tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83297761619268023422024-03-18T03:02:34.069+00:00Filnore Woods BlogNews about seasonal changes at Filnore Woods and how to get involved as a volunteer, if you want to.
As well as things seen and done at FILNORE WOODS, THE BLOG WILL INCLUDE THINGS YOU CAN SEE IN YOUR STREET OR GARDEN.
To get regular updates, you used to be able to enter your email address in "FOLLOW BY EMAIL" (just below on the right) But this seems to have stopped working so GOOGLE 'FILNORE WOODS BLOG' AND FOLLOW 'FILNORE WOODS' ON FACEBOOKJerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.comBlogger1552125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-47589731646722791422024-02-14T14:05:00.000+00:002024-02-14T14:05:05.335+00:00The Last Post<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHXZAUifdJPzBi6GTw5advN00OALn9-_WHuB_rWE1fXJoWMmGS0kAsFahJdqi9JXNyzH37oIgDL0Nkz9ERMykM-phFiHNZ6npauMfW5G_-N19ykgSCjEvId3ozUotHgr-JWM-K9Y1WPzqaYm5-xLn2sTOgltOIcfDRuwpi1iG3yZM6l1Y7js_7SUoUPV1/s2048/IMG-20240208-WA0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHXZAUifdJPzBi6GTw5advN00OALn9-_WHuB_rWE1fXJoWMmGS0kAsFahJdqi9JXNyzH37oIgDL0Nkz9ERMykM-phFiHNZ6npauMfW5G_-N19ykgSCjEvId3ozUotHgr-JWM-K9Y1WPzqaYm5-xLn2sTOgltOIcfDRuwpi1iG3yZM6l1Y7js_7SUoUPV1/s320/IMG-20240208-WA0001.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I'm afraid I have to tell you the sad news that Jerry Dicker has passed away. Jerry started this blog in December 2011 shortly before the Friends of Filnore Woods came into being back in 2012. Since then there have been lots of changes in the woodland, many of which have been reported in Jerry's blog. You will know from reading his posts that his knowledge of flowers, trees, birds and insects was extensive. He enjoyed passing on this knowledge and took great pleasure in writing his blog.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">None of us who work in Filnore Woods have his breadth of knowledge and would not be able to continue this blog in its current form. We feel that it should be left as a lasting resource, and as a memorial to the time and effort Jerry invested to make the woods what they are today.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Instead, we will try to start a new blog to show what work is taking place in the woods and generally how they are getting on. There won't be as much about the wildlife and plants but we will do our best and hope that Jerry would have approved. This new blog will be called 'Filnore Woods 2 blog' and can be found at - </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://filnorewoods2.blogspot.com/" style="text-align: left;">https://filnorewoods2.blogspot.com</a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We will miss his happy personality and cheery smile at work parties, and his knowledge of the flowers and wildlife in the woods. He will be a great loss not only to the woods but also to the Thornbury community as a whole.</p>Alan Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15879816347840709210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-33995023298336990542023-11-18T15:55:00.000+00:002023-11-18T15:55:15.639+00:00ASH-LEAVED MAPLE<p> </p><div style="text-align: center;">Health Centre car park again: this time it's not berries but maple samaras making this ash-leaved maple (<i>Acer negundo</i>) spectacular up to Christmas.