Thinking of the residents of Cockermouth in Cumbria and hoping that they can return to normal life as soon as possible after the floods, it struck me how powerful water is.

Even the East Wilder Brook that runs through Bicclescombe Park in Ilfracombe is swollen.

It changes from still pool to torrent with no warning . . .

. . . and although not very deep has the power to drag along anything in its way.

It commands my respect.

Posted: November 23rd, 2009 under Ilfracombe, wild.
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Over the past few months, we’ve been lucky to have two fleets of ducklings hatch in Bicclescombe Park, Ilfracombe, North Devon. Five from the first twelve have survived the predatory seagulls and four from the second six have also grown to adulthood: a 50% survival rate overall.

I’ve taken hundreds of photos, but not had time to post any, so here is a short video clip . . . watching them has been delightful.

Posted: June 27th, 2009 under wild.
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. . . admiring the daffodils up Hillsborough . . .

. . . followed by some gardening perhaps . . .

. . . maybe not in this hail and rain . . .

How many different types of weather can we have in one day?

Ah well, there’s plenty of other things to do inside.

Posted: March 8th, 2009 under Ilfracombe, wild.
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The wind is howling outside as I write, tearing down the valley towards the sea and throwing rain against the sides of the house. It’s been a relatively mild autumn, no real storms so far, but the past couple of days have hinted at a definite change in season. On a drive down the Sterridge Valley this afternoon, the trees looked magnificent, still with many leaves. No doubt, the wind will soon blow these away.

In the garden, some plants are still flowering from summer and autumn.

Hydrangea in Ilfracombe flowering in November

 Hydrangeas and fuchsias are still flowering . . .

Fuchsias flowering in Ilfracombe in November

These are quite sheltered so are protected from the winds . . .

Devon Dumpling fuchsias flowering in November in Ilfracombe

Look at these vibrant berries . . . I don’t know what the shrub is . . .

Autumn berries

And the heather is just starting to come into flower . . .

Heather coming into flower in November in Ilfracombe

We don’t seem to have had a summer this year, but there’s still much to enjoy throughout the other seasons.

Posted: November 9th, 2008 under wild.
Comments: 2

It’s been a funny old year. We waited in expectation for the summer and now look back to when it should have been. The temperatures never seemed to get very high, although looking back over photos we did have some beautifully sunny days in May, June and July.

But somehow it’s easy to feel cheated. We didn’t get those long, lingering sunny evenings when it seems to take forever to get dark.

And here we are, just having put the clocks back, and taking the dogs out earlier so that they can get a good run in the daylight.

I’m not getting depressed though: I love autumn and winter. They bring a different beauty to spring and summer, so here’s looking to the enjoyment of different seasons.

PS Looking back over my photos this year, here is one of my favourites of Exmoor ponies, taken in March 2008.

Exmoor ponies photographed by Robert Zarywacz in March 2008

Posted: October 26th, 2008 under wild.
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 Two years ago I found this fellow on one of our fuchsias . . .

Adult elephant hawk moth on a fuchsia

This year we found this chap (or lady) on a different fuchisa bush . . .

Elephant hawk moth caterpillar eating fuchsia leaves

This bears out what the books say about elephant hawk moths liking fuchsias . . .

These fuchsia leaves are tasty!

He was still chomping away a few days later . . .

This elephant hawk moth caterpillar has a hearty appetite for fuchsia leaves

. . . so perhaps next summer we’ll see him as an adult?

Posted: September 9th, 2008 under wild.
Comments: 5

It’s been a very wet and dull August here, which hasn’t helped our runner beans. We were late planting them out as we had to prepare our new vegetable plot.

Runner beans grown and eaten in Devon

But at long last our crop is ripening and picking has begun.

Runner beans growing in spite of a cold, wet August

Our first meal reminded us how delicious home-grown runner beans are: sweet, tender, not at all stringy. Where else can you find such wonderful vegetables?

Exquisite tasting beans

Only in your vegetable garden or plot.

Posted: August 25th, 2008 under food & drink, wild.
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