David

A tiny frog near the pond in Wightwick Manor garden, trying to look inconspicuous in the short grass by a fallen leaf.

Closing in on a strawberry dogwood in the garden of Wightwick Manor to see the ripening fruit which give it its name.

This green shield bug could have landed more or less anywhere in the garden at Wightwick Manor and been more or less camouflaged against its background. Instead, it was placed for contrast on this fallen leaf.

Autumn leaves so vivid in colour, and so early in the autumn, are the clue that this tree originates elsewhere in the world. It’s a sweet gum, aka liquidambar.

Three large white butterflies were around the same buddleia bush as the red admirals, with several other large whites fluttering elsewhere in the Wightwick Manor gardens. The three spent a little time interacting in flight. It wasn’t clear (at least to me) whether they were jousting for control of territory, or sizing each other up as potential partners.

Perhaps neither. They suddenly broke off, all landing on the buddleia and starting to busily eat from the flowers. Two were even on the same flower head.

A pair of sweet chestnuts – the edible kind – ripening on one of the trees in the garden at Wightwick Manor.

Red admirals were one of two species which were attracted to the last few buddleia flowers in the garden at Wightwick Manor. There were three around, but this was the ony one cooperative enough for me to get pictures of it.

Heritage open days in September give a chance to see National Trust properties without the usual entrance charges. The garden at Wightwick Manor is usually (given good weather) beginning to turn attractively autumnal, as the leaves on this tree reflected in the still water of one of the ponds.

Wood chip mulch often brings fungal spores along for the ride, and then forms a source of food for the spores to grow. This burgeoning growth is of wrinkled fieldcaps.

It doesn’t look possible that they can move along making so little impression on the water: the power of surface tension. Water boatmen on the pond at Wightwick Manor.