Winds and warmth

 Having come with P. at the week-end to take the hedge trimmings etc to the tip, today the plan was to put coffee grounds around the new planting in the big bed, assess the fruit bed and investigate blackcurrant cuttings. Also the usual windfalls and general look-around. 

Something has been trying (and in one case succeeding) in rootling round the new plants and disturbing the straw mulch. Settled it back, sprinkled the coffee grinds then placed bamboo canes across the bed to (a) hold the straw (winds are forecast) and (b) discourage more rootling. It might be pigeons, hedgehogs, pheasants - who knows. A camera might be useful....

There is more fungi around the willow tree stumps/seats. 

I think I identified this as common inkcap last time, but that's not definite!

Also some more Glistening Inkcap.

When I was over by the proto-pond this fungi caught my eye, not been able to find it in the references, nearest seems to be hedgehog fungus.

Took some blackcurrant cuttings and put them in a pot on the fruit bed. Tidied around J's bed. Lots of strawberry plants there and they have been sending out runners which have rooted everywhere. There's even a few unripe fruit growing!

Wasps still active, a few bees buzzing loudly and one or two hoverflies still around. Blackbirds (f+m) in and out of the hedge, maybe a dunnock and of course the faithful robin. Overhead a hunter riding the thermals - not the more common buzzard. Light coloured body, short compact tail. The finches swept off in a chittering cloud.

Flowers - yellow daisy-type in the wild flower bed, also mallow still with a few blooms and the red clover. Mint holding some sprays but most are crisping, as is the chicory. Calendular-like plant in the asparagus bed is still flowering. Yellow rose has a flower and a bud, the other rose has several buds.

Some raspberries still flowering, picked a handful of fruit before it goes mouldy. The rain and mild weather will finish them soon, I think. Also came home with more apples and a surprise gift of quince! Must take some syrup next week as a thank you.