Happy reverse solstice!

Big peach roses glowing in the sunlight

Hummingbird hawkmoth by some red valerian

Another Chandos Beauty rose

A very hot #SummerSolstice here in Birmingham but the golden hour was truly spectacular!

These Chandos Beauty roses also have glorious scent.

And a solstice visit from this beautiful Hummingbird Hawkmoth 😍

#GreenHeart #Gardening #Moth #BloomScrolling #Roses #UrbanWildlife #RedValerian

A pale green and yellow tulip tree flower which is shaped like an actual tulip! It has some orange banding I. The lower petals.

Large tulip tree with fence in front of it and glasshouse to the left.

I finally understand why it's called a Tulip Tree! This is a tree flower that makes a statement...

It is in our therapeutic gardens, but can be seen from the main park of Kings Heath park.

#LiriodendronTulipifera #BloomScrolling #GreenHeart #Gardening #TulipTree

Boar thistle

Small flowered catch-fly

Asphodel with sea behind

Blue scarlet pimpernel

Here's more...! #Bloomscrolling #Corsica #Maquis #Wildflowers

Mediterranean linseed - white and pink small flowers

Mallow bindweed - pink

Mediterranean honeysuckle

Hoary rock-rose

Hey #Bloomscrollers - how about this selection of coastal wildflowers in Corsica? What a beautiful walk - wish I could send the smell to you too 💚

#Bloomscrolling #Corsica #Maquis #Wildflowers

I know!!

A blue sky with white blossoms of the tree

Our beautiful Handkerchief tree is in full bloom with its gorgeous white bracts - have you found it yet?

Carrion crow and rose-ringed parakeet

Same birds further away! In a horse chestnut tree

Welcome to Blue sky @highburyprkfriends.bsky.social 💚💚💚

Here's a photo taken in the park at 7am this morning. Just a couple of friends hanging out...

#Corvids #Parakeet

Purple wisteria

The wisteria is out in the Thrive garden! I don't think I've ever appreciated it properly before - the scent is just gorgeous 💜

Not the best photo as I was too close, sniffing 😂

#BloomScrolling #GreenHeart #Gardening #Wisteria

Ajuga

Exochorda × macrantha 'The Bride

Brunnera Jack Frost

Broom

#BloomScrolling

Auricula

Greater stitchwort

Tiarella

Wallflower

Spring flowers have arrived in force!

#BloomScrolling #EnglishGarden #Spring #GreenHeart #Gardening

Boo! there is also a "get gardening" newsletter you could sign up to x

I don't know if you can access it from where you are but try your app store for "Cultivating wellbeing". It helps you discover and plan activities with gentle motivation. Made by the not-for-profit I work for. www.thrive.org.uk/app

Amazing work! That looked like quite an intimidating plot to start on

Ah, lily has told me 😂

Word of the day is ‘foxy’ (19th century), used of weather that misleads you into thinking it’s extremely warm when in reality it’s pretty chilly.

A Chaffinch stands proudly on a mossy perch, its chest puffed out and head held high, as if overseeing an important inspection. Its warm orange breast contrasts with its soft grey-blue head, while its sharp gaze gives the impression that it’s carefully assessing the scene.

Inspection time!

A Chaffinch has dropped by your feed to keep an eye on things... 👀

📷 @kiransimpson.bsky.social

I love I have absolutely no idea what this means! X

Lucky you! 😍

The huge major oak with limbs propped up by posts

A different angle of the major oak

A bizarre short stump of some long gone ancient tree with 2 small shoots coming out of the opposite sides

Another ancient oak with gnarled trunk

A lovely birthday spent visiting the 1000+ year old Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. Yes, the one where Robin Hood is supposed to have hidden out.

Spectacular tree, and ancient oaks galore in the forest around 💚

#AncientTrees #Oak #EnglishOak #QuercusRobur #RobinHood

Thank you!

I thought exactly the same and even googled "iris daffodil"!

Lily looking narcissus! Lemon yellow with pale yellow rear petals

Look at this absolute beauty! Not entirely sure what it is - the closest I can find is Narcissus Cassata. Never seen one like it 💛

The gardens and park are full of #daffodils and #narcissus, big and small - it's a joyous sight after a long cold winter.

#BloomScrolling #Spring #GreenHeart #Gardens

Tiny forget me not emerging from leaves

The forget-me-nots are on their way! 💙

#GreenHeart #Garden #Gardening #SpringFlowers #ForgetMeNot

It was quite hard to take it was moving so quickly! 😂

Buff tailed bumblebee head first in a crocus

I love #crocuses; probably the most important reason is that they're packed full of pollen for early bumblebees.

This buff-tailed bumble was excitedly diving into flower after flower.

#Bumblebees are struggling with the climate - try @katebradbury.bsky.social for tips to help them out!

#Gardening

And some just emerging crocuses - I think crocus tomasina

Iris reticulata 😊

Thank you! I was very pleased with the sight of it too 😊

Blue iris reticulata and mauve crocuses in a blue pot

I am stuck in my kitchen working, but what a view! Planting bulbs in autumn is an activity which encapsulates the hope involved in #gardening ...all done in anticipation of how much joy those flowers might bring in many months time 💚

#GreenHeart #bloomscrolling #Iris #Spring #Bulbs