Steve Drags His Heels

Long time readers of this blog will be familiar with Steve, Son of Steve and the Pseudo-Steves. For those now completely mystified, they are Siberian Irises.

Just now they are putting on a lovely show in both the front courtyard and the back garden. Well, all of them, and their Bearded Iris mates, except Steve. He is obviously saving himself for a big finale to the iris flowering season, and is going to flower after everyone else. So tant pis, he misses out once again on being on the blog. His place is taken by one of the Pseudo-Steves, looking magnificent.

One of Steve's beardy mates.

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Nature Update: Yesterday was haymaking central in the Val de la Claise Tourangelle. Everywhere I went for my butterfly survey there were men out on tractors making or carting newly made hay. Somewhat worryingly, I saw more orchids than butterflies on my survey, both in terms of species and total numbers. A fuller report with photos will follow next week if I get time.

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Steve Update: Steve obviously felt I was maligning him, and came out very early this morning. As a result I photographed him at about 7.30 am and can now present him (sadly, not in his true colour, which is more like the dark veins in his throat markings, but the camera doesn't cope with the colour of his petals -- he is a shade or two darker than the Pseuds in reality).