Galleries

June 28th – Later in the day, I had to run into Aldridge on an errand. The flowers and trees are coming along well as the season ticks away; at Clayhanger, a pear tree I’d not noticed before looks set to deliver a healthy crop, but nowhere near as prodigious as the blackberries in Walsall Wood if the bees get to it and pollinate that wonderful showing of flowers. 

Again, at Clayhanger, a mystery yellow flower I really should know, but don’t; it looks almost prehistoric. Any help gratefully accepted…

June 28th – Feeling better, and a trundle to Brownhills Canalside Festival, where there was a Bird of Prey display by Armitage Bird of Prey Centre. It’s a rare and wonderful chance to get close up photographs of some stunning birds. The range of facial expression Jono the Eagle Owl can make, whilst not really having a mouth is astounding.

I love these birds.

June 27th – I was suffering with both a dodgy stomach and bad hay fever when I set out late afternoon for a gentle spin around the canals in Brownhills. They didn’t disappoint, they were glorious.

At Silver Street, the narrowboats were in for the canal festival taking place next day, and everywhere else was bathed in so sunlight.

I wish I’d felt a bit better, and I’d have been able to ride further, but never mind, there will be other days.

June 26 – I’ve not had to go to Telford for ages, and was looking forward to my trip there today to check out the flowers growing on the cycleways, which are always a bit different to the ones I’m used to. They didn’t disappoint.

In the short run from the Station to Hortonwood, I spotted an interesting orchid, cornflowers and this spectacular, but dangerous giant hogweed.

The hogweed, a good two feet taller than me, is a plant containing a sap which burns human skin by neutralising natural UV protection, causing prolonged, and  slow to heal burns – effectively very severe sunburn. It’s very easy to get hurt by it, so I steered well clear (and will notify the council of it’s presence). It’s an imported plant that’s been gaining a strong foothold here.

Beware. It may not be an actual triffid, but it’s pretty nasty.

Telford. Never a dull moment.

25th June – It’s easy to overlook the weeds and commonest wildflowers, but also a crime. I love dandelions, buttercups and daisies – they’re the unsung, everyday background to many beautiful views. After all, what would a gorgeous summer meadow be without them? Yet how often do we really study these most common of flowers?

I love daisies in particular. Delicate, colourful and hard, they are a real success of the British ecosystem, yet few ever give them a second thought.

Here’s to the common, but unseen.

June 24th – I don’t know who he is, but this proud cat was loafing by the terrace of houses just at the eastern end of Kings Hill Park in Darlaston. The fact that he’s tailless doesn’t seem to be bothering him much. 

A lovely lad. his coat shone – someone loves this puss very much!

June 23rd – It was so lovely, I headed back along the canal too on my way home, riding along it to Coalpool and then onto the cycleway to Pelsall. Along the way the waterways sparkled, the skies were blue and a family of swans I’d not seen before, plus five healthy cygnets, promenaded past.

I was particularly taken with the thicket of wild sweetness on the cycleway at Harden.

Summer was made for splendid commutes like this.

June 23rd – A lovely commute, and at last, on a warm, sunny, almost wind-free day. And I was cheered as a rode along the canal in Pleck to see the Canal and River Trust rubbish collection boat operating. The chaps on board had long poles and grabbers and were hauling debris out of the reeds, off the embankments and from the water.

It wasn’t until I got closer that I realised from their Hi-Vis that the lads doing the graft were volunteers. Well done to them, and thanks. True public spirit right there.

June 22nd – Another impressive showing this year is the honeysuckle, or woodbine on the south side of the Black Cock Bridge in Walsall Wood. A veritable carpet of pink-yellow blooms, it’s alive with bugs and bees and smells gorgeous.

I love the slightly prehistoric, otherworldly appearance of the flowers, too.