We had some lovely views of noctilucent clouds a week ago. These are made up of ice particles in the upper atmosphere ( approx 80 km altitude !) They tend to occur in Northern lattitudes ( above 50 degrees) in the summer months and during late twilight ( after about 11p.m.)

Spring Flowers

A frequent question we are asked is "what was your winter like?".  My response this year is that it feels like we have had three consecutive winters!  The cold temperatures persisted well into May...finally it feels like spring (or is it summer?) has arrived and the warmth this week is balm to the soul.
Consequently, most of the spring flora has been held back (as well as the vegetables!), with many flowers just bursting out of their buds this week.
Here is a round up of some of the wildflowers that are decorating Enlli at the moment...some bold and brilliant, like the golden Gorse; others hidden and delicate, like the tiny blue starry Spring Squill.

The European Gorse (Ulex europeaus) has been spectacular this year, apparently a sign of a good summer to come!

 Each head of gorse is full to bursting..

Bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) lining the track

The foxgloves are only just starting to open

  

 In sheltered spots the Thrift or Sea Pink is flowering well, but the usual carpet of flowers amongst the maritime heath on Pen Diban is lacking this year.

 Spring Squill (Scilla verna)

 Bluebells flowering at the edge of Ty Pellaf wetland

 Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi)

 Cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis) another delicate flower found in the wetlands

 Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga - great Latin name!)

 Dandelion clock - so pretty (as long as it's not in my polytunnel!)

Great Horsetail (Equisetum telmateia)

English stonecrop (Sedum anglicum)