After the terrifyingly high temperatures of last week, the fall back into cold and rainy days felt all the more unsettling. It wasn't like this when I was young. The forecast for a wet weekend meant I had planned to tackle some batch cooking and pottering in the garden, both of which were achieved. We also popped out for a walk in the rain just because, and besides, we tend to go stir crazy stuck indoors. Why not head out for a soaking?.
It feels like my camera hardly ever gets to come out these days. Our weekend of Latitude meant it sat collecting dust and there haven't been many outings for it all summer really. Sometimes I feel like I want it with me at all times, as it's those chance finds, those views which suddenly present themselves which make fantastic content.
The light is working against m here. It's absence is felt.
Sweet chestnut flower-y discards.




Rosebay willowherb adding a dramatic pink pop.
We disturbed a deer which had quite a long run to escape our line of sight.
Berries appearing here and there.
Is it ladies bedstraw?

I love gangly patches of wild growth.
Rainy days are slug heavy.
Yes, we need the rain but can it be restricted to overnight or midweek so we can at least get out at the weekend?!

Take care,
Sophie

Butterflies are tricky to capture, usually because they're on the move so much or the frustrating ones that do stick around on flowers but have their wings shut which for an all-but beginner like myself renders it virtually impossible to make an identification. Any I'm not really interested in shut wings, they make a drab brown picture.
Above a comma. These are helpfully easy to name as their wings are a distinctive shape.
Above, a small skipper.
Below, a small tortoiseshell.

The next three are all small whites I think.

Gatekeeper, the first I have seen this year.
And a rather special moment for this pair which C pointed out to me. I didn't expect them to take flight during their mating yet the one the right way up flew them both upwards. I posed the question did that fancy refreshments in the form of nectar? Who knows.

And lastly here's not one but two damselflies. When taking the shot I was only aware of the bold blue critter (which is out of focus, granted) but that's a BOGOF and a half. I'm wondering if the pale one is a white legged damselfly and the bold one is common blue damselfly?

Take care,
Sophie

Without wishing to sound too ungrateful it has to be said that summer has been a little patchy to say the least. Some days of cold winds, drizzle, racing clouds. Even the hot days haven't had much of a run. I took my denim jacket out last weekend which proved invaluable in the shade as it felt downright chilly.
I let my hair get tousled by the wind and just carried on. Rain stops play, a little cold breeze is just too bad.

There's something enchanting about these ancient pathways through the countryside. I imagine people walking down them hundreds of years ago, sometimes with a pony and cart.
These days we keep our eyes peeled and ears pricked for any good foraging locations. Blackberries, roses/rosehips, elderflower/berries, nuts, anything edible. Foraging is good fun and I hope to write a bit more about our exploits soon.
Patches of meadowy flowers



The fields have just started o be harvested out our way which is sad as they look beautiful at that peak golden time.
We came across some cherry trees, edible no less! C was very pleased.



A blue feather from a jay. You'll know if you've heard one, they have a horribly shrill scream. Hardly suits the gorgeous blue feather.
Grasses on field boundaries.
The crops look completely empty of any unwanted flowers.


Hazelnuts. Squirrels will be after these when they're almost ripe so none of them last long.


Elderflowers are a treat but if you miss the boat then elderberries are delicious in things too.
Rowan or mountain ash.We must get round to using some this year. These ones are ripening already.

Take care,
Sophie

What morsels of wildflower goodness can I nourish you with today? Let me see, there's a few new-to-me finds and a few lesser noted ones. As ever, I'm no expect just an enthusiast so don't bank on me being 100% correct. Scabious to start off with
Common knapweed. It's such a lovely shade and the spent flowerheads are rather architectural.

Above. I previously thought this was red dead nettle going crazy but now I think it's black horehound.
Below, field bindweed which although is a pest, can't fail to make me smile with it's party tent/beach hut candy stripes.


More oxeye daisies?
More scabious.

Common mallow. A relative of the marsh mallow. There are some fabulous verges with common mallow and common poppy growing inamongst each other which you might think is gaudy but I love the bold mix of colours together. Pow!

Lesser burdock above with some ripe old dock seeds.
Perforate St John's wort looking a little shabby.

Aha! A new find, hedge bedstraw. I can't say I have noticed this at all before but they are quite a few sprays of it in ditches that have caught my eye in the last week. It's ever so airy and dainty.

Above... hmmm I don't know. What I call an invisible one. Nothing obvious or prominent about it.
Below, honeysuckle

I've not shared any nice shots of red campion (and this isn't nice either to be fair.
Below, herb bennett. It has a yellow flower akin to a sparse version of a buttercup.

Above, could be common centaury. Not one I've seen before!
Below, evening primrose which I hardly ever see.

I've abandoned hope of identifying unfellifous flowers along the cow parsley style. I just don't touch them in case they are hemlock.

We had just passed an enormous dragonfly (at speed, I was terrified it would get tangled in my mane and I'd have a hysterical breakdown) when C asked whether this seed head was from a giant dandelion. I don't know, but feel like I should
Spear thistle?.

Cleavers, though I call it sticky.
And lastly some trefoil.
Lovely.
Have you spotted anything different lately?
Take care,
Sophie