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The stems are green and the leaves , which are mostly gone by now, are pinnate, meaning they have between 3 and 5 leaflets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk47aydRU4GvsvGDllRWevwuQqNioMIBTqkwEC816hiaNut4uvlaqjM6sDNUAnemkVFuSo8vJwuDk9Q8Rwjh8Y-9qOfx1BQX5AWObmxFOnTBvguK2TDycuF9KH3jdyG5qQ7pAD3A0AnldQE_IZ55J4BPLxLNi2UxQ9kM2MqzxFM-w883jTzYyrfAqmyiJM/w640-h480/20231110_103615.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">There are variegated and pink forms of this tree, which is also known as Box Elder although it is neither an elder nor a box tree.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqHPAHbBzNZfAuomZiq8z1l5sg41qMe9FjCXE6cZLwauDiTjGtIE_Dqo-nmW_PceVJk4B2NouyLBvyPJ4zh5dNvtteDpHM0FtVdtShM6P3wwFfaQLxFeTbJcsc1jjojyScW_-pRtTW8JXIASZEZVY_JiahjGtu-C2TEwpb_6jklG_u8yCftNTNOWyv_mh/s4624/20231110_103554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqHPAHbBzNZfAuomZiq8z1l5sg41qMe9FjCXE6cZLwauDiTjGtIE_Dqo-nmW_PceVJk4B2NouyLBvyPJ4zh5dNvtteDpHM0FtVdtShM6P3wwFfaQLxFeTbJcsc1jjojyScW_-pRtTW8JXIASZEZVY_JiahjGtu-C2TEwpb_6jklG_u8yCftNTNOWyv_mh/w640-h480/20231110_103554.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><br /><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div></div><br /><p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-17848923363756105812023-11-14T13:10:00.000+00:002023-11-14T13:10:14.871+00:00COCKSPUR THORN<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Broad-leaved Cockspur Thorn (Crataegus prunifolia) ia a North American relative of the Hawthorn and does well in Britain. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8JDG_YiYwuZr1wIeyGeMkfgjZwbdgQzMqt0a12Mw-kYvQt3nyBL62-ni7-amJKQyCL0bFIJDO7jSiTpVR6LBCpIuSBRBtxVud9xkIlCinbSZmPj6MM69yeEf_I7vPgKnWgK3708yk35stggupQXzGYiFlQMrDPQJxdRybBFWW50QNEyMlKvWChXtj6ng/s4624/20231110_103434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8JDG_YiYwuZr1wIeyGeMkfgjZwbdgQzMqt0a12Mw-kYvQt3nyBL62-ni7-amJKQyCL0bFIJDO7jSiTpVR6LBCpIuSBRBtxVud9xkIlCinbSZmPj6MM69yeEf_I7vPgKnWgK3708yk35stggupQXzGYiFlQMrDPQJxdRybBFWW50QNEyMlKvWChXtj6ng/w480-h640/20231110_103434.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The red berries last up until Christmas and the leaves are often very colourful in autumn.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4sNmMfm9EXxcQDO5Y9bceM8auPJaPfToO6OjmNRi-hngE9KxlXulWBpfmBVXOtzWJv1CLtnu3UVV-_s33U9tREURV_hIT9tuG9rmNRDfpWN04Rf108XAxuucxFlTvsmA3G_XrborJ2hqwb6YOROsDShuwXT-ylKwKaAP_rVUIKPkWupH6FWY4aOEBEcs/s4624/20231110_103441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4sNmMfm9EXxcQDO5Y9bceM8auPJaPfToO6OjmNRi-hngE9KxlXulWBpfmBVXOtzWJv1CLtnu3UVV-_s33U9tREURV_hIT9tuG9rmNRDfpWN04Rf108XAxuucxFlTvsmA3G_XrborJ2hqwb6YOROsDShuwXT-ylKwKaAP_rVUIKPkWupH6FWY4aOEBEcs/w640-h480/20231110_103441.