Summer on Mull, for me, is about the light and the longer days – and almost obsessively, about the Treshnish wild flowers! Mull has a lot to offer in the summer. The big wildlife characters – the sea eagles, hen harriers, or otters – are a big pull understandably. For some it will be a place to slow down and enjoy the views, or walk the hills, chill out on a beach or go wild at the Music festival. My idea of summer on Mull heaven is exploring the wild flowers on the farm..
This morning was one such morning. We woke and it was misty, and with little hope of a wind to blow it away. We walked down to the fields below the house, to check the cows, but stopping to look and wonder at the abundant flowers that are coming through in the meadows. We had a bit of an unexpected adventure with the cows – more of which here.
Summer on Mull has not really arrived yet this year. We have had some wonderful sunny and warm days but mainly it has been quite cold. Some plants have flowered later, such as the Bluebell, and others seem to be on time. The grass is noticeably behind though, which makes life difficult for the farmers amongst us. Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice – the longest day. It is disappointing that it is not sunny, but perhaps tomorrow will be better!
Some of the orchids are as abundant as ever and others have not begun to flower yet at all.
The cows were happy to get into a new field of grass. Tomorrow Farmer will move them back into another field, so that the Common Twayblade and the other orchids can finish flowering in safety.
The dun cow was not going to stop grazing, and moving on whilst her calf had a feed.
