Jersey - Final Post.

This is the final post of our recent trip to Jersey (Channel Islands) and here are a few more views of the northern coast. [Please click any image in this post to enlarge].

I couldn't resist including one of the many Herring Gulls that patrolled the cliffs during our various walks along the coastal pathways.
This fellow was not very co-operative but I managed a record shot of this Green Hairstreak.

This Mallard family was sighted during a gentle stroll to one of the reservoirs.

Most days we took a circular walk around the roads close to our hotel and one morning the 'kia..kia" call of a Common Buzzard prompted me to look up and catch this individual flying overhead.

This was the closest we got to seeing a Puffin.

A "Maid of the Meadows, a true Jersey cow.

A Magpie keeping the insect numbers down - something I don't recall seeing before.

Dammed shame I can't move very far!

This was the only cockeral that didn't wake us up in the mornings!

Foxgloves were abundant alongside the coastal paths. The lilies were a present to Anita from Charlie (a daffodil grower friend) who we visited and were brought home in a large box packed in one the cases together with some Jersey spuds.

Thank you Jersey for a pleasant break away from work. Maybe we won't leave it another 30 years before returning.

Pollen Providers during July

Throughout July there have been many colourful blooms in our garden but also a good supply of pollen - food for the bees, butterflies etc.

Small patch of Helenium (taken earlier in July) that now needs dead heading to promote some secondary blooms & a good location for capturing the occassional butterfly that perches (see previous posts). Hibiscus syriacus, a deciduous shrub that prefers full sun on well drained soil but we have heavy 'London' clay. Over the 10 - 20 years since they were first planted they have become overshadowed by other trees and are not producing quite the volume of blooms as in the past.

Top L - H. Hamabo; Top R - H. Red Heart;

Bottom L & R - A seedling of H. Red Heart that as usual reverted to produce mauve-blue flowers.

Clematis (possibly Polish Spirit?) now climbing high into the Prunus & Hawthorn.

Despite the problem of the Lily Beetle I still enjoy growing Liliums. Many are grown in pots but a couple of clumps of Lilium Golden Splendour, Casa Blanca, Lady Alice & the turkscap Black Beauty are now performing well directly planted in the garden but all need supporting as they grow quite tall. (L. Golden Splendour now reaches over 6 feet!)

Top L - L. Casa Blanca; Top R - L. Black Beauty

More Liliums

Top L - L.Calgary; Bottom L - L.Lady Alice; Bottom R - L.Golden Splendor

One of many bees enjoying the Echinops.

Dahlia with plenty of pollen for a passer by.
Now all we need is some continuous sunshine for more blooms to appear and provide food for the bees, butterflies and bugs that might pay us a visit.

Me & my shadow!

Another recent but fleeting visitor to the garden was this Comma....when the sun was shining!