David

According to the plaque the boulder is rhyolitic lava from north Wales, brought to the midlands on the Ice Age glaciers. It was found in Fullbrook and raised in its current position by the main lake in the Arboretum in 1925.

This young coot was just beginning to develop the white bald patch on its forehead.

Mountain ash berries stand out because of their vivid colour.

A bee’s colouration very rarely works as camouflage. It almost did here.

More from the West Park stock of cacti. These are not the plants on public display in the Conservatory.

Moorhens are normally very timid. This one was eating, so let me get closer than normal.

This garden snail had parked itself on the side of a laundry basket.

Cross spiders become common in houses and gardens as autumn approaches.

This is the thousandth topic posted here — at least one, and normally more, per day for a little under two years.

A very common and persistent garden weed. In the upper picture the flowers are still buds; the lower is of flowers which are beginning to open.

Pattingham is just about visible on the skyline.