Monday 28 July 2008
red admiral
a red admiral feeding on hemp agrimony in the early morning sun. It is hot and humid, and thunderstorms are on their way here. Knowing England this is the end of summer.
Sunday 27 July 2008
silver washed fritillary
Saturday 26 July 2008
despondency
Spot and I are feeling very despondent for reasons that can be understood by studying the difference between these two meadows. The bottom meadow is in France and is full of wild flowers, the top meadow is nearby and has little in it other than thistles and trefoil. The total lack of species diversity in our home meadows makes them a biological desert. Why oh why is the agricultural pound valued so much more than the life pound? Just a little bit of husbandry (care) creates an environment where wild life and flora can flourish without detracting from our ability to feed ourselves. The French appear much more sympathetic to the rhythm and demands of Nature and practice a traditional agriculture that sustains the wild. We try to be optimistic and open and to share the joy of life here but the land is being suffocated by greed and idleness.
Wednesday 23 July 2008
fast jets of the avian world
like the Red Arrows, a group of swifts hurtle past, screaming at each other. I saw plenty of swifts in France but these are the first I have seen here this year. Where have they been? Notice team leader at top left. This bird maintained the same relative position as the group flew across and around the sky.
back to reality:- caterpillars in Cornwall
colour in France 16
and finally, a self portrait of the artist at work. Spot is happy to allow his photographer to have a day in the sun now that he is out of the kennels. The studio in Rodes belongs to our friend Shelagh Hickman, an original and colourful artist. Please visit her web site.
colour in France 15 egret and canal
the Brest Canal plus egret, a very white looking bird with black wing tips suggests it was a solitary cattle egret but no firm conclusion was reached after much discussion with local wild life experts. Napoleon canalised a river to produce this lovely canal. To keep away from the belligerent English?? I don't believe it.
colour in France 14 toadflax
purple toadflax growing by the wayside in Brittany. The upper two petals remind me of my own ears. Perhaps this plant should be renamed purple dog with tongue hanging out
colour in France 13 roses of Brittany
a collection of beautiful roses grown in Gwernagog, St Goazac, Brittany by a man who knows his onions.
colour in France 11 pansies
more pansies. The amazing capacity of this plant to produce colours has been harnessed to produce the enormous range of colours seen in the larger garden pansy.
colour in France 10 pansies
violas (or wild pansies). Pansy is derived from the French pensée for thought, and the flower is a symbol of remembrance, and with love, both appropriate sentiments for our trip to France.
colour in France 8 sheep's-bit
some sort of sheep's bit showing the sepal tube with blue strap like petals and the minute delicate white stigma
colour in France 5 short tailed ichneumon wasp
everyone loves a good bug picture, I am just glad this short (!) tailed ichneumon wasp does not prey on dogs.
colour in France 3 fritillary
colour in France
Monday 21 July 2008
we're out!!
I can't believe it, life without parole and we are out. Hooray for Spot. Goodbye prison, hello Venterdon! What's that strange garlic smell, and why are they wearing berries?
Tuesday 8 July 2008
aiding escapes
message from the warden
assisting canines to escape is strictly forbidden, especially when the warden is having a good time in the bas pyrenees [still no accents allowed]. The blue thing is called sky.
Friday 4 July 2008
dog alcatraz
we have been sent to dog alcatraz, the magnolia coloured house in the middle of this picture, miles from anywhere on the side of Kit Hill. There is no escape. Sentence is indeterminate but we will protest. Help! No further communication is allowed, but don't forget us we will be back. Who is France anyway?
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