Amelia's photos

A 'Small Blue' butterfly on Agapanthus. We have been very busy this last week, taking down an octagonal greenhouse, and other things. The garden is a disaster area at the moment, with the drought and hot weather making short work of many plants.

The doorway over the library entrance.

In the PiP one can see the irrigation of potato fields in the background. Severn Trent, our water authority, has not brought a hosepipe ban in yet. There are deep aquifers underground in Shropshire, but they have advised their customers to be very sparing with hosepipes. We are not using our hosepipe to water borders as I want to see what plants survive the drought, so that I can give a talk to our local garden club. I think farmers are exempt because they are providing food for the nation. Come, ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of harvest home! All is safely gathered in Ere the winter storms begin. This hymn was written by Henry Alford (1844) How times have changed. This harvest was safely gathered in at the beginning of July, and hopefully the winter storms are not upon for a few months.

SC208 - Post 2 August - Storytelling - Part 1: The subject. Use minimalism

Contest Without Prize (2026/08 CWP) "Funny Photos"

The station concourse was closed due to staffing problems, but it was possible to get onto the platforms, using a side gate, in order to catch a train. I don't know how one bought a ticket - presumably on the train.

Zygaena filipendulae, the six-spot burnet moth, is a day-flying moth that flies with a slow, fluttering pattern. Look for it alighting on knapweeds, ragwort and thistles in grassy places. It is glossy black, with six red spots on each forewing. It's a common moth and can be seen in June to August. Interestingly, the red spots of burnet moths indicate to predators that they are poisonous: they release hydrogen cyanide when attacked.

A column-lined walkway in a North Wales seaside town has been getting an £800,000 makeover to prevent it deteriorating further. Llandudno’s iconic Colonnade has undergone a major restoration, and is now looking very smart. The concrete art deco structure, a 170-metre covered walkway leading to Happy Valley on the Great Orme headland, has been a prominent feature of the Llandudno promenade since the 1930s, and was re-opened on Friday, March 20 this year.

SC207 - post 26 July - Circle and/or Square in Square Format This little square alarm clock doesn't work at the moment, but its simple mechanism must be easy to repair. I did think of trying to remove the feet to make it exactly square, but that entailed more than I'm capable of.

Footbridge over the River Skell in Ripon

HWW everyone. I don't know why these beings are in that container. Why don't they get out and romp up the hillside like us? It's so much more convenient.

The river is at a very low point and has been for some time now. Luckily the low level seems to be stable, and is kept that way by tributaries from North Wales.

SC206 - Post 19 July - Walking the Walk Curiosities that caught my attention today in our walk around town

Pistyll Rhaeadr meaning "waterfall (of) Rhaeadr" is a waterfall 4 miles Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant in Powys, Wales, and 16 miles west of Oswestry. It falls in three stages, over a 240-foot cliff-face, and is spectacular, but doesn't compare to other waterfalls in more mountainous regions. When we drove out that day to visit the waterfall, it was a beautiful day but cold, with snow on the surrounding hills. The road towards the fall is narrow with passing places occasionally, and that day was very icy. At one point Adrian lost of control of the car as it slid down the final slope before the car park. I was not the most popular passenger that day. ;-) The main photo shows the upper reaches of the waterfall only, and that leads directly on to PiP 1. and finally PiP 2. I needed a much wider angle lens for this photo. PiP 1 shows the middle stage of the waterfall with a natural 'bridge' PiP 2 shows the lower reaches of the waterfall continuing to fall.