This one turned out a bit chaotic, but I still rather like it.

Plants:
Pale pink Bacopa
Bidens 'Yellow Charm'
Orange Calibrachoa 'Callie Mango'
Nemesia 'Easter Bonnet'

I have ordered a new PC. Of course, as soon as I did so my old PC started working perfectly again. This is the Way of Things.



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My PC has been freezing, every time I use it, almost exactly five minutes after I switch it on. Not even crashing and restarting itself. Just freezing. Result: a forced Digital Detox all this week.

But today it occurred to me to switch the PC on in Safe Mode with Networking, and, ten minutes later, it is still working! Looks like the Computer Wizard was right, it's not a hardware issue, it's a killer update issue, and reinstalling Windows 10 might possibly be a fix.

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A wild old day today, the rain blowing in silver curtains on the wind, and the trees lashing their branches above the green June lanes. Drove over to Bloxworth to visit another private garden open to visitors in the National Open Garden Scheme. Parked in a field on the edge of the village, and wandered down the gravel drive to Bloxworth Lodge, another of those enormous late 18th-early 19th century rectories built like fortresses of privilege, a huge great intimidating square block of a house, white-painted, high windowed. It does have a lovely rambling and irregular old stable range and coach house attached to one end, now part of the house itself, one plastered wall entirely draped in bright pink Alexandre Girault roses.

No photos - it is a private garden - just a few notes for my own records... ( Read more...Collapse )

So many Painted Lady butterflies arriving this year. They were everywhere along the Coast Path last weekend. They have been basking everywhere along the paths across the heath on my morning walks, pairs of them spiralling up in battle. This morning, on the wild flower verge at the edge of the village, three pristine Painted Ladies on a single plant of Knapweed.

It was a fraction cooler this morning. There was even a little cloud, though it is clearing now, and the temperature rising again.

Took a walk through the woods at B., in the hope of seeing Silver-washed Fritillary butterflies. But perhaps it is still too early. The blossom is only just appearing on the brambles. Saw only one Red Admiral and lots of Specked Wood butterflies, and a cheering number of bumblebees on the brambles and the vetch.

One of those days when most of my photos came out a little blurred. Let's call it an outbreak of Impressionism.

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Too hot to go out walking or garden visiting today. Have a photo from last week.

The heatwave continues. Went seeking shade in the woods near Affpuddle.

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