Colour Scene – Orange

Wallflower (2)This week I have decided to have one my “theme” weeks.  A week is just about the extent of my attention after which I tend to get bored and drift off into some other random ramblings.  I hope I am not being over ambitious.  At first I considered a “rainbow” week, seven colours, seven days, they were made for each other.  Then I realised that this may be a little problematical as I have never been quite sure of the difference between indigo and violet, and blue can even be a little dodgy.  So the week’s subject is going to be purely “colour” or more accurately, because I find it impossible to use one word when two will suffice, “colour scene”.  Today is the turn of Orange, a hue that evokes much opinion.  Personally I love it.  Although this perennial wallflower is called Erysimum “Apricot Twist” to my mind it is as orange as, well an orange.

Tree Following – Apology

IMG_3628 (2)First an apology.  I’m so sorry I missed last month’s tree following.  I remembered a little too late and the door was closed.  I have apologised to the keeper of the Tree Following Portal, the lovely Lucy Corrander looseandleafy.blogspot.co.uk , and I have been absolved for my blogging sins. This generosity of spirit may have been influenced by the fact she didn’t manage to post either.  For once in my life I am definitely “in with the in crowd”.

IMG_1151As usual, I digress, let us get back to the subject in hand, the larch, my beautiful larch.  Well it is doing quite well.  To my mere human eyes anyway.  A couple of weeks ago it was looking a little brown in the needle department, slightly singed on the ends, which was a bit of a worry until something else came along to distract my attention.   Fortunately it has bucked up signficantly and once more is looking lush and luxuriant.  It was quite a dry spring so this may well have stressed the poor chap out.  A healthy dose of North Devon rain and all is well again.

IMG_3905There are no signs of new cones as yet and I look as often as I remember and is decent to do so.  Now that mid summer has passed and we creep slowly towards the autumn equinox their appearance must be imminent, perhaps next month.

I must rush as I can hear that door beginning to close again and I am not sure I would be forgiven again.  I will leave you with my favourite memory of this month, as the larch reaches down its elegant boughs to greet the hay meadow beyond.

Larch (2)

Mr Wolf

DSCI0037 - CopyWe have no interest in you daft people at all, we are independent Shetland ponies, cool, self-reliant and effortlessly beautiful, why would we even consider following you?  Ridiculous!

DSCI0038 - CopyWe were going this way anyway.

DSCI0048 - CopyQuick I think we’ve been spotted, Pip you check that dock, I will pretend I have an itch, Muffin close your eyes they might not see us, and Tiny, well you can have a snack.

DSCI0050 - CopyOK it’s a fair cop, we were trotting along just to be sociable, to make sure you didn’t get into trouble, you never know what those Dexters might get up to.  You also never know when some apples will come into the equation, we wouldnt want to miss a munching opportunity!

Bobby the Diligent

DSCI0019 (2)Bobby has a very important job, she is chief chicken watcher.  All day long, she stands sentry at her post watching for any protocol infringements.  She rarely leaves this spot, only perhaps the odd break for a jolly race around the lawn with a stick, or a brief but enthusiastic greeting to a visiting gardener.  Her vigil is relentless.  She doesn’t bark, or try to chase them, she just watches, watches, watches.  Intensely.  These birds are tricky customers, you never know quite when they might rise up and ………, actually quite what they are going to do is unclear.  But Bobby knows, and that is all that matters.  She is a very diligent and beautiful girl.

Waiting Patiently

IMG_3963This agapanthus has confirmed its intention to flower, now it is not a matter of “if” but of “when”.  Looking beautiful in its lilac infused casing, I can wait until the time is right, in fact the anticipation enhances the experience.  Each day I will check for fault lines and the bulgings of the eager blooms, until one evening I will come home to find a fully formed sphere of indigo.   That is how it works, it won’t be hurried, I won’t be impatient.  Possibly.  I will try very hard anyway.