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Here is a lace cap hydrangea in our front garden.
This morning, Jackie drove us to Eyeworth Pond and back. This lies beyond the Royal Oak at Fritham.
A group of friendly teenagers perched on a bank.
Behind them was a carpet of waterlilies.
The group were very happy to have their photograph taken. I gave them the blog details and said they were welcome to take copies. (I hope you enjoy them, folks.)
There was not as much avian activity here as there had been during nest-building time, but I did manage to catch
blue tits,
a chaffinch,
and a duck steering her two ducklings around the pond.
Someone had left birdseed on a gatepost. This was quite handy for photography.
The chaffinch stepped so gingerly on the gravel that it reminded me of
Becky at Iwade in August 1972.
As I concentrated on the ungainly chaffinch a clattering behind me alerted me to a fast-moving string of ponies passing along the path.
After a while they returned. One, in the foreground here, laid claim to a clump of bracken.
Others who dared approach were given the evil eye, squeaked, and backed off. Just as I was about to focus on its gentle orb, the bravest was given a resounding headbutt by the creature with the mouthful of ferns. The assailant really batted the victim. There was a resounding crack, the hopeful horse staggered off, and I was relieved not to have been noticed.
This evening we dined on Mr Pink’s fish and chips, pickled gherkins and pickled onions. I finished the Côtes du Rhône.
Derrick, I have never seen a lace cap hydrangea. Stunning. Thanks for sharing this thing of beauty.
They appear to be rather common in our Pacific NW–gorgeous, I so agree.
Wonderful to wake up and find these so close.
Thank you, Lonely
My pleasure, Lonely
I have always wondered what those hydrangeas were called! and after reading about characters seeing chaffinch and blue tits, it was nice to see what they are! We have nothing like that here. Glad I missed the head butt. Yipes.
Thanks very much, Lisa. We are warned they can be dangerous
Love seeing those little birds. We don’t have around here anymore due to more aggressive and larger birds.
Thank you, Mary. I expect there will be more
Such a lovely hydrangea!
Thank you, Lynn
So much to love about this post, Derrick! The lace cap hydrangea is spectacular, the blue tits are too cute, but Becky…she steals the show!
Many thanks, Jill. She’ll like that
Such wonderful photos, Derrick. I can’t decide which one I like the best!
Thanks, Merril. Welcome indecision 🙂
That’s laugh aloud funny, how those horses behaved, but survival of the fittest, eh? The blue tits are my faves–fine shots!
Many thanks, Cynthia
That’s one mean horse and the friendly looking teens! Love your opening shot, you caught the delicacy and colour really well.
Many thanks, Pauline
I looked up ‘Bracken and Horses’ and discovered that it is not good for them, eaten to excess it can cause ‘Bracken staggers’ and ultimately death! so maybe the nasty pony will get her come uppance and she has saved another pony from the ‘staggers’.
Oh dear – maybe she was already suffering some mental health problems from early onset bracken poisoning……. Now I feel sorry for her!
I liked the hikers, so friendly and I am sure you make friends easily, Derrick. You were a hiker and runner, still do a lot of activities. . . I also love the hydrangea with its lacy look and deeper purple center. The birds are my favorites, being partial to them. I liked your 1972 photograph inserted here, Becky watching her step and also looking like she was on a mission! 🙂
Very many thanks, Robin. I hope you enjoyed your dinner 🙂
What lovely photographs Derrick and the teenagers look so cute! I think you ought to send the one with the bird and the blue background to NatGeo. It’s an incredibly beautiful photograph. I love the hydrangea and water lilies too
Very many thanks, Geetha
Welcome Derrick 🙂
The lace cap hydrangea is a stunning beauty! I second Geetha up there, you should send your pictures… 🙂
Very many thanks, Maniparna
Looks like you had a wonderful day! 🙂
Lovely pictures, Derrick. 🙂 I love the hydrangea and the blue tits are such cute looking birds! I think I’d still well back from that pony, as well!
Many thanks, Louise
I laughed at your title. Getting head butted by a horse is probably a lot scarier and more painful, so it’s good you stayed out of it. The birds are lovely.
Man thanks, Rose
I love manly thanks! 🙂
🙂
I love the fact that you and Jackie seem to have an outing every day, in between all the gardening activity. Great photo of the horses going head to head. 🙂
Many thanks, Sylvia. Everywhere is so near.
Lucky you. 🙂
I think you are really enjoying your new camera – those close-up shots are amazing
Many thanks, Sol
I’ve never seen a blue tit or a chaffinch before. They are beautiful birds. We love songbirds and have a lot in our yard but I really like the colors on those 2 birds you show. Also, it’s funny how animals just wander all over the place where you live.
Thanks, Weekly. The environment is magical
I love those hydrangeas … I might have to acquire one for the garden. Eyeworth pond looks a very pleasant spot – good to see some youngsters enjoying the outdoors. This is quite a quiet time for birds – many are skulking in the bushes and moulting at this time of year so you’ve done well to capture some action. It’s always lovely to see the ponies, even if some of them are behaving badly!
Thanks very much indeed, Peggy
Hydrangeas are one of the very few flowers I recognize easily, but I wouldn’t have known these were hydrangeas.
Thanks, Leslie