Bracken
July 2026 - Summer sun
June saw record temperatures recorded in the UK as the sun baked every corner of our island. The heat was definitely palpable and I certainly took it easy during the middle of the day as the warmth hit its peak. However, I’m not complaining as any dry day in Scotland is welcome!
At work on Dundas, I was happy to seek the shade of the woods and enjoyed the sun finding its way through trees to backlight bracken growing on the ground. The green of the fronds are so verdant when lit from behind and contrast beautifully with the darkness of shade and shadow. I grabbed some pictures which gave the plants a tropical feel.
As spring flowers disappear, summer ones bloom and I enjoyed a session with buttercups, orchids and herb robert on Dundas. Yellow flag irises came and went but foxgloves are now out and will become a focus for July.
On the loch, the eight cygnets continue to do well but the ducklings continue to decline - as they do each year - but we now know why. Mink! An adult and cub have been seen on the loch and the gamekeeper is now looking at options. On one damp morning, I enjoyed watching hundreds of tiny frogs emerge from the loch and make their way across one of the drives to seek shelter in grassland. Nevertheless, I did wonder about their vulnerability as they crossed the tarmac driveway.
I had a wonderful evening down at North Berwick photographing the sunset over the Firth of Forth. It has been far too long since I last did this; at one stage it was a regular haunt of mine every Wednesday night. On this occasion it was close to the longest day and so I didn’t stop taking pictures until well after 11.15pm. The calmness of the water and the light in the sky made for a memorable experience and one I always savour. It really is a special stretch of coastline.
At home, we have participated in ‘No mow May’ for over four years now. If truth be told, it extends out into ‘No mow all spring and summer’ and we remain blown away by the amount of flowers that continue to spread year on year. When we started in year one, we were amazed to find four orchids grew on our front lawn. They had always been there but the mower never gave them a chance to flourish. Seven came the next year, eleven last year and this year we have counted fourteen! As it is our front lawn that we leave, neighbours have seen and commented on the colourful display of flowers (which are all natural; we have not planted any seed) and the bees it attracts. Consequently several of those neighbours have now followed suit to do their bit for insects. It took a little courage to leave the garden ‘unkempt’ at the beginning but the consequences have been very rewarding.
July 2026 - Summer sun
June saw record temperatures recorded in the UK as the sun baked every corner of our island. The heat was definitely palpable and I certainly took it easy during the middle of the day as the warmth hit its peak. However, I’m not complaining as any dry day in Scotland is welcome!
At work on Dundas, I was happy to seek the shade of the woods and enjoyed the sun finding its way through trees to backlight bracken growing on the ground. The green of the fronds are so verdant when lit from behind and contrast beautifully with the darkness of shade and shadow. I grabbed some pictures which gave the plants a tropical feel.
As spring flowers disappear, summer ones bloom and I enjoyed a session with buttercups, orchids and herb robert on Dundas. Yellow flag irises came and went but foxgloves are now out and will become a focus for July.
On the loch, the eight cygnets continue to do well but the ducklings continue to decline - as they do each year - but we now know why. Mink! An adult and cub have been seen on the loch and the gamekeeper is now looking at options. On one damp morning, I enjoyed watching hundreds of tiny frogs emerge from the loch and make their way across one of the drives to seek shelter in grassland. Nevertheless, I did wonder about their vulnerability as they crossed the tarmac driveway.
I had a wonderful evening down at North Berwick photographing the sunset over the Firth of Forth. It has been far too long since I last did this; at one stage it was a regular haunt of mine every Wednesday night. On this occasion it was close to the longest day and so I didn’t stop taking pictures until well after 11.15pm. The calmness of the water and the light in the sky made for a memorable experience and one I always savour. It really is a special stretch of coastline.
At home, we have participated in ‘No mow May’ for over four years now. If truth be told, it extends out into ‘No mow all spring and summer’ and we remain blown away by the amount of flowers that continue to spread year on year. When we started in year one, we were amazed to find four orchids grew on our front lawn. They had always been there but the mower never gave them a chance to flourish. Seven came the next year, eleven last year and this year we have counted fourteen! As it is our front lawn that we leave, neighbours have seen and commented on the colourful display of flowers (which are all natural; we have not planted any seed) and the bees it attracts. Consequently several of those neighbours have now followed suit to do their bit for insects. It took a little courage to leave the garden ‘unkempt’ at the beginning but the consequences have been very rewarding.
