Overhill, underhill
We are having a mini-heatwave (for a British value of the word 'heatwave'). Two days with the temperatures in the mid to high 20s C, before the rain returns in time for the weekend. Had planned to head down to the coast this morning, but the sky was cloudless, near white - the worst possible sky for landscape photography. So there was a change of plans en route, and a visit to Corfe Castle for a walk on the Purbeck Hills instead.
Corfe Castle. A warm wind making the Dog Daisies dance on the hilltop, and passing in ripples over the barley down in the valley.
On the short-grazed slopes of the hills, chalkland flowers: Wild Thyme and Rock Roses and Pyramidal Orchids, Horseshoe Vetch and Mouse-ear Hawkweed.
A dance to the music of Thyme.
Frail papery flowers of Rock Rose (Helianthemum nummularium).
Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis). So many Pyramidal Orchids this year, lining the chalk tracks.
Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages). I wish to start a petition to rename this butterfly the Understated Skipper.
Common Blue butterfly on Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).
And with the butterflies, come the dragonflies. Golden-ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) - a long scientific name for a long dragonfly.
Quaking Grass (Briza media and Hedge Bedstraw (Galium album).
Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus).
Skipper on Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis).
Greater Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa).
Not just Butterfly Season, but Goatsbeard season.
Half-hiding in the tall grass at the foot of the hill, smoky grey seed heads far larger than dandelion clocks:
Er. Not actual size.
Goatsbeard (Tragopogon pratensis).
Giant crinkly leaves of Greater Burdock (Arctium lappa). Lappa from the Latin for goose-grass, because they share the same sticky burrs.
Stinging Nettles and Goosegrass. Goosegrass is such a friendly plant - hence it's other common name, Cleavers. It cleaves to everything and everyone, happy to embrace even the Stinging Nettles. Glad I left Max at home - I would not want to be picking that little lot out of his ears...
Corfe Castle. A warm wind making the Dog Daisies dance on the hilltop, and passing in ripples over the barley down in the valley.
On the short-grazed slopes of the hills, chalkland flowers: Wild Thyme and Rock Roses and Pyramidal Orchids, Horseshoe Vetch and Mouse-ear Hawkweed.
A dance to the music of Thyme.
Frail papery flowers of Rock Rose (Helianthemum nummularium).
Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis). So many Pyramidal Orchids this year, lining the chalk tracks.
Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages). I wish to start a petition to rename this butterfly the Understated Skipper.
Common Blue butterfly on Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).
And with the butterflies, come the dragonflies. Golden-ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) - a long scientific name for a long dragonfly.
Quaking Grass (Briza media and Hedge Bedstraw (Galium album).
Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus).
Skipper on Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis).
Greater Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa).
Not just Butterfly Season, but Goatsbeard season.
Half-hiding in the tall grass at the foot of the hill, smoky grey seed heads far larger than dandelion clocks:
Er. Not actual size.
Goatsbeard (Tragopogon pratensis).
Giant crinkly leaves of Greater Burdock (Arctium lappa). Lappa from the Latin for goose-grass, because they share the same sticky burrs.
Stinging Nettles and Goosegrass. Goosegrass is such a friendly plant - hence it's other common name, Cleavers. It cleaves to everything and everyone, happy to embrace even the Stinging Nettles. Glad I left Max at home - I would not want to be picking that little lot out of his ears...