Uncut patches

The Devil's bit scabious are still flowering beautifully although some of them are beginning to go over now. The view north from the Black Park, on my way down to the Haunn field (above).

Unfortunately Coco has been really ill so I have been sitting with her, rather than out in the beautiful weather we have had recently.  Now the weather is changing, the wind is rising, the clouds are forming and I don't think the forecast Aurora for later tonight will be visible from here because it has completely clouded over.

Coco is better than she was, but she is still not out of the woods.

In to the Haunn field and the face of silvery light from the Tiree direction!  The light catching on the wetland area was beautiful reflecting the silvers from the sea light.

The patches of the field that we left are still looking beautiful.  There is so much colour once you look in.

You never know what you might find in amongst the flowers.

Nearly midsummer

As the longest day approaches... I see a primrose flowering in a sheltered spot on the Point, carpets of Bloody Cranesbill, pockets of Northern Marsh Orchids, a solitary Small White Orchid (should be called Tiny White Orchid, if you ask me), the first Bog Asphodel, and so many, but beginning to look tired, Heath Spotted Orchids... flowers we look forward to.. one minute they are here, the next it seems, they are over... I must not succumb to that feeling that summer is over just because the longest day is approaching!

I have been asked by Plantlife for some portrait format photographs of the Coronation Meadow/Haunn field, so I spent a very pleasant few hours out there today, once the sun came out.   There are so many orchids!

I was drawn onto the Point by the silver white carpets of Bog Cotton we could see from the Haunn cottages.

 St John's Wort

All that is left of a ... killed by a bird of prey.

The Bog Cotton is going to seed and drifts of fine silvery white feathery seeds blow across the heath.

I couldn't believe the size of the patches of Bloody Cranesbill, on the side of the Point.  I climbed higher and higher, and then couldn't get any further, so had to go all the way back to the bottom.

Wood Sage, just started to flower.

Stonecrop.

Lots of cruise boats around just now.

Earlier today Farmer had been mowing down at Haunn, and came rushing back to get me, so I could see what he had found.  A wriggling black mass of peacock caterpillars on the nettles.   It was really exciting - precisely why we leave patches of nettles dotted around the farm!

I photographed them up quite close in the dull light of the morning, they were writhing around and really quite 'creepy-crawlie'.