For her July phenology wheel, Rose sketched a Barn owl and represented Independence Day, in honour of our American friends.
For my Calendar of Firsts this week, I sketched the raspberries in the garden and a fledgling Sparrow that Phoebe-cat brought in. Fortunately, it was fine, and we were able to put it back into the garden very quickly.
Herbal diary this week: A rainy St. Swithin’s Day, Common Sorrel, Curly Dock, Pale Polygonum, and Oak.
No notes yet, but here is my Herbal Journal for this week: Ragwort, Hawthorn, Blackberry, and Compact Rush.
The weather was glorious, with cotton wool clouds. The meadow is full of blue-purple Tufted Vetch and golden Birdsfoot Trefoil, and the grasses are waist high!
Rose has been observing and sketching snails this week
My Calendar of Firsts
St. Swithin’s day, if thou dost rain For forty days it will remain
St. Swithin’s day, if thou be fair For forty days ’twill rain no more.
Happy exploring!
We have had lots of sunshine and lots of rain this week. The earth is just so green right now, and seems to be taking a long, satisfying out breath!
It happened to be Independence Day on the day Rose was making a cover for her book on the animal kingdom, so she decided to sketch a Bald Eagle. As she was adding the watercolour background, she felt inspired to loosely represent the American flag.
For her Field Guide this week, Rose sketched Common Bent Grass
For my Calendar of Firsts this week, I sketched Great Willowherb and a Northern Damselfly (which I sketched far too big!)
What is happening in nature where you live?
Happy exploring!
This week’s herbal journal: Bridsfoot Trefoil, Yellow Oat Grass, Crested Dog’s Tail, Compact Rush, and a wee 7-Spot Ladybird. The meadow was buzzing with insects; heaps of Five Spot burnet moths and Ladybirds. The grass is ever so tall now, too!
Rosie worked on her field guide this week: Horse Chestnut
My Calendar of Firsts this week:
Back in January, we began to keep phenology wheels to record not only the changes in the natural world, but also the festivals of the liturgical year that we celebrate.
Here are our entries for June. A in previous months, Rose worked on her entry whilst I read from the June chapter of Roald Dhal My Year.
Rosie’s phenology wheel for June:
Robin’s eggs and the Summer Solstice
This week’s Meadow Journal: Tufted Vetch, Perennial Rye Grass, Welted Thistle, Yorkshire Fog, and a Five-Spot Burnet moth. The clouds cleared not long after my walk, and the day turned blisteringly hot.
Our neighbour’s cat killed and brought in a wee Sparrow fledgling, which Rose sketched. (She had incorrectly identified it as a Robin fledgling)
The following day, the cat caught another fledgling, but we were able to rescue it. After much distress, the mother & father bird were reunited with their wee one & began to feed it as usual. We were so relieved for a happy ending!
The following day we found the most beautiful juvenile Magpie by the side of a very busy road. It couldn’t fly or even walk. We brought it home and kept it as quiet as possible until our local vet was able to see it. Unfortunately it did not make it home with us.
If you would like to see this stunning bird, I have a couple of videos on my Instagram account.
On Wednesday evening, I found the fledgling sitting just inside our back door that leads into the garden! Rose popped it back outside, and mum was happy again, feeding her wee one. We have been able to keep watching them through the window. and our neighbour is keeping the cat locked in for a day or two, to give this wee fellow a chance.
For my Calendar of Firsts this week, I sketched the Blackerries flowering in my garden, a wee duckling at the pond, and recorded the Summer Solstice.
My Herbal journal this week features Cow Parsnip, Blackberry flowers, Hawthorn, and Common Rush.
Rose has been working on her field guide again this week; she has sketched Timothy Grass, which the meadow is bursting with.
In my Calendar of Firsts this week, I recorded the Red and White Clover, and Common Sorrel.
Happy exploring!
This week in my Herbal diary, I have sketched a Dog Rose, Buttercup seed heads, White Clover, Common Sorrel, and a Common Spotted Orchid.
Rose is still learning about the animal kingdom. Here is a rare brown Panda that she sketched.
Hot and cold climates
In my Calendar of Firsts, I sketched the beautiful, fragrant Elderflowers, and some teeny strawberries.
Happy exploring!
We have had some glorious weather this week, and some heavy grey skies. The meadow is bursting with Buttercups!
I painted in my journal the Old English full moon names, and the moon phases.
Rose has been learning about animal classification. Here are her pages this week:
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals.
In my Calendar of Firsts this week, I painted the Blackberry flowers, one of our Painted Lady butterflies, and recorded that it is Whitsun.
Happy exploring!
