Bees, Butterflies & Thistles

Out walking we came upon a huge patch of thistles full of butterflies and bees

,including this rather tatty one,

all enjoying the sunshine

and the nectar.

It occurs to me that quite a few of my posts have included bees.
And we all know that bees need help.

Then I see an article featuring Britains only professor of apiculture in the weekend paper, (Telegraph Magazine).

And Professor Ratnieks tells us, "In the long run, the problem is a lack of flowers."

Something we can all remedy don't you think?

Mr Fothergill's the seed merchants have recently published their own Bees Top Ten which includes:

Foxglove - Foxy Mixed

Clary - Blue Denim

Agastache - Golden Jubilee

Salvia farinacea

Cornflower - Blue Ball

Cynoglossum

Dahlia - Miinon Mixed

Marigold - Sunburst Mixed

Sunflower - Hallo

and

Fothergill's own Wildflower Mixed seeds

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the Renaissance Newsletter,
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Smell the Privet

Have you ever smelled the Privet?

If you are used to surburban privet hedges you might not even have seen the privet flower.

But walk the lanes on a sunny day and that

oh so destintive smell of blossom is probably at this time of year Privet.

A sort of cross between fresh mown grass and that smell of rain with a hint of honey.

Just gorgeous.

And as you can see beloved by the bees.

For more information on Renaissance,
what we are doing,
the Renaissance Newsletter,
our other blogs and our shop,
please visit our website.

Kestrel

During our daily dog walk we usually pass close by this nest box,

it's currently home to a Kestrel family.

One of whom can often be seen perching on the electricity pylon

whilst the other stands guard at the doorway.

For more information on Renaissance,
what we are doing,
the Renaissance Newsletter,
our other blogs and our shop,
please visit our website.

Bees & Birds

Bees first - are there more around this year?

Or is it wishful thinking on my behalf?

They are certainly enjoying the hollyhocks.

Now birds, well chickens to be exact - we have chicks!

Photographs here

For more information on Renaissance,

what we are doing,the Renaissance Newsletter,

our other blogs and our shop,

please visit our website.

The Chicken Daily

In order to journal the doings of our little flock of chickens I've started yet another blog

The Chicken Daily

If you are at all interested in chickens I'd love to see you over there,

also if you know of any blogs featuring chickens

I'd appreciate it if you could point me in their direction.

Thanks awfully.

Raindrops on Roses

Finally some relief from the 80 f + temperatures

Rain -

short lived


but very welcome

You can see where we've been escaping the heat
over on my other blog Renaissance Vintage Notebook.

For more information on Renaissance,what we are doing, the Renaissance Newsletter,our other blogs and our shop,please visit our website.

Broody Hens and Racing Hounds

It's been an exciting week here in the Renaissance household

with the addition of retired greyhound,

Jake ,

who is proving to be a real gentleman

and our little hen Bramble going broody.

With the best will in the world she was never going to be a mother

as we don't have a cockeril.

So we've purchased some, hopefully, fertile bantam eggs from ebay

and we're waiting patiently.

We will of course keep you posted on the results.