wildlife

Here we are, mid-year in June. What a sweet month is is, filled with long sunny days, fragrant of roses, acacia and elderflowers, buzzing with bees. Makes you think about holiday trips and some exciting adventures ahead! It is only two weeks until Summer Solstice when we can enjoy the longest day of the year and summer will be in full swing by then. Time to appreciate this season’s abundance and bask in the glorious sun rays.

Speckled wood butterly — Speckled wood butterfly

Lavender buds are starting opening up and I can’t wait to pick some of them and make lavender macerated oil. I have made rose petals oil but will write a separate post about roses and share some pictures as well. In the “Floral book of birthdays” June as month is entirely dedicated to roses. Lucky those born in June, my 2 nephews including!

I cycled today to Wetland Centre in Barnes, South West London, just 15-20 minutes cycling from my home. Wetland Centre is home to many birds living and nesting across the waters, ponds and gardens. I was obviously looking for the flowers and plants as well, but the trees are still bare and just some of them started to get green like birch or willows.

My first route was less populated south side, starting off with the lagoon it was a great walk around the pond, past the bats’ place and back to the courtyard. From there, I took the other side of the centre which got really busy around lunch time. I just wandered around spotting a pair of black swans in the Asian garden, a gracious yet solitary white swan and finally finished the walk at the the otters place. Promised few photos to my boyfriend, he knows why.