Flowers at the pond

As I said of yesterday’s walk I didn’t walk around the pond so missed seeing the Flag Iris which are now opening. So after the last bit of current ironing and a call into the village Post Office I headed back up to the St Ives estate. 
I went straight for a walk around the back of the pond. At first I didn’t think the Iris were open but then I spotted a few. 
There is now extensive fencing to protect the pond banks and allow new trees to grow so it’s quite hard to get close up. After a few shots I could see the two swans at the head of the water so headed there. Again difficult to get near but, with heart in mouth,  I could see there were only 4 not 5 cygnets. They were busy eating pond weed. Extra
In the centre of the pond I could see the remaining young female swan and yes she had the 5th cygnet with her. Phew! Everyone survived yesterday’s walk to the road.
This second female is an offspring of the other original pair and has produced young for the last 3 years. We’re told this ‘ménage a trois’ is very unusual!

There are a few Rhodis around the pond and the ones on the island provide a nice reflection.

The most unexpected flowers are the wild sweet peas. Spotted yesterday near the entrance gate, can’t recall seeing them there before.   We saw lots on the roadside verges in New Zealand and I think the last time I saw them here was in my mother’s garden. 
They were by the front door in the 17 th century cottage which was part of an old hall. Nice except the thick stone walls had been penetrated by the plant and it was growing in the inner cavity which inevitably meant they pushed through the wallpaper inside! She tried everything to stop them coming through but there was no getting rid of it. It looks pretty here.

Hairdresser this afternoon not that I’m going anywhere!

Happy Friday and bank holiday weekend here in the UK.