Rolling Harbour

BEHOLD: A BEE HOUSE

Published on June 30, 2015 by Rolling Harbour7 Comments

I was given a bee house in May. Previously I was the proud owner of a bumblebee nest box, which didn’t seem to be a success until, in early Spring 2014, I watched a small, dozy bumblebee crawl out of it, slowly get its act together, and fly off…

I wasn’t certain how a bee house would work, so I put it in a quiet south-facing out-of-the-way corner, later adding a pot of lavender under it.

After a couple of weeks of nada and niente, I decided to move the house to a length of wall that stayed longer in the morning sun, and to dispense with the lavender.

This looked more promising, but I was highly doubtful that such a fine multi-apartment abode would find favour with the bees. The holes looked good – a range of large down to very small – but still, it looked a bit… NEW. I thought it would need to be weathered for 6 months to get rid of the smell of ‘shop’.

Gratifyingly soon, however, I was proved wrong. One morning we found (a) a bee inspecting one of the penthouse suites and (b) 2 partial wax caps

Note bees on the roof and on the lower storey; 2 partially capped cells on the upper storey

The following morning there was evidence of further activity – one completely capped cell

Since then a number of bees have taken overnight accommodation in the bee house. They prefer the holes drilled in wood over bamboo holes for a short stay, and at any given moment there are two or three small faces visible.

So overall we are pleased to report that the experiment can be counted a success. The garden has been revitalised during the last 2 years following 20 years or so of benign neglect, and bee-friendly plants have been a priority. So far, so good.

ALLIUM STUDIES, DORSET

Published on June 16, 2015 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

JACOB SHEEP, DORSET: THE MOWERS ARE BACK

Published on June 9, 2015June 9, 2015 by Rolling Harbour4 Comments

Until the beginning of the year we had some beautiful DORSET SHEEP in the field. They arrived last summer with their lambs, carefully numbered but rather random in their choice of maternal feeding station. They had a guest to stay, the RAM. Then they were left to themselves for the winter before being relocated to allow the grass to recover.

This time last year our son’s wedding took place in the field, and it had been smartened up for the purpose (Mrs RH and I had our wedding reception in the same field nearly… erm… x0 years ago). This spring, the grass has grown lush and replete with buttercups, ready for the next ovine mowers to graze. They arrived last weekend, 6 freshly shorn adult Jacobs with their 10 lambs between them. Here are some studies of the one I want (perversely) to call Daisy, with her lambs…

Jacob Sheep, Totnell, Dorset 2 Jacob Sheep, Totnell, Dorset 5 Jacob Sheep, Totnell, Dorset 4 Jacob Sheep, Totnell, Dorset 3

“ASSORTED AQUILEGIA…”

Published on May 26, 2015 by Rolling Harbour2 Comments

“Assorted Aquilegia” is probably what it said on the packet. But it came from a wholesome source not unconnected with Perch Hill, and the results of the experiment have been gratifyingly immediate and colourful this year. New soil in the beds (after a lengthy lay-off from any serious attempt at cultivation) may have something to do with it as well. Here are some of the flowers snapped on an iPhone this weekend.

CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH A ROBIN

Published on May 21, 2015May 21, 2015 by Rolling Harbour5 Comments

This young robin assisted me while I was gardening by encouraging me to turn more soil for his benefit. He was mostly within arm- or foot-length, and when we got tangled he flew to the edge of the garden rubbish bag. It was there that noticed the intricacy of his feathers, and so I took advantage of a bird’s eye view, so to speak. Click an image twice for a full-scale close-up.

MAPPERTON HOUSE, DORSET: FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD

Published on May 18, 2015 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

Mapperton House in Dorset is not hard to find, but it is somewhat off the beaten track near Beaminster. In the recent film Far from the Madding Crowd the fine manor house, which dates from the c16, became the farm inherited by Bathsheba Everdene. We planned to see the film the weekend it came out, and spent the morning at Mapperton to get into a Hardyesque frame of mind. A form of ‘method’ film previewing, I suppose. It was a dull day, but here are some photos from our visit. And yes, we thought the film was wonderful, with ‘Bathsheba’ and ‘Gabriel’ excelling in particular…

The later west front of the house

The back of the house, from the gardens

The sunken garden

The sundial (base and column old, dial and gnomon new)

The orangery

The stables and yard, as seen from the house in the film; and as they are

Note Bathsheba’s modern carriage

An unusual double-stepped mounting block

The Chapel

St Ambrose, with his hive and bees – one of several very good pieces of stained glass

Yah, Troy here, yah, the thing is I’ve sort of fallen for this feisty farmer girl, ok?

Tom Sturridge films a scene for the movie Far from the Madding Crowd in Dorset Featuring: Tom Sturridge Where: Sherbourne, United Kingdom When: 22 Oct 2013 Credit: WENN.com — Tom Sturridge films a scene for the movie Far from the Madding Crowd in Dorset
Featuring: Tom Sturridge
Where: Sherbourne, United Kingdom
When: 22 Oct 2013
Credit: WENN.com

A TINY FROG IN DORSET

Published on May 7, 2015 by Rolling Harbour5 Comments

I was lying on the grass for rustic maintenance reasons when something small and greeny-yellow leapt onto my hand. And off again quickly. A tiny frog, dwarfed by mere pea-gravel, yet perfectly formed. It wasn’t in a hurry so I ran indoors, grabbed a camera, and had a leisurely photo session with it. I assume it’s just a juvenile common or garden frog Croakus vulgaris frequentis, but if anyone knows different I’d be pleased to know. You can see me reflected in the frog’s eye in the header image.

THE FROG HAS PICKED UP A COMPANION

SIZE COMPARISON WITH A LAWN DAISY

A JACKDAW STRUTS ITS STUFF

Published on April 23, 2015April 23, 2015 by Rolling Harbour4 Comments

Sometimes a sequence of photos suggests a narrative. I’m not sure I have ever been so close to a jackdaw before, but this one completely ignored me as it practised what appear to be its marching steps…

Lead Off With The Left

Left Foot Firmly Forward

Pause To Change Stride

Right Foot Forward…

DO FIVE SWALLOWS MAKE A SUMMER?

Published on April 19, 2015April 19, 2015 by Rolling Harbour4 Comments

We saw the first few swallows of summer here in Dorset yesterday. Two singletons and a group of three. Their arrival is about a week earlier than usual. One swallow may not make a summer (though it works for eating an oyster), but since there were five of them, I reckon early summer is here.

DORSET BUTTERFLIES FOR EASTER

Published on April 7, 2015April 7, 2015 by Rolling Harbour1 Comment

Easter Monday sunshine after 3 drizzly overcast days. Suddenly the garden is full of birds, bees and butterflies. We have had indoor butterflies right through the winter – all tortoiseshells. They have to be guided gently to an open window. If we haven’t been around for a while, it’s a sadder result. Where on earth have they been coming from? The house may be old, but it is by and large weatherproof and butterflyproof, so they must be emerging in the house…

In the garden we saw plenty of peacocks and tortoiseshells, and several large whites and brimstones. I had a short time to try out a new camera – an alien thing with changeable lenses, a bossy screen, strange settings, too many choices, a mind of its own and an ignorant owner. I deleted almost all the photos, but these just about survived the cut. But they are poor, and nowhere near what can be achieved with my previous camera (which I have kept). But just as I was about to blame my tools and indeed condemn them utterly for incompetence, I realised that the problem is not in fact with the camera at all. Damn. I’ve got to trawl through the 756 page manual again… It’s all my fault!