Category: David

The first mushroom I’ve spotted so far this spring is this clump of glistening inkcaps.

The red of the ladybird shows vividly against the green of the leaves.

The one below is on a nettle leaf – the stings can be seen as what look like short fine hairs fringing the leaf.

This thistle has leaves which almost seem to be clinging to the ground.

Every spring these violets flower at a sheltered spot by the Staffs & Worcs canal.

The same little bank normally has violets and lesser celandines flowering at the same time, with the purple and yellow of the two sets of blooms making a colourful contrast.

The violets below were growing by a roadside. They look much more blue in colour.

Two more mosses showing fruiting bodies. They were growing just inches from each other on the top of the same wall.

This subtly coloured peacock butterfly could be approached quite closely because it was warming up for the day by spreading its wings in the mid-morning sun.