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This morning was overcast, very humid, and oppressive, presaging the rain that would barely dribble in this afternoon. My reluctant effort was to cut off a few dead tree branches that had been twisted by the wind, but not actually snapped off; and to wage continued war on the invading brambles along the back drive.
Later, the sun emerged, but the humidity had not declined, so I just took some photographs.
Petunias were among those blooms that required a certain amount of dead-heading before I could make a close-up page without offending The Head Gardener’s beady eye.
Roses Emma Hamilton
and Hot Chocolate are having another flush.
I think the butterfly on these rudbeckias is a Meadow Brown.
The rustling sound of a scurrying creature outside the back door alerted me to the presence of this fledgling greenfinch.
Looking back forlornly and giving up an attempt to hide behind the can it turned around
and made for the closed kitchen door.
The wispy, tufted, Mohican hairstyle was reminiscent of the starling chicks emerging from our woodwork in June last year, but the lack of plumage around its head and neck suggested that it had been got at. Ejected from the nest, perhaps? Or maybe necking with the neighbours’ cat?
Whichever it was, I went inside to discuss remedial measures with Jackie. By this time the poor little creature was cowering on the doorstep. I couldn’t open the door without giving the bird another bash, so I walked round to the front door and Jackie opened the stable door round the other side of the kitchen. By this time our visitor had disappeared. We hope it survives.
This evening we dined on our second helpings of Mr Chatty Man Chan’s fare, followed by lemon tart and vanilla ice cream. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank Old Crafty Hen.
The hot chocolate is stunning!
Thanks, ML. I was rather pleased with that one 🙂
Agreed – Had to look at it 3 times. Stunning.
🙂
A lovely shade of red on the petunias!
Thanks, John
Great idea to take a few photos, Derrick. 🙂 Poor little fledgeling. He looks so forlorn.
He does, Sylvia. Thank you
Yes, poor little fledgling. We want all of them to thrive. Sigh.
Thank you, Laurie. Fingers crossed
Hope baby bird is ok!
Thanks, Leslie
I think you have brought “joie de vivire” to a whole new, elegant and genuine level. Thank you for allowing me to catch a glimpse of it. Peace, Harlon
That is very lovely, Harlon. Thank you so much
Poor little bird – it looks so bedraggled! Your photos have really captured the sorry state of it. I hope it survives too!
Thanks very much, Pauline
Oh little birdy, I do hope you make it …..
Thanks very much, Osyth
Hot Chocolate — gorgeous blush! Soon, cold weather will be upon us, and hot cocoa will definitely be on my mind, as well.
I do enjoy your stories in pictures… Good luck, little Mohican chick!
Many thanks, Rose
Aw…the poor little birdie, he’s had a rough time, or maybe it’s the humidity. As for the hot chocolate…wow! That’s a stunning flower, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Jill
Like you, I just took a few photographs yesterday.
The beady ‘eyes’ of the butterfly and the battered bird were looking at you too 🙂
Thanks a lot, Mary. I hope you are feeling better
I hope that little early fledgling survived too Derrick..Lovely photo shots of him .. Beautiful flowers my friend.. xx
Many thanks, Sue X
If the fledgling has disappeared then perhaps that’s good news… beautiful names of the flowers and with your photography – almost edible!
Very many thanks, Sol
Hope that cute little finch survives.
Thank you, Miriam
I hope the poor wee thing survives too.
Thank you, Cynthia R.
You are really honing your technique with depth of field and clarity with your new camera. Those shots are divine. Not so the poor little finch, who looks like a poor motherless urchin.
Very many thanks, Gwen
Awwww, poor little guy!
Thank you, Cindy
wow great pictures of this little guy!
Thanks, Lynn
Hot Chocolate, wow! And your beautiful butterfly/moth. I bet the little bird got a talking to. It’s amazing how early some of them come from the nest. Its little Mohawk haircut was endearing…
Many thanks, Lisa
Aw, I am passing on commenting on your lovely flowers because I am so thinking of that little bird. I am hoping the disappearance means he flew off to gather strength. Don’t they just tug at your heart?
Very true, Jodie. Thank you
Beautiful flowers. So sorry about the fledgling. By the look of the size of its wings, it can’t have flown out of the nest, so must have either fallen out or been pushed out by a sibling. As for its head, very young birds are pretty bald, but there is a disease that many small birds get (I’ve forgotten the name of it) that nake them lose head feathers. I hope it hopped to safety, but it’s unlikely it’ll survive unless its parent finds it. 🙁
Thanks, Val. The disease idea is probably it – especially if it was pushed out of the nest
Good luck to the little guy! We can only as much as we can 💛
Thanks, Val
My petunia blooms–after being happily around most of summer– were nibbled and gnawed by something which I never saw. The stems do not look hearty anymore.:( I like the eyes on the butterfly….and the uncertain bird’s saga.
Thanks very much, Cynthia G
Hey Derrick.. you never fail to bring the best pictures to me.. Loved them all..
Thanks very much, Zigyas
Thanks to you for bringing the world to my computer
What a treat your photography! My petunias are all dead by now with the summer heat, impossible to keep them safe outside. How sad for the green finch. I hope the little one will find safety somewhere.
Many thanks, Geetha. I made the close-ups for you
I actually wondered about that possibility but put it aside as wishful thinking 😀 . Thank you a million times for that. The head gardener and you truly deserve that resourcing garden of yours. Hopefully no real harm will ever come to it despite small winds here and there 🙂
🙂
Wonderful pictures, as always, Derrick. For a fleeting moment, I thought the butterfly on the rudbeckias is a tiny owl!
Many thanks, Maniparna. Jackie had the same thought about the butterfly
Great photos – dly there is little you can do for the finch.
Yes. Just hope. Thanks, Simon
We too hope the fledgling greenfinch survives. He does look bewildered in the photos, poor thing.
Thank you, LL/PS
Lovely time with cute bird
Thanks, Vikey