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />This specimen grows alongside the Thornbury Health Centre car park</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-42519834867518591102023-10-24T16:46:00.000+01:002023-10-24T16:46:01.024+01:00POPLAR WITH MISTLETOE<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDygiUMMaBwrI9Sk9K8NsHJndK4yTH6zMlzm-MNM2a_Ll1vmoTOfqSd4xvDGFYsDLjBK2tr_Gsngd2Cg6EuGk6U4n-vUXl_Vcyb7G2wcrFTpz8M1p6bBZi3Tss_6bxRy3cr_hlu_g3FExF84PDlDK6xGq4Dqhkjw8DC1G38VJiyDLJaMFed6CsidH8w/s4624/20230422_103048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDygiUMMaBwrI9Sk9K8NsHJndK4yTH6zMlzm-MNM2a_Ll1vmoTOfqSd4xvDGFYsDLjBK2tr_Gsngd2Cg6EuGk6U4n-vUXl_Vcyb7G2wcrFTpz8M1p6bBZi3Tss_6bxRy3cr_hlu_g3FExF84PDlDK6xGq4Dqhkjw8DC1G38VJiyDLJaMFed6CsidH8w/w480-h640/20230422_103048.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Poplar is one of mistletoe's favourite hosts. Now the leaves are dropping off, the mistletoe shows up, not only on poplar, but also on lime, apple, robinia, silver maple and occasionally on hawthorn, oak and other trees.</div><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-56138625601078727572023-10-21T10:29:00.000+01:002023-10-21T10:29:54.615+01:00WALL BARLEY<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IcbR7MxxM5_VR7gAPcpRSubCFqRNURQCH-2fjyQE2cqKOf5tbNRHvkrvpceHZWxGq9MBKJKdAgpNOx36-gPPaKEg2ovK-aCgO3KaHZkVw1FBITyICf-ifflot2SKBpw_VjrkhSjAELyXXGqlW9IBBCf2laAtE97UnVD-OSIETDOIerXlWSawdczUAT6E/s4624/20231005_143816.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IcbR7MxxM5_VR7gAPcpRSubCFqRNURQCH-2fjyQE2cqKOf5tbNRHvkrvpceHZWxGq9MBKJKdAgpNOx36-gPPaKEg2ovK-aCgO3KaHZkVw1FBITyICf-ifflot2SKBpw_VjrkhSjAELyXXGqlW9IBBCf2laAtE97UnVD-OSIETDOIerXlWSawdczUAT6E/w640-h480/20231005_143816.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> One of the few grasses that I can confidently name, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Wall Barley is ideal for throwing at your pals like a dart.</div><p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-85574990160204616522023-10-18T16:42:00.000+01:002023-10-18T16:42:50.558+01:00LATE CATERPILLARS<p style="text-align: center;">Although both the Pale Tussock Moth and the Knot Grass Moth are an attractive mottled grey, their caterpillars are more striking. Because they overwinter as pupae, the caterpillars are around in September and early October - a nice bit of autumn colour.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfTltOIP0BpYFgLX-H5VW-uourKOEBIqqnZ13TOMbOOgtwkQEInPEZYoKqwpdl4lKf-crSOlQDNpAYIHWToEyvOcT4kw7zBcd5XD9F6-AhW4Stpl9aQiTUnC8Cp3UDcQNE8lDKLVLrle37w1MTSw-Al8MtvtGHHG93uW_GUCAZhyJWdkseOLBntenkAlg/s1600/IMG-20230923-WA0000(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfTltOIP0BpYFgLX-H5VW-uourKOEBIqqnZ13TOMbOOgtwkQEInPEZYoKqwpdl4lKf-crSOlQDNpAYIHWToEyvOcT4kw7zBcd5XD9F6-AhW4Stpl9aQiTUnC8Cp3UDcQNE8lDKLVLrle37w1MTSw-Al8MtvtGHHG93uW_GUCAZhyJWdkseOLBntenkAlg/s320/IMG-20230923-WA0000(1).jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHBSevzI6hBAWScRfKV6GXfCt0qi5zDsYDAQG_t_LoGq2tScm9RpHAXOBNgHkHlgJBz8koRO9MQHJBo4nN_mqto-hURG46aDrjyDwVjZ0nzb2m7UvbdhyRgGCcClMyi0wd2LSxPBXIvqM06hEsMmSC_BKrQKcVzot283bvbxbudgP-ohtgCXOIxM5eM1l/s1024/Knot%20Grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="1024" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHBSevzI6hBAWScRfKV6GXfCt0qi5zDsYDAQG_t_LoGq2tScm9RpHAXOBNgHkHlgJBz8koRO9MQHJBo4nN_mqto-hURG46aDrjyDwVjZ0nzb2m7UvbdhyRgGCcClMyi0wd2LSxPBXIvqM06hEsMmSC_BKrQKcVzot283bvbxbudgP-ohtgCXOIxM5eM1l/w245-h233/Knot%20Grass.jpg" width="245" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Knot