A Better Day

A couple of days ago we had "one of those days"

Anne discovered Ermine moth caterpillar infestations in our little orchard and we spent most of the visit collecting them. With a plastic bag over my hand, I just grabbed handfuls of web, dead leaves and either bundles of eggs or tiny caterpillars. It was not pleasant and it was too windy for Neem oil spray.

The next thing we found was the rocket plants eaten from above. Not sure what by though.

And finally the wind was playing havoc with the delicate poppies and many other plants.

Luckily today was better.

The poppies are just lovely in deep shades of pink and red.

  

 

I had to clear a space for tithonia plants. They are Mexican sunflowers and a little touchy so I hope they do well in this spot.

 

 

I picked some of the redcurrants so I will be making jelly tomorrow. There were a few green ones but I`ve been picking them out. The crop is really good this year.

We began another batch of comfrey mixture. It is growing prolifically alongside the tortoise run. As I cleared it, the perfume of the honeysuckle was over-powering.

 

The very first passionflower is open. When I planted this small cutting last year alongside the fence, I never thought it would flower so quickly. There are many buds to come.

 

Today was definitely one of the better days.