Hedgerows

It may sound silly, but one of the things I was really looking forward to on this visit to the Isle of Man was being here in late summer rather than late spring.  We would be seeing the haying off of the fields, and flowers and fruits at the other end of the season.  Hopefully, blackberries that can be picked on our walks and the heather in flower.  Just the simple things.

I think Mick is getting sick of me stopping and taking photos of plants.  On our first morning’s drive, I was a bit disappointed in the lack of colour in the hedges beside the roads.  However, my mind was changed as soon as we hopped out of the car and started walking around.

Here are just a few of what I’ve seen.  I’ve no idea what a half of them are, but they are pretty.

At Port Soderick

I have heard that these have the tiny pink flower in the centre to attract the bees. I just can’t remember what the plant is called.

See the tiny little wasp on the thistle flower.

On the way to Douglas.

The blackberries are like bunches of grapes……..and unfortunately, a long way off being ready to eat.  Darn!

At Douglas Head

Yay!  My first sighting of heather.

Look what Mick found.  There was just a little pocket with a few ripe blackberries.  Yummo!  No fear of them having been sprayed, or worrying about snakes when picking them.

I also spied a couple of butterflies.

This bronzy one was a lot smaller than the similar ones we get at home.

I’m pretty sure this one is just a common old white cabbage moth.

I tried to take lots of bee photos, but they just won’t sit still for me.  Very inconsiderate of them.

I’m sure we’ll find lots of other flowers as we keep on wandering around the island over the next few weeks.  Bring it on.