27/07/2013 Mammoth wasp !

 

I caught this wasp thinking it was a Chinese hornet, which we dispose of, as they kill the honey bees……this one however was a) feeding on the lavender and b) not after the other insects at all……..so after 2 hours of cross referencing and a VERY cross wasp, I let her go, (gingerly !) and unlike a hornet instead of seeking revenge she stayed feeding on the lavender for the next few days, we even saw her with a male one day, but unfortunately didn’t get a picture. See wiki link below for size and habit. I have never seen one before, I hope she stays.

First picture , still in jar and a bit blurred…

Free again….where’s the honey ???/

My best picture of her….what a beauty !

Assassin bug……….assasinating !

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth_wasp

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin_bug

24/07/2013 July Wisteria

 

It’s been a funny year !

 

Wisteria in July….we usually get a few odd flowers about now….but not like this, i even noticed a few flowers on the Clematis Armandii which  normally flowers Jan/ Feb.

 

23/07/2013 July Mushrooms !

 

It’s been a funny year !

until the end of June we were still lighting the fire in the evening, then from the 1st of July hot hot hotter….with of course thunder storms…..this brought mushroom as never seen before……giroles (chantrelles) and Ceps…….by the bucket full, people actually stopped looking for them as they had too many !!

 

As far as I know this one is just pretty, not edible, but if anyone knows different ?

This is a sight that makes any mushroom fanciers heart pound……..a whole ring of good size Girolles (chantrelles)

Yummy !

My small collecting basket was soon full….this time we picked about 1.5 kg.

Ceps……….for anyone (possibly the person whos land we were on) who is not sure THIS is a cep…..this is a GOOD cep……….compreder ???

and another…..

Two more…

This is a Red cracked bolus…or Cep…..not so good :O)

When it is small it looks like this…..

This was a really good cep…….20 years ago (we can all say that !)

Several more GOOD ones…….( with a girolle in the top of the picture too )

 

C’est perferto !

Lastly, the Para-cep…………he thinks he has disguised himself under these leaves….but we spotted him……..in the frying pan he goes !

Some of the heather that is out at the mo, we always seem to have some in flower on the mountain.

22/07/2013 The Swallowtail caterpillars

 

I allowed the fennel to take over one flower beds, as it is one of the favourite foods of this beautiful butterfly, and a good place to find its caterpillars….this year ,sadly we only spotted these 2 and one of those died :O(

 

 

 

22/07/2013 Our lemon Tree :O(

 

Something has gone wrong with our lemon tree, we invite anyone with knowledge on this to comment please !

We think it might be Citrus bud mite, but have no idea how it is treated….even having googled it !!!

At first we thought this was a good idea for slices….but the pith is much thicker than the tiny fleshy bit inside.

Now they are nearly all going like it…….

This one looks ok.

This one has a rather pointy end, but otherwise seems ‘lemon shaped’ !

Anyone who knows what this is please comment in the comments box……….so far we have picked off all the affected ones, and will do for a few months, and hope that will solve it ???

18/07/2013 Chess, ping-pong….. et…….. au revoir :O(((

 

 

Positioning the new garden candle…..

 

I think i was supposed to be umpire……..but what is it when it gets caught in the wisteria ???

 

defiantly more my sort of game !……… I lost (twice !!!)

My beautiful grandchildren………….a bientot, see you soon !

Tom, Karine, Me, Jon and Ele  (et doudou, bien sur !)