Water Lilies

The pond is in full bloom at the moment with "Attraction" a very popular red lily and
"Gladstoniana" a large vigorous grower, with broad petteled white blooms and deep yellow centres and olive green leaves.

Baby Blackbird

Has anyone seen my Mom?

Bright Eyes

Indeed, one might wonder what kind of a photo is this, a bit blank. I got a bit of a shock a few nights ago so see a fox in the garden and it has been visiting since. Not sure if I should be pleased or nervous about the visits as I don't know very much about Foxes. Anyway thats supposed to be a Fox in the photo.

Swaning Around

On the river bank near where I live.
Swan sitting on eggs.
Just hatching out.
Mr. & Mrs. Swan swimming around happily with seven little sygnets.

Cheko the Cat

This is Cheko our neighbours cat, owned by a Spanish girl, who returned to Spain. Cheko is now a resident in our garden, he is such a happy and contented cat and friendly, but as one would expect, not to birds.

Blackbird (Lon-dubh)

Let me introduce you to our Lon-dubh (Blackbird). He has been with us for two years now, he must be the hardest working Dad Blackbird I have come across. Last year the cat almost got him, he was left with a badly injured leg and no tail, in spite of his injuries he still continued to collect food for his young family. This year he is looking much better but still hops along with a limp, and he is as busy as ever.

Swallow

Was disappointed this morning to find this lovely Swallow struggling on the ground before eventually dying. What struck me was the most beautiful sheen of dark blue on his upper part, his underside was a creamy white with a black throat and dark red chin and forehead. Only good thing was, if you could call it that, was that I got a close up view for this lovely bird.

Blessing of Lilies

On the Feast of St. Anthony, June 13th, the ceremony of blessing of the lilies takes place. This custom originated in commemoration of an incident which took place at Marcasso, in Corsica. During one of the revolutions there, the Franciscans were driven into exile, but their chapel remained open and a public procession was made to it each year on the feast of St. Anthony. For this occasion a temporary altar was raised in the centre of the main aisle. Garland of flowers hung above the Saint's head, at his feet were placed roses and other flowers, and lilies of spotless white stood out against a green badckground of laurel and myrtle.

One year, the young man who had been appointed sacristan, neglected to remove the statue of St. Anthony at the conclusion of the feast. After a lapse of several months he went with a few helpers to the deserted chapel to complete his work. To their surprise and joy, they found the lilies fresh and white as on the day they had been place there, while the roses and other floral offering lay withered and dead.

A similar incident is recorded from 1680 in Austria. On the Saint's feast a fresh cut lily had been placed in the hands of his statue. For a whole year the flower remained as fresh and as white as the first day it was put there. The next year the same stem bore two lilies which filled the whole church with their fragrance. Permission to bless lilies in honour of St. Anthony was given by Pope Leo X111. Many miracles of healing have been attributed to St. Anthony's intercession after applying the blessed flower.