Aka Cape primrose. Streptocarpus species are popular indoor plants because they don’t need direct sunlight. The common name points to many species originating in southern Africa, and a resemblance of the leaves to those of primroses, which are not actually closely related.
There’s a small patch of bluebells which grows every year in the Smestow Valley LNR, between the Railway Walk and Barley Field.
This apple with its fancy flowers is in the churchyard of St John’s church. The ring road is out of focus in the background.
They look a little like bluebells: very similar shaped leaves, and flowers not unlike white bluebells. They are often found in the same shady woods, though ramsons have a stronger preference for damp ground. But these have a smell of garlic which can be strong on a warm day.
The yellow in the bee’s colouring seems to disappear against the similar shade in the flower.
Not actually a nettle, or even particularly closely related I believe. But the plants do look similar to nettles until they flower. “Dead” in that they don’t sting.
Two different cranesbill species: both spotted while walking in the Smestow Valley LNR.
The bumble bee was clinging determinedly to a tree on a cold and breezy day.
Whenever I visit the Conservatory at West Park, there seem to be a couple of ants which have been drawn to this exotic flower.
I’m not sure if this was a harlequin, or the melanistic form of the 2-spot ladybird (which has the red and black colours reversed). It was tiny, so perhaps a 2-spot.
A miniature marvel of Victorian engineering: windows in the roof of West Park Conservatory, the rods to open them from ground level, and counterbalances to make the opening and closing easier.
Towards the end of April, there was a day’s break from the persistent, heavy rain. But it was still so dull that the dandelions stayed closed up.