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David

Large white butterfly on catmint

Large white butterfly on catmint

A large white butterfly (otherwise known as a cabbage white) feeding at a catmint flower.

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Greens: Solomon’s seal berries, Bantock House

Greens: Solomon's seal berries, Bantock House

The green of the unripe berries of a Solomon’s seal plant in the Dutch Garden at the back of Bantock House recently.

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David

Parasol mushrooms, Himley Plantation

Parasol mushrooms, Himley Plantation

The Woodland Trust’s Himley Plantation is maintained to be nature-friendly, and supports a wide range of fungus species. These parasols had probably emerged the night before these pictures were taken. If left undisturbed, they could grow to be the tallest mushroom-shaped fruiting bodies which are likely to be seen around here.

Himley Plantation is between Himely and Wombourne. The South Staffordshire Railway Walk runs through the wood.

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David

Carolina duck, female, resting

Carolina duck, female, resting

Female Carolina duck at rest on a pond. The plumage has a similar pattern, but much more muted colours than the male of this exotic species.

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Artichoke flower, artichoke flower over

Artichoke flower

Flower on a decorative artichoke in the cloister garden at Hereford Cathedral, and the developing seed head of another former flower on the same plant.

Artichoke seed head

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David

Grey spotted amanitas, spots removed by rain

Grey spotted amanita, spots removed by rain

Grey spotted amanita mushrooms: the spots, the remains of a veil which protects the fungus as it emerges through the soil, had been removed by rain which had also washed out some of the colour from the caps.

These were on a lawn by a main road, a place where they come up at around this time every year.