Wild Things

This post is for J - he loves Foxgloves, they are his favourite flower. Lots grow in the garden, none of which we have sown. 

Neither of us spotted them arriving with their baggage, but they have put down their roots, firmly planted their feet well and truly under our table, scattered their seeds, and seem intent on staying.

 J is very patient with me, he never complains when I say "quick, stop the car here, and let me take a photograph." He happily goes along with suggestions of interesting places to visit. If it was left up to him we probably wouldn't go anywhere, so that is an even more compelling reason to say "thank you J."

Hiding in the foxgloves - a very large May Bug/Cock Chafer (melolontha) - a Scarab Beetle

He was very strong and flipped back onto his front within seconds

On J's birthday I asked a lady to make him a cake, and wondered if it was possible for her to make a realistic clump of sugared foxgloves growing in one corner - cleverly she did. 

Other wild things in the garden are lots of these common spotted orchids which must have arrived via the wind and birds from the countryside around us.

They are much more luxuriant than the ones growing in the meadow over the wall from our garden. May be it is J's nourishing compost that they like?

 J and I are celebrating a special Wedding Anniversary this weekend so the sugared foxgloves have left their tissue paper to decorate our cake. I made the rich fruit cake quickly before leaving for France and finished it off on my return even though I am still knee deep in holiday washing. From tomorrow all the immediate family are arriving, so please, do forgive me, if I do not have time to comment or visit all your lovely blogs. 

Normal service will be resumed soon.