Grass</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVaDnb_OS3OiBdByaJ4AFDrVtb85r4NRwEEUU_IiclvQVAIew66rwgNhJW2XmOJpQSvrEpDo3Xi2t3nCjH7B3C5RQLgHcAoDIuUffKLpj-QlNXkylffO4LTOhEuNsNOn_uOXvYB2T1QTA_BQ2JCmS68IkSPKzffmbqCjFB0tZZHVWdCa5kPPWao42wrINo/s1649/IMG-20231002-WA0000(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="989" data-original-width="1649" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVaDnb_OS3OiBdByaJ4AFDrVtb85r4NRwEEUU_IiclvQVAIew66rwgNhJW2XmOJpQSvrEpDo3Xi2t3nCjH7B3C5RQLgHcAoDIuUffKLpj-QlNXkylffO4LTOhEuNsNOn_uOXvYB2T1QTA_BQ2JCmS68IkSPKzffmbqCjFB0tZZHVWdCa5kPPWao42wrINo/s320/IMG-20231002-WA0000(1).jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP1DhlfwuYFU0QJw-pKjR-f1FgIRam8cMTzijlzF9Uuufy2FaS3bG5Nrk0juihljlLtBfGRMtTdp4vvp49EW93y8kQgrP9hKd1fBRsguMW263oUeQObrkBVJT-wT0qwquuqRCfMPWKUNgrLZlMAt8hrx2rth0PGokCQZaUfAiZfstY2VSZfg1x07Iv_Kv/s1024/Pale%20Tussock,%20Naturespot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="746" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP1DhlfwuYFU0QJw-pKjR-f1FgIRam8cMTzijlzF9Uuufy2FaS3bG5Nrk0juihljlLtBfGRMtTdp4vvp49EW93y8kQgrP9hKd1fBRsguMW263oUeQObrkBVJT-wT0qwquuqRCfMPWKUNgrLZlMAt8hrx2rth0PGokCQZaUfAiZfstY2VSZfg1x07Iv_Kv/w139-h190/Pale%20Tussock,%20Naturespot.jpg" width="139" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pale Tussock</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos:Caterpillars: Alan Watts. Adult moths: Naturespot</span></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-48366226661607952722023-10-14T17:46:00.003+01:002023-10-14T17:46:58.256+01:00VOLUNTEERS APPRECIATED<p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Although we have help cutting the grass at Filnore Woods from South Glos Tom and his mighty mowing machine, the arisings have to be raked off in order to bring down the fertility so that next year's wild flowers are not overwhelmed by more vigorous grasses and other flowering plants. This raking is one of the many jobs that the Filnore Friends volunteers undertake to keep the place rich in biodiversity and pleasant to visit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNee2BHGwhPmZCPMEIabJhpd-exvtovkhIqd7xYrIXFXt0BD3JtgljR-6iDc3JVE3D9XdjoX0NnYBPpZd9tGppz-xq6qaKMo-GEoVoE4TXbTu26BhDHBPy17-e_MlVEAif3Q4F3OG3x7TjwaKJcVzx71pia7iIPt_omRMoMXTPQHTOFf7ayMS1egy2YOs4/s2000/IMG-20230928-WA0000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNee2BHGwhPmZCPMEIabJhpd-exvtovkhIqd7xYrIXFXt0BD3JtgljR-6iDc3JVE3D9XdjoX0NnYBPpZd9tGppz-xq6qaKMo-GEoVoE4TXbTu26BhDHBPy17-e_MlVEAif3Q4F3OG3x7TjwaKJcVzx71pia7iIPt_omRMoMXTPQHTOFf7ayMS1egy2YOs4/w640-h360/IMG-20230928-WA0000.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So it is good that the RHS '?It's Your Neighbourhood' Scheme has recognised their efforts with a level 5 Outstanding award</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsWzLQho8JNWTOjg-QOlQRNRJn0VakYPkPG8xZ2J8bYtxGAbe4_KTvtcYHnfoLBwrDDHcJDiYw98_kkkOApfmYa3Mi9p0lWwEd6GonDa8vTLcLvHSK1TGqFghIeAxAr2crg25cjoo-E6ZZcUzdyKX3HsU-0ayrIijIt5KaLJuqJBvzL6ICDgzHW6yFKox/s4624/20231010_143226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsWzLQho8JNWTOjg-QOlQRNRJn0VakYPkPG8xZ2J8bYtxGAbe4_KTvtcYHnfoLBwrDDHcJDiYw98_kkkOApfmYa3Mi9p0lWwEd6GonDa8vTLcLvHSK1TGqFghIeAxAr2crg25cjoo-E6ZZcUzdyKX3HsU-0ayrIijIt5KaLJuqJBvzL6ICDgzHW6yFKox/w640-h480/20231010_143226.