The first thing we noticed was that house martins were nesting in the eaves of the roof of the Bed and Breakfast we were staying in. There were four nests in the building and we enjoyed watching the birds flying back and forth from the nests and round the buildings, hunting for insects in the air.No photos, sorry, the birds were moving too fast and their nests were very well hidden under the ornate eaves of the roofs.
We were also delighted to see a good number of swifts around town, above our B&B, above the bridges over the River Tay and at several points above the town.
Soon after we arrived, we walked along the River Tay and were delighted by the areas of wildflower meadows that we found in the middle of the public grasslands managed by Perth and Kinross council.
Later in the week we also saw this wildflower meadow in the Millenium Park near Kinnoul Hill. Though we were disappointed that this park seems to have fewer areas for wildflowers than it did a few years ago.
A sign in the Millenium park explains that the council is experimenting with managing some of its public grasslands as wildflower meadows.
We certainly approve of this idea and think it is working well, both in terms of offering space for wildflowers and the insects and birds that need them and also brightening up the public grasslands.
More photos from Perth in the next few days!
For Signs Signs
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Hi Juliet,
ReplyDeleteBack in the 60's President Johnson's wife, Lady Bird Johnson, had a special passion for wildflowers. They were from Texas which is famous for it's vast expanses of blue bonnets. Mrs. Johnson's special project was planting wildflowers all along the interstate highway system. To this day I think of her when I see the beautiful wildflowers along the roads.
lovely wildflowers!
ReplyDeleteA field of flowers is always a pretty sight to see! Beautiful wildflowers!
ReplyDeleteThis is much fun. We have a Tay River in our Perth, too! Our area was settled by Scots officers demobilised in 1816! Our plants are similar, too!
ReplyDeletebeautiful wildflowers - we have a Perth in Western Australia (had me confused for a second ;) )
ReplyDeleteI like that interpretive sign. It does not just explain and educate, but asks for input and provides a way to get more information as well. It tends to make the reader feel like a part of the experiment.
ReplyDeleteMaureen - I didn't know that, what a lovely project and great that the flowers are still found along the roadsides
ReplyDeleteTexWix, eileen - they are lovely aren't they?
Jennifer - I didn't know about your Perth!
Gabrielle - I did know about your Perth though!
Rabbits Guy - yes it is a good sign
On Tuesday I noticed wildflower areas in the gardens of a local Town Council . So pretty and setting a good example to everyone in the town, as well as providing a precious wild habitat.
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived with my grandparents, we had a purple martin house and they would come every single year. Those are good memories. I love that wildflower meadow. I don't see many of those here in Kentucky.
ReplyDeletei love wildflowers!
ReplyDeletebeautiful,xx
ReplyDelete