Jackie spent a hot, sunny, cloudless morning continuing her planting while I dead-headed poppies and roses and pulled up a few weeds.
Flo joined us on a trip this afternoon beginning with a visit to Otter Nurseries for more plants, and continuing into the forest.
Foxgloves lined the verges along Warborne Lane where a burrow probably housed the rabbits which kept popping up along the way.
We visited the Hatchet Moor section of Hatchet Pond, where Flo and I both photographed each other photographing donkeys and foals. Individual authorship is, as usual, detailed in the galleries (mine don’t bear my name). This is also true of the next ones, including
cattle and calves;
water lilies, one bearing a damselfly;
mallards, swans and cygnets hanging out on a makeshift temporary nest.
Flo added foxgloves in the landscape;
also an oyster catcher while I pictured a black headed gull.
Finally, at East Boldre I focussed on a fly-tolerant pony with her sleeping offspring.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s savoury rice, with prawn preparations – tempura and hot and spicy – and gyoza, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Malbec.
Wow, you have so many cute critters in this post, Derrick! The flowers in the lilypads are gorgeous. Wonderful! ❤️🇬🇧
Thank you so much, John
Love the foals and the calves
Water lily shots were spectacular
Thanks for the armchair forest ride.
Much appreciated, Pat
As much as I like the donkeys, the swan series is my favorite, particularly that first one with the three cygnets.
Beautiful photos by you and Flo. I can’t pick a favorite–each gallery holds wonders.
Those donkey foals are not shy!
Dinner sounds delicious.
Thanks very much from us both, Merril
You’re both welcome. 🙂
There is always something to do in the garden Derrick. It has been a good year for foxgloves both in the garden and in the wild this year.
Have a great weekend both of you. <3
And love those Donkeys.
Many thanks, Sue X
😁
It looks like lovely weather, and a lovely time of year, for everybody, both animals and birds.
Thanks very much, John
I agree with you, the brightness makes it lovely.
Oh, precious photos, Derrick! I love that last horse “bust” from the side. Just gorgeous. And the baby swans! (Cygnets, I have learned from you).
Thank you so much, Jodie
xxo
Flo is adding great value to your posts. It is good to have two views of life.
Quite so, Tootlepedal. Thanks very much from each of us
The little donkey is too cute. Great animal pictures today.
Thanks very much, Bridget
Simply gorgeous Derrick … so many baby animal photos … your article returned some peace and happiness to my soul …. “our hearts are riddled with bullet holes , .. and Childrens’ blood is flooding our souls” – Ivor
Thank you very much, Ivor
Oh, beautiful photos, Derrick! The little donkey is very cute.I couldn’t find a damselfly but a saw a worm. Dinner sounds wonderful as usual.
Thanks very much, Chrissy
Sweet baby donkey. It’s that time of year 🙂
It is, Sherry. Thanks very much
I love seeing the animal families living natural, peaceful lives.
Thank you very much, Joanna
Water lilies fit for Monsieur Monet
Indeed. Thanks a lot, Sheree
Looks like you made a friend or two, Derrick. The photos are beautiful! I love the lily pad! Jackie’s dinner sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing!
And thank you for all your reading, Jill
All the photos are beautiful. The little pony is sleeping peacefully and I remembered our grandchildren sleeping the same way. Thank you 😊
Much appreciated, Lakshmi
Wonderful sir
Thanks very much, Gary
Neither you nor Flo lacked photographic opportunities and have made the most of them. I enjoy seeing foxgloves – which I have not grown successfully in my garden yet.
Thank you very much, Anne
You and Flo have duly recorded each other’s fascinations with the donkey foals. Water lilies, swans and cygnets by Flo are so beautiful.
Thank you very much from each of us, Uma
And you have added anotheer word to my culinary vocabulary: gyoza. They sound tasty.
I’d never heard of that either, Yvonne. Thanks very much
Super cute photographs from both of you!
Thanks very much from us both, Ribana
Thank you, Flo and Derrick, for the lovely photos!
All those sweet faces bring joy! So glad the little donkey let you get up close! 🙂 The donkey and foal with shadows photos by Flo are fabulous! 🙂
My grandkids saw some cygnets last week and sent me photos of them. 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thanks very much from us both, Carolyn X
lots of new families in the animal world
Thanks very much, Catherine
I love all your interesting animal shots. Beautiful cattle! Art those Herfords?
I’m not an expert, but they do look like them, Dwight. Thanks very much
Oh, the swans are beautiful and I love the photos of the lily pads.
Thanks very much, Eugi
The swans and water lilies are my favorites, although I must say those foals are terrifically appealing. What a fun afternoon you had!
Thank you very much, Linda
Can’t resist a donkey picture 🙂
Thanks very much, Barbara
Foxgloves, foals and cygnets! You and Flo took a delightful set of forest photos. I love ponds and waterlilies, too. I grew up near friends who had ponds on their property. Spent a lot of time there, ice skating on them in winter, too.
Thank you very much from us both, Lavinia
Always a pleasure to share your day via your blog. Thanks for all the fabulous photos. That donkey conversation was one I remember vividly. Wonderful creatures, aren’t they?
Thank you so much, Jan. They are
So good to have good weather to do activities like this your photographs are lovely. I used to love riding on donkeys at Blackpool but I don’t think they’re allowed to do it now.
Thank you very much, Charlotte
Yet another stunning gallery! My favoutites are the waterlilies and the cygnets
Thank you so much, Aletta.