Natural highs and lows

The above photograph was taken around about dawn as I was wandering through to the kitchen, bleary-eyed, to sort out breakfast for Mocha the cat and a mug of tea for myself. As yet, I did not know that I would be attempting Blogtober. The end of September had seen 50+mph winds from the south, which meant that the beginning of October has Autumn on speed-dial. Today, in surprisingly pleasant weather, I finished giving the front lawn its only cut of the year, as all the wildflowers have now set seed. It was, however, noticeable that the year is inexorably turning, with plenty of evidence from our neighbour's trees decorating parts of our garden: Rowan berries, Sycamore keys and a pair of pine cones. There's an off-putting festive vibe to those photos! In the rockery, the Big Geranium (technical horticultural term) is still in bloom, providing nectar for some Honey Bees, whilst in the background, a solitary Sedum was hosting several White-tailed Bumblebees and a Red Admiral butter...

We're way past No Mow May, well beyond Too Soon June and are currently in Leave it High July, so I'm wondering if Blades Gathering Dust August is a thing? Yes, we're talking about the green, green grass of home and the distinct lack of lawn at Burnbank. The edges of the front and back gardens have had a path cut, and also the area around the pond, but the even the drying green has been left to its own devices and is now a sea of Cat's-ear, Self-heal and White Clover.  The small area which we designated as meadow is a riot of Yellow Rattle and the wildflower patch is festooned with Fox and Cubs, Red Clover and Ox-eye Daisies. The hard-standing where Megan parks her car is a edged with Mayweed, whilst in the front garden the orchids have had their day and have disappeared under a canopy of Meadow Vetchling.  The rockery has benefitted from the occasional light weeding, allowing the geraniums, pinks and assorted alpines to rule the roost, but there will not be much mainten...

Hard on the heels of Storm Floris, another whirlwind made landfall in Orkney, as younger daughter and grandson came to visit for a week. Little Louis is not quite three years old and we had to take certain measures to keep him in the garden, but out of the pond. Fortunately, despite exploring absolutely everything else, he ignored the temporary fencing altogether. Phew. Everywhere we went, his faithful companions Duck and Lamby came too... At the play park On the beach (Lamby on the left, Duck on the right) Duck and Lamby are not to be confused with Scottish curling sweepers Hammy and Lammie... Hamilton (Hammy) McMillan on the left, Bobby Lammie on the right The beach was Louis' favourite place to go, digging holes in the sand, building  destroying sandcastles, exploring rock pools and paddling in the sea. A Hermit Crab. Birsay Rackwick, Hoy (with some mountains on the Scottish mainland just visible) Rackwick, Hoy Luckily, Louis didn't spot this shoe encrusted with Goose Barnac...