MAY 2007

Late May

Welcome! Things have really got underway this month with the local woodland looking like a jungle - ferns and undergrowth already waist high. Last month I spent developing my allotment but this month I have had my usual ramble around.

Despite the heavy showers I have managed to get a few pictures of points of interest in my local area. First the Bluebells are just coming to the end of their flowering season. The carpets of nodding bells in our woodland are a fantastic site and should be cherished. There is a bluebell woodland very near to my house and a few years ago it was under threat by a supermarket planning application. Thankfully the plan was rejected.

Regular readers will know my growing fascination with all types of fungi and I was pleased to spot a fine example of a 'Dryad's Saddle' sprouting from a sycamore. This fungi is massive - growing to over a foot wide. Most bracket fungi are hard and woody but the Dryad's Saddle is soft and spongy. Also, its edible, especially when young. Unfortunately this fungi isn't to my taste - I suppose to me it tasted like watermelon rind. I'm looking forward to the coming seasons to hunt down species I haven't seen before. There is always something new if you look carefully. (Below - Dryad's Saddle).

I'm glad to say that my local buzzards are in fine form (see Feb 07 for a picture) - I saw them hovering above their usual hunting patch on the weekend despite some fairly high winds. I'm hoping to get a really decent picture at sometime but for now I'll settle for this cute shot of a Robin I took this month. I had one shot before it flew. I know it's a common bird but still nice to see.


The last thing that caught my eye this month were the Foxgloves (Digitalis Purpurea). Again, it's a common sight but still worth a closer look. Such a substantial plant with a truly stunning flower spike. The Foxglove contains a powerful chemical that both slows and strengthens the heart but it's extremely dangerous because too much can kill. So, a common but toxic species - look but do not eat!

The allotment appears a little battered because of the gusty winds but I've already picked lettuce and radish. The runner beans are winding their way up the canes and the potatoes are firmly established - I've had to earth them up now. The onions are swelling nicely but the spring onions (called 'gibbons' [jibbons] in these parts) have been slow to get established. I'm a bit worried about the other root crops, the carrots and beetroot are still struggling - never mind, it's early days. I have quite a bit of rhubarb in the freezer so I need to get some wine on! It would be nice for the weather to settle a little so I can get up the plot and put the bush toms and cucumbers out.

That's it for this month - see you in June. Thanks for dropping by.