Simon’s Blog – The Perfect Day

Now I know we’ve had some seasonal anomalies in gardens across the region recently but when Diane’s email arrived in my [email protected] inbox I was both surprised and delighted.

Diane told me that for the first time ever her real summer poppy is flowering in her front garden in Caversham on Armistice Day.

And it’s not an isolated incident.

Cyril Ellis has one doing very well in his garden in Church Crookham too.

And Linda Strange in Headington in Oxford noticed yesterday that hers had come into flower in time for today as well.

But it’s not just poppies.

Beryl Jones in Snodland has still got a thriving hollyhock and it’s a huge 145 inches tall. That’s just over 12 feet you know.

And Pauline in Brenchley took this picture in Goudhurst as her sister was so surprised to see this Holly tree in flower.

They usually flower in spring and of course most of them now have loads of berries on them.

Whilst Kevin in Bekesbourne is a bit surprised that his daffodil bulbs, which aren’t supposed come up until spring 2016, have started already.

And Gavin Davy spotted a rabbit eared Iris looking very well in Botley.

It normally flowers in June.

But it’s not just Flowers.

At Drusillas Park in Alfriston during the winter months their Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs normally go into a state of partial hibernation and spend most of their time in their underground burrows. But because of the mild weather they’ve started popping up again!

And finally do you remember this mystery mushroom from the other day?

Well thanks to everyone who got in touch to tell us what it is.

Mike Platten in Sittingbourne thinks it’s probably a mauve cap.

Whilst Jade Cripps thinks it’s called a Blewit.

And Norman McCanch reckons it’s one of the Russula family.