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well done guys and gals.</div><p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-8187313662706535242023-10-11T15:21:00.000+01:002023-10-11T15:21:13.182+01:00MOLE SEASON<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now is the season when molehils appear. <span style="text-align: left;">The molehills are not homes but spoil heaps from the tunnels.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1qtn4xpP8fnWqRBs4kUo0BqE3hTAIGgoyhUnDdTtt9Ho85naRQkJU7ExcbZUcpl8mlPGYddCDKYWf5dApjknBvRJeq9J8i_53crJIuUcoZlw3aJWRu9QxpQe7KLEZlHr_3rPCJvlGaVM7Xxku50bQVJ6X4KMP9duXCnn77p6RFWDLiITOD1A3-gDyAVC/s4624/20231005_143040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1qtn4xpP8fnWqRBs4kUo0BqE3hTAIGgoyhUnDdTtt9Ho85naRQkJU7ExcbZUcpl8mlPGYddCDKYWf5dApjknBvRJeq9J8i_53crJIuUcoZlw3aJWRu9QxpQe7KLEZlHr_3rPCJvlGaVM7Xxku50bQVJ6X4KMP9duXCnn77p6RFWDLiITOD1A3-gDyAVC/w640-h480/20231005_143040.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Actually moles have to tunnel all year in search of earthworms, leather jackets, wire worms, beetle larvae, etc, or they will starve after a few hours without food.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">They live solitary lives except for the pairing season in March and April, after which between two and seven pink and hairless molekins are born.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-11148404185269114282023-10-05T17:54:00.000+01:002023-10-05T17:54:00.707+01:00MOLLUSCS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a dry spell molluscs (slugs and snails) are delighted </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with the wet conditions following a rain shower. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This slug (<i>Arion ater rufus) </i>is the orange version of the Great BLACK Slug (<i>Arion ater</i>)<i>. </i>It is one of the larger slugs found in Britain but is not the one that eats your choice garden plants. It prefers dead plant or animal material and fungi.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiob_-KZhzGyu2jDzW6DLec0JCtVA1Bgj6AqwNRNk9guyIti8wiiN4obfr7c_7GSpLCfHXrJd7IUPce6WRJryU-Ca54JOj0e974IzAROLo8-SNJ9PIBuOg5BRA1meDYYUdza6ui9ly-cQZyJIZNBIzy2qYNvRyjNNaD9Lx516ZOpqtdPo-vxnw9BTj1podC/s4624/20230912_110053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiob_-KZhzGyu2jDzW6DLec0JCtVA1Bgj6AqwNRNk9guyIti8wiiN4obfr7c_7GSpLCfHXrJd7IUPce6WRJryU-Ca54JOj0e974IzAROLo8-SNJ9PIBuOg5BRA1meDYYUdza6ui9ly-cQZyJIZNBIzy2qYNvRyjNNaD9Lx516ZOpqtdPo-vxnw9BTj1podC/w640-h480/20230912_110053.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like all slugs and snails it has four tentacles or 'horns'. The two larger ones are for sight, though molluscs can only distinguish light and dark. The smaller pair, lower down are for tasting smelling or feeling. If touched, molluscs will retract their tentacles, and if really upset they will contract to make themselves shorter and fatter.