On Saturday we went to see the
Field of Dreams - it has been open to the public since the end of June and Sunday was to be the last day so we'd left it a bit late! I'd read about it in the local paper and intended to visit but... well you know how it is I'm sure? Do click on the link to find out more about the idea behind it all.
Several of you commented on the raised bed filled with a little flower meadow when I posted about a visit to
Castle Garden Centre in Sherborne - well if you liked that you'd have really loved this...
Many of the blooms were beginning to go over by now but it was still beauiful and I can imagine just how amazing it must have been back in July! (If you click on any of the photos you will see more clearly what is growing there)
An area planted with sunflowers reminding me of the fields of tournesols we used to see in France. The flowers were for sale at £1 a stem and the money was to go to a charity in Japan see
here
Lots of bees buzzing busily which was lovely.
Several bee hives set in the field for the bees.
Pathways meandered through the flowers - there were a few other people there too but the overall impression was of absolute peace and quiet which was of course the intention!
Sun was shining from a blue sky with fluffy white clouds...
Absolute Bliss!
Entry was free but donations to local charities were requested and there were also some little packets of seeds for sale too so I bought a couple and thought I'd offer one as a Giveaway. If you'd like to be in with a chance of getting a pack of seeds just let me know by leaving a comment and I will make the draw on 30th September - I imagine you will not need to sow them till next spring. For those blogging friends not in the UK I am happy to post anywhere in the world as long as there are no rules about foreign wildflower seeds being sent by mail etc!
There won't be enough in a packet to sow a field I don't think but you might get some of the above seeds and maybe enough for a dolls' house sized field!! I hope that if you click on the above photo it will enlarge sufficiently for you to read the names of the 56 different flowers which were in the Field of Dreams this year.
Finally, and nothing to do with the flowers, does anybody know what this is? I came across this fearsome looking caterpillar near the compost bin this morning - he's about as big as my little finger and has scary markings that look like eyes (click on photo to see more clearly) which would frighten any predator I should think!
How lovely to wlk in that meadow, it reminds me of the Cadburys Flake advert! I hope you wore a floaty white dress Jane :-)
ReplyDeleteA friend told me about this just last night ... it is on my doorstep and I didn't even know. So cross it is now too late to visit ... hey, ho. That caterpillar looks scary! M x
ReplyDeleteWhat a great initiative to have a wild flower meadow and raise money for charity at the same time.
ReplyDeleteJune
Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar. They feed on 'lady's bedstraw'. My children kept one, saw it stuff itself full of greenery, saw it go into cocoon and watched the whole cycle through to moth-hood, fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThe field is unbeleivable, thank you for posting that.
Oh wow what an amazing caterpillar, I have no idea what it is but I look forward to finding out, hope someone knows!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers, I would think that would be a bee's paradise!!
I love the sunflowers ~ my favourite flowers.
Vivienne x
Beautiful wild flowers, please count me in the draw.
ReplyDeleteThe caterpillar is definitely an Elephant Hawk Moth, I don't know much about them but I'm sure our 'friend' google does!
What glorious meadows Jane, what a sight those flowers make even at the end of the season. And yes that is an Elephant hawk moth with those huge 'eyes' - he's ugly but he turns into a real beauty.
ReplyDeleteWalking in a field of flowers sounds heavenly. What a great project.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been so lovely wondering through those beautiful flowers, very pretty!
ReplyDeleteThe field of flowers is absolutely gorgeous and does look very peaceful. Those bees must be having the best time in there.
ReplyDeleteAustralia has very strict rules about the importation of seeds so I can't enter your competition. But somebody is going to have gorgeous flowers next spring/summer.
As for the caterpillar, I don't know what it is but we had one on our back several years ago. They are amazing.
Anne xx
The caterpillar is seriously scary!!!! I don't like caterpillars one bit! Please don't enter me in your giveaway, I'm a terrible gardener. I just had to comment and tell you the fields were lovely, but the caterpillar sent a shiver up my back. :-)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous wildflower meadow pictures, Jane! And with beehives too...even more perfect! I so enjoyed this post, it's amazing how beautiful these meadows look. I would love to win a packet of seeds,so please put my name in the draw :)
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely week.
Helen x
Isn't that just THE most stunning field of flowers? I shall turn down the offer of being entered into this draw as I have loads of seeds sitting here and would love someone else to win. I am working on what "flavours" of flowers to grow next year to outsmart the deer!
ReplyDeleteI see lots of people have told you it was the caterpillar of an Elephant Hawk Moth. We had one a couple of years ago and they really are different, aren't they?
The field of dreams is beautiful. How I would like to walk through the field of dreams. Please enter me in your gieaway Jane. I would love to be in with a chance of winning.
ReplyDeleteWell Jane, what a gorgeous post.How lovely that so many people know the Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar. I love it when we capture those pink and green beauties in our moth trap, sadly all too few this year. Please enter me into your draw. I would love those seeds especially as that Sherborne photo did hit the spot for me as you know. Going to save a copy of your flower photo and enlarge it to keep a record of all the seeds in that amazing field.
ReplyDeletemorning Jane, I never got to go this year, as much as I wanted to. I will definitely make it next year though.
ReplyDeletei will opt out of the draw as i have been given some wildflower seeds last month. I think the growing interest in wildflowers is fab, and hope we all sow some for next summer. good luck to all the entrants.
Yes, its a hawk moth ( or will be!) Youre very lucky tio have him!
Leanne x
Super Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar (I see others have already identified it for you)! I kept one in a large jar for a while when I was about 10 - the lady from the Post Office found it on her privet hedge and knew I would like it... Then we let it go to form its chrysalis.
ReplyDeleteYour Field of Dreams is just wonderful! I would love the chance to enter the giveaway, please, and I'll be having my own giveaway at the end of this week, so please feel free to pop over and join in.
Gosh I'm just catching up. Isn't it lovely? Such a great thing to do. I wish we had fields of wildflowers here- well I guess we do in Western Australia - but here in Queensland they would just be some awful weed that was taking over !!
ReplyDeleteThere was a lovely area in Battersea Park in London all sown with blue and white and yellow wildflowers.
I agree with Kath. Youhave to skip around in a floaty white dress !!
Cheers
spellbinding! How wonderful is that? Imagine once that these meadows were a common sight. Thanks for sharing these lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteFabulous flowers! I would love some seeds! I'm trying to establish a patch in our garden but it's not as easy as it sounds!
ReplyDeleteI love the caterpillar! my son found a deaths head hawkmoth caterpillar a few years ago and successfully hatched a beautiful moth!
I'd love my own little field of dreams please for next year - 2012 hasn't been my besst one!!!!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely an Elephant Hawk moth caterpillar - it was quite scary when I first encountered one in my garden as they move very fast. I believe the end with the two 'eyes' is the tail end. Would love a chance to win the seeds - you can keep the caterpillar though we are vegetarian!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures, I love to see wild flowers growing in an array of beautiful colours. I have never seen such a creature those 'eye' markings look spooky!
ReplyDeleteCount me in on the wild flower giveway but don't include the caterpillar! He reminds me too much of a snake.
ReplyDelete