Or rather, within the conservatory.
This beautiful butterfly decided to pay me a visit.
View From The Conservatory
Tag: butterfly
View From The Conservatory
Not so much, from the conservatory, more from within.
My wife stuck these butterflies, perhaps a dozen or so, on our bi-fold doors. Shortly after our conservatory rebuild was completed. The butterflies comprise two pairs of wings. One set sticks flush to the glass and has a reflective backing which catches the sun and is further reflected on the inside of the double glazing. The other set of wings stand proud, giving some depth to each individual butterfly.
Their purpose was to help prevent our grandchildren from running into the large clear glass panels. The butterflies seemed to have carried out their accident prevention role, perfectly.
However, there has been a war of attrition, as child after child has discovered the butterflies and ripped off their upper wings.
The photo shows the last intact example, flying proudly, just out of reach….. for the time being.
View From The Conservatory
A little bit of sunshine and this little beauty pops up.
Limousin, France – Butterfly
Limousin, France – Day 5
If it’s Tuesday, it must be Collonges-la-Rouge. What the heck is that ?, you may ask.
Selected as the target for a visit from yours truly this beautiful medieval village, some eighty kilometers from our gite, is listed as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages Of France” and is entirely built from a red sandstone which comes from the Habitarelle massif.
After exploring the various streets and alleyways we had lunch although not in the establishment featured above. The meal was as usual, very relaxed and delicous and was accompanied by the unusual “Moutarde Violette” which is made by combining mustard with a red grape mash. The version that we were eating is produced at Turenne, just a few kilometers away from Collonges. We enjoyed it so much that we purchased a jar to bring home.
We, of course, visited the Church of St-Pierre. The contruction of which was started during the 11th century. Further additions and modifications were made throughout the 14th and 15th Centuries and the church was fortified during the 16th century. Hence many different styles can be observed both inside and out.
Unusual for Collonges, the entrance way is decorated with white limestone, from nearby Turenne, although it is tinted with the red sandstone dust.
After leaving Collonges our route took us past Turenne. We opted not to visit on this occasion, just stopping to take a couple of quick snaps from afar before heading home to the gite.
Blenheim, Bampton and Burford
Earlier in the year, we had the rellies over from Oz. During their stay we traveled up to visit Blenheim Palace, stayed overnight in Woodstock and did a small vaguely Downton Abbey related tour of the locale. The following are a few photo’s taken over the weekend.
Bampton
Bampton in Oxfordshire is the “real” name of Downton, a name familiar with all Downton Abbey fans. As one would expect the real thing looks very different to the images presented on screen.
Burford
Burford is a small town on the River Windrush in the Cotswold hills in west Oxfordshire, England, about 18 miles west of Oxford, 22 miles southeast of Cheltenham and only about 2 miles from the Gloucestershire boundary.
View From The Conservatory – Some Flutterbys
Insecta: Lepidoptera : Family Nymphalidae: Subfamily Nymphalinae : Genus Inachis:
Insecta: Lepidoptera : Family Nymphalidae: Subfamily Nymphalinae : Genus Inachis:
Insecta: Lepidoptera : Family Nymphalidae: Subfamily Nymphalinae : Genus Polygonia: Species c-album
Insecta: Lepidoptera : Family Pieridae: Subfamily Pierinae : Genus Pieris: Species brassicae:
View From The Conservatory
Well it’s been a while since I posted one of these.
I’ve been up and down healthwise, flu or something similar, and the weather has been dire to say the least. Now we have had a few sunny days and all the plants seem to be exploding into growth and the colours are fabulous.
Our remaining cherry blossom is looking beautiful and the lawn in our back garden is totally out of control. I’ve taken a few minutes out from work to make a quick perimeter patrol and fire off a few snaps.
Up above is a shot of a butterfly. I don’t believe I have seen one of these before, certainly never in my garden.
Does anyone out there know what it is ?
Here are a few more pictures, some with titles where I know what they are. Some remain anonymous. However, I hope you enjoy these facsimiles as much as I am enjoying the real thing.
My perimeter walk has also highlighted the amount of work that needs to be done around the “estate”.
This weekend has been earmarked for “slash and burn”. Perhaps not much of the burning but certainly there will be much slashing.
We have also decided to replace the fence which marks the back border for our property. 
As you can see the fence has a somewhat laidback attitude. Something it took on early the year after the “Great Storm” of 1987. Slowly but surely the post has rotated in the ground and many of the other posts have rotted out so the whole fence has to go. Thats not bad considering it has had no treatment during the last 30 years. So, 25-30 meters of wooden fencing, a task which is a little to big for my DIY skills, will be replaced by a local firm. They have done work on two of my neighbours properties so I have been able to see the quality of their work.
Once that is done we will have a blank canvas against which to plan the transformation.
Here are couple of general shots showing the desperate state of my garden.
It would seem that something has taken up residence under our shed. A large hole and signs of escavation. Maybe that tatty fox, I spotted a couple of weeks ago, has decided to move in.
And finally I submit this image. It is pretty much indicative of the general state of my garden which is in dire need of a make over.
View From The Conservatory
I haven’t posted from the conservatory for a while. But here are three items to make up for it.
The first is a shot of a Red Admiral, a typical summer visitor who was making the most of our Buddleia or Butterfly Bush. At least in this case it was living up to its name. Most years we have hundreds of flowers but the butterflies don’t come until the flowers have turned brown.
The next is of a Green Woodpecker. Not such a regular visitor to our garden but a welcome one all the same. We do see them in the area and this is the second time in recent months. This was taken through the double glazing so I consider this a lucky shot considering that I had the 300mm lens on as well which makes it a bit more difficult to keep the camera stable.
And finally a bit of humour. I was just mowing the lawn and popped indoors for a cuppa tea. When I cam back out my mower had all but disappeared. I blame it on this mixed up summer weather that we have had this year.
WrAnTz 