Wednesday, 23 July 2025



 Teasel (Dispascus fullonum). The flowerhead has hundreds of tiny flowers. They start in a band in the middle then flower up and down the cone. So this one must be in the latter stage of flowering. 

Tuesday, 22 July 2025

 


 Common Chicory (Cichorium intybus) pops up here and there in the countryside. I had always thought it to be an introduction to these shores but various sources list it as native. Actually I don't think it looks very 'British'. I reckon it drifted in from southern Europe sometime in the distant past.
 Also grown in gardens and probably a garden escape in some locales. An edible herb, ancestor of culinary Chicory. 

Sunday, 20 July 2025



Couple more pics of the Sea Holly; Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro) in the background.

Thursday, 17 July 2025



 Sea Holly (Eryngium giganteum) is a striking self-seeder in the borders at the music school. These were attracting many bumblebees, hoverflies and even Vespa crabro, the European Hornet...

Wednesday, 16 July 2025



  I remember the mild spring following a cold winter was tremendous for apple blossom. Perhaps this has been offset somewhat by the drought which may have implications for the harvest.
 However there's a good crop on a couple of apple trees at the music school which are the remnants of an orchard from its heyday as a Victorian country house.
 I can vouch for the one shown above. I plucked it and ate it after taking the photograph and it was delicious!

Sunday, 13 July 2025



 There are 280 species of Hoverfly in the UK which is 279 more than I can ID off the top of my head. However this looks like a Marmalade Hoverfly which is the most common.