The beauty in the everyday....

[oldwheels]

An individual cornflower. I have lots in my wild flower bit.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

Usually when I try to id anything I find that whatever it is cannot be found anywhere near where seen. However while I am by no means an expert your moth looks like a Scalloped Oak. Anybody is free to contradict me if they really know. There are of course several moths which look similar.

Great, it's been bugging me what it is and I think you've got it, by George! I'm no moth expert either, but I find the names of some of them fascinating.

 

[oldwheels]

Well they are supposed to be fields of grass - thats what 'meadows' are, - usually for grazing or cutting for forage -
the 'wildflower' part is something that occurs naturally alongside the grass - in lower nutrient situations as a natural consequence - or in some cases deliberately planted

Mebbe there should be another thread going.
Looking for advice. I am aware of the wildflower bit turning to mostly grass and most of the flowers are annuals tho' there are a few perennial. I would like to keep as many flowers as possible so for next year what is the best way of going about this. I am not going to rotovate and reseed. The work is beyond me so it has to be not too labour intensive.
Once the flowers have died down I will strim to about 6 or 8 inches this year.

 

[mudsticks]

Mebbe there should be another thread going.
Looking for advice. I am aware of the wildflower bit turning to mostly grass and most of the flowers are annuals tho' there are a few perennial. I would like to keep as many flowers as possible so for next year what is the best way of going about this. I am not going to rotovate and reseed. The work is beyond me so it has to be not too labour intensive.
Once the flowers have died down I will strim to about 6 or 8 inches this year.

Allow the flowers to seed once you've strimmed and then once that's happened take off the 'hay'.

What you need to do is avoid building fertility by allowing the hay to rot back in .

That favours the more vigorous grasses.

In spring if you can scarify , or cause some kind of surface disturbance to your 'sward' that will allow some of the flower seeds time and space to germinate, and get a foothold amongst the grass .

But keeping the fertility low, and creating some bare earth niches is key.

If you're really keen you can introduce parasitic yellow rattle to lower fertility further .

Although as you can see , success with this is not always guaranteed.

 

[oldwheels]

Allow the flowers to seed once you've strimmed and then once that's happened take off the 'hay'.

What you need to do is avoid building fertility by allowing the hay to rot back in .

That favours the more vigorous grasses.

In spring if you can scarify , or cause some kind of surface disturbance to your 'sward' that will allow some of the flower seeds time and space to germinate, and get a foothold amongst the grass .

But keeping the fertility low, and creating some bare earth niches is key.

If you're really keen you can introduce parasitic yellow rattle to lower fertility further .

Although as you can see , success with this is not always guaranteed.

Thanks for that advice. I had not thought of scarifying in spring.

 

[craigwend]

'Spot' the ladybird...

 

[Fnaar]

My right leg while watching the TdF... It has its own beauty imho

 

[swee'pea99]

Just an everyday peacock...

They really are the most stunning creatures. Nice one, God!

 

[slowmotion]

Shed, Lindisfarne.

 

[mudsticks]

Too hot for fieldwork, so a bit of boating instead.

 

[swee'pea99]

Happens every day, doesn't always look like this...

 

[mudsticks]

Happens every day, doesn't always look like this...

View attachment 600041

And to pair.

A moonset from a recent bivy on the beach

 

[BrumJim]

My right leg while watching the TdF... It has its own beauty imho

View attachment 599369

I know this one for sure. Hot dogs?

 

[craigwend]

Not quite everyday...

 

[craigwend]

'Spot' the ladybird...

View attachment 599353

It's finally beginning to flower...