Stephen Byrne
@stephengbyrne
Gardener at @bluebellcottage.bsky.social & others. Wildlife (ooh, look, geese!). Books (by the yard). Beer (strong, not too many).
Interesting pair of birds passed over the nursery yesterday. Languorous, lilting flight, then casually gaining height rapidly in the thermals. Perhaps our first Red Kites?
I've just joined my local library, at last. Finding myself very much at home.
Clover proliferating where the leaky canal keeps the garden damp.
Campsite visitor. Perhaps Rösel's Bush-cricket. Wildlife Trust says 'up to 2cm'. This seemed bigger than that.
Just finished in time for kickoff. Baled in an evening. Long days for farmhands.
This happened for @suebeesley.bsky.social and @bluebellcottage.bsky.social at RHS Badminton flower show this morning. Pop into the Floral Marquee to have a closer look if you're going. Stand 143
Setting up outside Shelbyville for the Arley Garden Festival this weekend. A really nice, local show for us. @suebeesley.bsky.social among others is giving a talk on each day, and it's going to be a little cooler than the past couple of days. Come along if you can. (Behold! my beautiful van)
If nothing else, this weather is useful for removing any annoying labels from your books.
Supervised the carparking for Jan's NGS yesterday, and she'd had badges done for all the volunteers. Over a hundred visitors and nearly £1500 raised. There are good people out there quietly doing good things.
Ah, love those lads! To go up in my shed when I've finished lining it.
Big clematis flower in Jan's garden. Pointing in case you don't know what a clematis flower is, or for scale...
Aah. What a loss RD was. I read his 'Notes from Walnut Tree Farm ' every month, the corresponding month, that is. He's just been lamenting his postman leaving the round. It's a heartbreaking vignette. Wonderful writing from the heart.