Topping time.

There's no denying that summer weather does something for the herd!  In our case because of all the rain what it does is turn Fidget, a white boy, into this dirty colour above.

Earlier in the week during a break in the weather we decided to 'top' two of the paddocks to get rid of the buttercups and some thick grass.  As it has been so wet the grass is lush and if it's not topped it becomes a real problem later to cut. The boys were in their field shelter when the noise of the mower brings them out to see what is happening.

Day two and the remaining paddocks get topped, all except the two 'rough' paddocks facing where the boys are grazing. The ground is too steep for the mower there so the Grumpy Gardener attacks it with a strimmer!

At one point a horse and rider pass on the road so this provides something worth investigating by the boys!

Looking like 'butter wouldn't melt', Fidget (left), Faro (rear), Fyta and Fergus lying down in front.  They love to lie down and roll on the piece of bare ground which is in fact the line of the new field drain we had installed across the land last year. No chance of grass growing there as it is now a rolling spot.

We have lots of 'Red hot pokers' (Kniphofia) out in flower at present attracting a variety of birds to the flower heads.  In the background is the red Euphorbia ('Fireglow').

And finally............regular readers may remember we posted a picture of the Gunnera plant on our 8th May blog when the crowns were uncovered after the frosts had gone.  They looked then like a bunch of coconuts on the ground, but look at the growth from those crowns now - waist high!  They love wet soil so all the recent rain has been a bonus for them, and when it doesn't rain, they get a daily hose down.