The buds of this hawthorn bush were just about to burst when this picture was taken. There are two different types of lichen (yellowish and greenish-grey) growing on the twig.
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The bluebells have been much delayed this year because of the bad winter.
This is the first one I’ve seen in flower, yesterday.
Just a single plant so far, though the signs are that there are going to be lots soon.
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Marsh marigolds
These marsh marigolds were very early, possibly because they were cultivated. They were growing by the pool at Bantock Park.
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Butterburr
On warm days this plant attracts crowds of insects, which were conspicuously absent when this picture was taken.
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Glistening inkcap
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.
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More mosses
Two more mosses showing fruiting bodies. They were growing just inches from each other on the top of the same wall.
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Peacock butterfly
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.
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Badger sett
One of the entrances to a badger’s set. This one has at least half a dozen entrances: some setts can have many more.
A fox’s den is also excavated, but has a narrower hole.
CORRECTION – while this post was waiting to be scheduled, someone saw the inhabitants of the hole at dusk. They were a fox, a vixen and at least five very young cubs – perhaps four weeks old as their fur was starting to change to reddish brown.
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Horse chestnut buds
The leaves are now beginning to burst from these sticky buds.