Category: David

Haws in various stages of ripening on a hawthorn covered in vigorous growths of lichen, an attractive mix of colours and textures.

Common darter coming in to land on bullrush on the Compton Park pond. The plant had been uprooted by vandals and was floating in the water.

Orange balsam: the flowers are similar in shape, though not in colour, to the generally taller and more robust himalayan balsam. This too is an import, originating in north America. But, perhaps because it is less prone to forming dense clumps, it does not attract the same treatment as an invasive species in urgent need of control.

The ones I notice always seem to be growing right at the edge of canals.

Caterpillar of one of the tussock moths, clinging to the underside of vegetation in someone’s front garden.

Birch boletes, brown mushrooms (the undercaps are yellowish), quite common where there are birch trees nearby.

Foxgloves are biennials, which flower only in their second year. This one did so in spring. The seeds now ripening will be its one shot at producing a new generation next year.