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Trio of oak apples

Oak apples

A cluster of oak apples. The hole the insect emerged from can be seen in the nearest one.

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Gorse by a canal

Gorse by a canal

A gorse bush on the far bank of the Staffs & Worcs canal.

Gorse by a canal

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David

Staffs & Worcs canal locks

Bratch locks

The locks at the Bratch (above) with the small octagonal building originally built as a toll-house. The more distant building is a lock-keeper’s cottage, still used for that purpose.

Below, a narrowboat approaches the algae-lined Ebstree Lock.

Ebstree lock

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David

First dandelions of the year

Dandelion flower

Seen in the middle of February. Both plants had short stems with the flower close to the ground

Dandelion flower

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Snowdrops by a canal

Snowdrops by a canal

This cluster of snowdrops grows every year at the opposite side of the bridge to the violets which featured in yesterday’s post.

Snowdrops by a canal

Snowdrops by a canal

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David

Oxford ragwort flowering in February

Oxford ragwort flowering in February

The long flowering season for Oxford ragwort used to run from April to December.

This one was in full bloom in the middle of February.