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6epCezBPcMGvN65yHksBdjDm3a26NKdkZ211K_roxv_XiZZhp8_6okjNKNZ1wYljfSwWisUzlfgyJoxo1zbRAVwDpMpMkaPs9T66HfmuLwbF0M_-gRT6IPt6r7lARaM6Sej856z0hPaV4Wbg-CP_faAdcjHeIOObQFlWsGycPD4P-9rXG-mfWN51HGO1E/s2576/20230912_112024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2576" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6epCezBPcMGvN65yHksBdjDm3a26NKdkZ211K_roxv_XiZZhp8_6okjNKNZ1wYljfSwWisUzlfgyJoxo1zbRAVwDpMpMkaPs9T66HfmuLwbF0M_-gRT6IPt6r7lARaM6Sej856z0hPaV4Wbg-CP_faAdcjHeIOObQFlWsGycPD4P-9rXG-mfWN51HGO1E/w290-h217/20230912_112024.jpg" width="290" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkViyv94e0R5yOIZyN2s0QLissLLKPDCfeh-gFcC3kqCYWfJpcyyAJIxdLds9iE8R4gMFIGn4P6LgKFzzvlyQv1N5pZhISnFbwl8f8yUHaK427mlH0SF9pqBIpc-QEvXPno5wGP9QSycwwVv6tzHcJIuBtKqALd5mYpO6PDYCD1YZGXEJ9vrZQcA1F0Sa/s4624/20230912_111955.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkViyv94e0R5yOIZyN2s0QLissLLKPDCfeh-gFcC3kqCYWfJpcyyAJIxdLds9iE8R4gMFIGn4P6LgKFzzvlyQv1N5pZhISnFbwl8f8yUHaK427mlH0SF9pqBIpc-QEvXPno5wGP9QSycwwVv6tzHcJIuBtKqALd5mYpO6PDYCD1YZGXEJ9vrZQcA1F0Sa/w291-h218/20230912_111955.jpg" width="291" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The troublesome ones are small and black or beige. They're often hard to see. This little blighter looks like a small blob of dirt until you get close and see how he has been chomping away on an apple.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NSvae6YE6bADhOQF1ABmzt01t30jIoNu69gsypiIUO6K1wLuooK0EchcR3LM5SL0lt1Tu4AEprjgeLsYnIYLsnrZ2UOk-qGXFOaNXwqttwCga_x6DtJml7LokBpz01DyeDMnLm8brpKtfdmh0R5dBzqcS3b9ajd21kaAz09hZ0H8rvLs3To-vDmXfgFg/s4624/20230929_150615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NSvae6YE6bADhOQF1ABmzt01t30jIoNu69gsypiIUO6K1wLuooK0EchcR3LM5SL0lt1Tu4AEprjgeLsYnIYLsnrZ2UOk-qGXFOaNXwqttwCga_x6DtJml7LokBpz01DyeDMnLm8brpKtfdmh0R5dBzqcS3b9ajd21kaAz09hZ0H8rvLs3To-vDmXfgFg/s320/20230929_150615.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyz5L1veweUC5-4ouaUXGhxpLI6UZhHHS6Fe757V9gTKtGBbxbkkQKjL3kKf4_krrCW9p-hiuPdnbSz4POnbNmh3zI5tjCD22XkP4ntLKc8auptedBaC6Brn35YTp2jmNh4c_iITOt4R7nMmoXd1_5LAA9TldWo5aEKTNg08lcp7_AgJSJK7cpx8Ffscd/s4624/20230929_150621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyz5L1veweUC5-4ouaUXGhxpLI6UZhHHS6Fe757V9gTKtGBbxbkkQKjL3kKf4_krrCW9p-hiuPdnbSz4POnbNmh3zI5tjCD22XkP4ntLKc8auptedBaC6Brn35YTp2jmNh4c_iITOt4R7nMmoXd1_5LAA9TldWo5aEKTNg08lcp7_AgJSJK7cpx8Ffscd/s320/20230929_150621.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snails are slightly more popular than slugs, - at least with children. They have shells of course, while slugs just have a leathery oval at the front end called a mantle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SHELL SHOCK</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Here we have the Common or Garden Snail with a youngster of a different species.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BbI44D-KTUfM_9LD90qsSrKhIMUcuca27buSMXAPnUfLyB6ulX4QvITpxDtuLEHcAO7J06n_i1kWybPuP1rGSk9VR4YNVRiUL2c1mJmVD7LEu2q5kCpbQ1Lp60t2AabfQn3ew0eYxmBmWUdIAe3zLOgX0539l27ZCbL-AlnkAKu7gkrjiwHCQ5VokxlP/s4624/20230912_112321.