Damp and in the middle of nowhere
One of the Interest groups that I follow on Facebook recently posted about numerous sightings of Clouded Yellow butterflies (Colias croceus) around the Wimpole Estate (National Trust). Since I ve only ever seen one example of a Clouded Yellow before and Continue reading
Cosmos Apricot Lemonade , a flower with fizz? Pale pastel shades of apricot through to pink flowers, with a stronger, mauve-tinged inner ring
Rudbeckia triloba Prairie Glow
Well, it has been another hot day in Cambridge and we are predicted to stay parched and cooked for another week at least. Even the marjoram in the vegetable plot is shrivelling up. Finding vase material for Cathy s (@ramblinginthegarden) weekly Continue reading
It s been hot and it s certainly very, very dry. Here, in East Anglia, we are a smidge away from a drought declaration. We ve not had rain for yonks and we are well into a hosepipe ban. So every day I Continue reading
In addition to the endearing activity of gathering fluff from hirsute flowers like verbascum, the European Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) is well known for its rather aggressive, territorial behaviour protecting desirable flower patches (containing the likes of said verbascum Continue reading
This is the first time I ve ever seen a musk beetle ( Aromia moschata ). It caused a shriek from my husband as it strolled, in all it dark, 4cm glory, across the lounge carpet. I put it outside on the windowsill and was amazed to reveal its metallic colouring in broad daylight. Since it posed for photos, I obliged. Look at those magnificent antennae! Admire the iridescent body paint. What a…
In the garden during June we ve seen (from top left in rows downwards): Red Admirals, Brimstones, Peacocks, Marbled Whites, White-Tailed Bumblebees, Painted Ladies, Small Tortoiseshells, Hummingbird Hawk Moths, Large Skippers
Beautiful Amazing Grey poppy (3rd generation offspring) being enjoyed by a white-tailed bumblebee ( Bombus lucorum )
Red-tailed bumblebee on Centaurea montana