Gorse and Blackthorn

This spring has been a very good one for the gorse blossom. It seems to be more abundant and brighter than in previous years.
Gorse at Corseyard

The coastal wind shapes some of the gorse into interesting shapes. Even a battered old bush like this one is still flowering profusely.
Gorse and Barnheugh

The Blackthorn has also been looking good. Hopefully this will give us a good crop of sloes later in the year. We are still enjoying the sloe gin that we made with last year’s sloes.
Blackthorn blossom

April Photos

We had visits from both of Gabrielle’s brothers and their families in April, along with some good weather, so we were able to get outside and enjoy it.

A couple of the local wild goats at Clints of Dromore, near Gatehouse of Fleet.
Wild goats

Ellen, Gabrielle, Jerry and Cath on top of Mountain End at the end of the Clints of Dromore ridge. The outward route was along the top of the ridge then the path drops down to the right to return to the valley alongside the forestry plantations
Mountain End, Clints of Dromore

Looking back along the ridge of the Clints from down near the visitor centre. We saw peregrine falcons setting up their nest on the cliffs.
Clints of Dromore

We had some calm paddling weather so we took Betty out for a trip in a kayak. We need to rig up a better sitting platform for her.
Betty in the Kayak

Phillip and Harvey after a paddle round the bay.
Phillip and Harvey

Harvey and Betty surveying the view from the nearby Iron Age fort known as “the Borg” at Castle Haven Bay.
Harvey  and Betty

Jerry provided lots of assistance in the garden and one of the projects was to install a retaining wall alongside the path to the lower garden.
Retaining Wall