Garden Project 18 - Maturity

 I try to remember to document the garden through the year as part of my project to produce a Wildlife garden with as many habitats as I can in the smallish area of my front garden. Here a snapshot of a (late)summer garden when flowers are beginning to die back but still plenty of wildlife in the Herbaceous borders, Pond, Hedgerow, Woodland and Meadow. Some of the inhabitants are shown with their chosen plant.

Frosty Walk in Toft (18th January)

A few images from a walk across the meadows in Toft on Wednesday morning in bright sunshine after a heavy frost. 

This Year's Marbled Whites

 Since we first recorded marbled Whites in Toft Wood in 2012, they have roosted in the clearing in large numbers (35-40 counted this year). They are at least a week earlier than previous years (we were away when they were first observed around 16th June. Here a variety of early morning shots with dew still on the butterflies as they climbed to the tops of plants to warm up in the sun. 

Dorset 15 Early Morning Contrasts

One of the joys of staying at Higher Kingcombe is the opportunity to photograph early in the morning either in the meadows above the Lodge to get the first rays of sunshine or around the lakes below to catch the insects covered in due. Here some comparisons of shots during the week. Most are 'if only' shots so plenty of reason to return.

Dorset 13 Golden-ringed Dragonfly

 On our last visit to Kingcombe area, I missed out seeing the Golden-ringed Dragonfly so was delighted to photograph this one which had caught and proceeded to eat a beetle.