Nature Diary... A New Venture

Another very hot morning but mercifully with the sky clouded over. I just love having all the doors and windows open all the time, right on into the very late evening. I find the sun too hot to be out in though unless I’m in a shady little nook somewhere and, fortunately, I have a shady corner in my garden where I can relax and read next to my small pond, with my solar powered water fountain creating a lovely refreshing, gentle sound. The fountain’s connected to its own solar panel by a long lead so I can move the panel over my lawn and always find a sunny spot to put it in, right up until about 6pm when the sun drops behind some distant trees.

Although the forecasters keep predicting thunder and lightning and pouring rain it hasn’t yet reached where I am on the south coast, but I rather hope it will! I just love the thrill of the powerful thunderclaps and am fascinated by the incredible lightning flashes, particularly at night when they’re flashing over the black of the sea. I find it quite spectacular and enthralling.

The flowers in my garden have thrived in the hot weather and have needed to be regularly watered both morning and evening. The two pictured here in today’s blip are a first for me as I’ve never had miniature dahlias before. One of my sons planted them when he came and released me from my lockdown prison (well, that’s how it felt – like being imprisoned in my own home) and took me out into the big wide world for the first time in months to buy me some late bedding plants at the start of July. These two flowers are from half a dozen of the Miniature Dahlia plants he bought for me and they are the first ones to bloom. All their fellow plants are heavily adorned with buds and I’m keen to see what colour flowers they’ll produce. That will make lovely a blip for another day.

Meanwhile, I think it might be wise if I just nip round the garden and put things in their rightful place, close the shed doors, and speedily bring in the chair cushions because right at this moment it’s started to pelt down with rain! Good timing as I’m just about to get myself some lunch. Happy days!


Many thanks to everyone for your visits, for your comments, and for all the stars and hearts for my photos. They're all very much appreciated.