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Purple crocuses, Stratford

Purple crosuses and Marie Corelli's tower folly

Mass of purple crocuses by the canal basin in Stratford on Avon, and others in the garden of the Shakespeare Institute in the town. This is in what was the house of the popular Victorian novelist Marie Corelli. The building in the background is her tower folly – that is, the elaborate garden shed she used to do her writing in.

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Goose nest with egg

Goose nest with egg

In the last few days I’ve noticed a couple of goose nests left unattended with a single egg. Are the shifts in the weather making the birds abandon their nests?

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Dogs mercury coming into flower

Dogs mercury coming into flower

Dog’s mercury is a woodland plant which flowers early in spring, before the trees get their leaves back to put the ground in shade.

The buds of these plants in the Northycote Farm woods were just beginning to open as the inconspicuous white flowers.

Dogs mercury coming into flower

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Stumped

Stumped

Tree stump in the Northycote Farm woodland with textures and a lichen coating making it look like a sculpture.

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Yellow: winter-flowering aconites

Yellow: winter-flowering aconites

Aconites, with their yellow flowers at the end of winter, seem to be enjoying a fashion at the moment. These were in Stratford on Avon: a large patch in a corner of the Holy Trinity churchyard, and the garden of the Shakespeare Institute.

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Exe 2015: Cheeky young gull

Cheeky young gull

This young herring gull seemed unconcerned as it stood on one of the outdoor tables of a cafe on Exeter Quay even though customers were having a drink a couple of feet away at the next table. Possibly it was at the best vantage point for pouncing after scraps.