and walking the prairie with you once again

marmee said...

cheryl,

it was the latest bbc version and the same young man(tom hardy) that plays heathcliff played a part in the new oliver twist. is it the same one you watched? i really want to watch it again. i just ordered a new series of videos to watch over and over again. dickens classics...oliver twist...little dorrit...old curiosity shop and others. they have all been amazing.

Cheryl said...

Hi Marmee....yes it was the one with Tom Hardy....

I do love him, he is a wonderful actor.....

It is a very intense drama.....I do so love the Yorkshire Dales....so wild.....so unchanged......

Before we moved here we lived at Rochester......Dickens had a home there.....every year they would have the Dickens festival. Everyone would dress up in costume ......we all stepped back in time.....it was great fun......
I can see how your winter will be spend!!

o2bhiking said...

Lovely photos, Cheryl. I appreciate you sharing them. I hope that you enjoyed the wine and the movie. Art from across the Pond.