Hay Meadows, Bobby Barley and Harvesting

Last Saturday I had a superb walk at Kilnmire Farm, Ravenstonedale near Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria. I walked through several traditional hay meadows. What a glorious sight, fields flooded with golden buttercups and large pom pom shaped red clover. Depending on how the light was shining the colour and tone of the buttercups varied as you viewed the back or the front the flowers.

Stunning Hay Meadow

Beautiful buttercups and red clover

Joyous

Looking down into the hay meadow flowers

Wonderful ragged robin.

Red ragged robin

Walking through a meadow we found this little frog who was happy to be in the limelight for a little while.

Hopping frog

There were some interesting and very old field barns that we passed on our walk.

Field barn within the hay meadow

A bank barn built into the hillside

The purpose of these is a mystery can you solve it?

This stunning lichen was on one of the barn walls.

Wow

When you looked down through the buttercups there was eyebright, marsh marigold in great big clumps, yellow rattle and many more rare species of flowers.

Sheer natural beauty

You can dry buttercups by tying them tightly in bunches and hang them but not in direct sunlight. When drying they do not lose their petals or their colour.

Bonny buttercups ready for drying

 During the walk we saw a hare and there was a moth specialist on the walk who identified for me the moth I had dug up in the garden. It is an Emperor Hawk moth and the caterpillar can retract it's neck and also has an eye on either side of it's head all designed to fend off predators.

Emperor Hawk Moth

The honeysuckle in my home garden is now in full flower and at night the perfume fills the back garden, it is always buzzing with bees.

Captivating perfume

The delphiniums are all majestically coming into flower. They look so regal and sophisticated.

Dashing delphiniums

The Sweet Williams one of my favourite flowers are all now in bloom.

Sweet Williams in the Artful Garden

The wild roses are now appearing in the hedgerows.

Delicate pink wild roses

We have had some cold wet days so I have spent my time creating new art work, a giant dragonfly.

My giant dragonfly flying high in the orchard

I am now harvesting cabbage and perpetual spinach.

Home grown cabbage, delicious

I have now started digging in the orchard. I am making a border around the outside edge where next year I will plant wild flowers. You never know what you will find when you dig.

A land tile, rusty chain and the sole of a shoe

Charlie Barley looks super dapper except he is having a problem with his neck. He is hoping the Hay Barn physio will see him over the weekend to resolve the strained neck. His time at the Hay Barn Health Farm has paid dividends and he has returned slimmer and he has also brought his nephew with him Bobby Barley. Bobby is keen to make friends with Looby Loo who he has heard a lot about. Since he arrived the two of them have never stopped talking.

Charlie Barley

Looby Loo and Bobby Barley

Stop Press
All the characters in the Artful garden are very excited as yesterday as fame beckoned, they were visited by the judges for Cumbria in Bloom, who were most impressed. Charlie and Bobby were gutted as they had just arrived in the car and missed the photo opportunity.