Swirl

Swirl

A strand of bryony with its tiny white flowers was lying on a mass of mature horsetails.

White clematis

White clematis

Clematis enjoying a Mediterranean climate and producing a mass of white flowers.

Cicada camouflage

Cicada

In countryside anywhere in southern Europe, the calling of cicadas can be overwhelming.

But it’s much harder to spot the insects than to hear the noise of males trying to attract a female. That’s not surprising, given how well they blend into their surroundings.

Bumblebee feeding on thistle flower

Bumblebee feeding on thistle flower

Bumblebee enthusiastically prospecting a thistle flower. Its forelegs, head and thorax are already sprinkled with pollen.

There is a ladybird lurking, out of focus, in the background.

Bean flowering

Bean flowering

I liked the orange-green colour contrast between the flowers and the leaves of this bean plant.

Lords and ladies berries

Wild arum berries

Wild arum berries at different stages of ripening on different plants.

Wild arum berries

The common hedgerow plant has such a distinctive appearance that it has several vernacular names.