Categories
David

Tulips, just beginning to open

Tulip, just beginning to open

Two tulips at the point where they were first beginning to open.

The first was growing wild by the canal at Newbridge, the second in one of the flower beds at Bantock Park.

Tulip, just beginning to open

Categories
David

Lone cramp ball on a tree

Lone cramp ball on a tree

Cramp balls are distintive-looking and fairly common fungi, so they have several different vernacular names, such as King Alfred’s cake or coal fungus.

Lone cramp ball on a tree

They often grow in groups on an infected tree. I could only see one here – it’s on the bough between the two main trunks in the second picture (click to enlarge).

Categories
David

Yellow archangel flower

Yellow archangel flower

Yellow archangel is a bright flower in the spring. Found fairly often locally, usually in hedgerows (or that’s where I notice them).

Categories
David

(Green) shield bug

(Green) shield bug

Shield bug trying to look inconspicuous resting on a leaf in the Dutch Garden at Bantock House.

Categories
David

Horse chestnut buds emerging

Horse chestnut buds emerging

End of a horse chestnut twig. The leaves had opened, and the flower buds on their spike were just about to open too.

Categories
David

Clinging on to eat

Clinging on to eat

Bumblebee on a dandelion, gathering nectar. The breeze was blowing the flower around, but the bee was clinging on firmly.

Clinging on to eat