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BbI44D-KTUfM_9LD90qsSrKhIMUcuca27buSMXAPnUfLyB6ulX4QvITpxDtuLEHcAO7J06n_i1kWybPuP1rGSk9VR4YNVRiUL2c1mJmVD7LEu2q5kCpbQ1Lp60t2AabfQn3ew0eYxmBmWUdIAe3zLOgX0539l27ZCbL-AlnkAKu7gkrjiwHCQ5VokxlP/w640-h480/20230912_112321.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BbI44D-KTUfM_9LD90qsSrKhIMUcuca27buSMXAPnUfLyB6ulX4QvITpxDtuLEHcAO7J06n_i1kWybPuP1rGSk9VR4YNVRiUL2c1mJmVD7LEu2q5kCpbQ1Lp60t2AabfQn3ew0eYxmBmWUdIAe3zLOgX0539l27ZCbL-AlnkAKu7gkrjiwHCQ5VokxlP/s4624/20230912_112321.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">Snails too have four tentacles and in the image below you can just make out the 'eyes' at the ends of the longer tentacles.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxg0GY64FQwTXjghH8qf7m8aVMmDvixIA5gRSsDjlRxiiLGXI5nOxVdezsd5OfUsL9VGk3PUX2w5HX_yC9cVE9-FZejsmVQqsQh5YKkAUF-IhXYFL-J5e4Eg-gNhM1EBsWXRc1QHeYmlo4gun9jBmcVlYJFn9ckYva2D8HfFhWKD1rxcxIaeu_VlT78e0/s2576/20230912_112203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2576" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxg0GY64FQwTXjghH8qf7m8aVMmDvixIA5gRSsDjlRxiiLGXI5nOxVdezsd5OfUsL9VGk3PUX2w5HX_yC9cVE9-FZejsmVQqsQh5YKkAUF-IhXYFL-J5e4Eg-gNhM1EBsWXRc1QHeYmlo4gun9jBmcVlYJFn9ckYva2D8HfFhWKD1rxcxIaeu_VlT78e0/w640-h480/20230912_112203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even these little Banded Snails have tentacles. The one on the left was very shy.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpWm6nczOHARuDd7hEDDfVo3j3YSQY0i7prnbS9m9CaV0Z-ZfsXWd1m6rzUgoNKMmBFanhV8DUyOxgVtB3exAzp5ew5c9L7dqDxf2jt07a6b3bXuXeOa_gzJyXW8X0ZX3wMVgScqjvO_FiSJr2XDbly79ssVZokpojSrN4tSbV2GmbwmaE-al_LQiwZvJ/s4624/20230912_112428.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpWm6nczOHARuDd7hEDDfVo3j3YSQY0i7prnbS9m9CaV0Z-ZfsXWd1m6rzUgoNKMmBFanhV8DUyOxgVtB3exAzp5ew5c9L7dqDxf2jt07a6b3bXuXeOa_gzJyXW8X0ZX3wMVgScqjvO_FiSJr2XDbly79ssVZokpojSrN4tSbV2GmbwmaE-al_LQiwZvJ/w640-h480/20230912_112428.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This species (<i>Cepea nemoralis</i>) also known as the Brown-lipped Snail is very varied in colour: you may find yellow or orange individuals without any stripes and the stripy ones may have a few or a lot of stripes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are 90+ species of land snails in the UK and 30+ species of slugs. They occupy an important niche, providing food for hedgehogs, thrushes and glow-worms, to name a few, and they also have an important composting role, recycling any dead material.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-77755556751240860662023-09-30T17:03:00.003+01:002023-09-30T17:03:42.371+01:00LIME SPINNERS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On a windy day these items came spinning down gracefully from the tree above.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrdqV0lPzJdV8f85TTy1oU8mKI5jBU__5TzOVB04VEjMj95ei2Dixv6sxO4CpycFslacUjF9FbWOzMQO9Smgb0UzeFt-ehMg4MjkFzRSvQwMnXdcjbG3cIGt9aIMJw7jC77fRuT_Yl91e03GdWnbmPt_AmOozACOw4kbwffd1WEZlmBtYVisimf1b0FB_/s4624/20230926_113313.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrdqV0lPzJdV8f85TTy1oU8mKI5jBU__5TzOVB04VEjMj95ei2Dixv6sxO4CpycFslacUjF9FbWOzMQO9Smgb0UzeFt-ehMg4MjkFzRSvQwMnXdcjbG3cIGt9aIMJw7jC77fRuT_Yl91e03GdWnbmPt_AmOozACOw4kbwffd1WEZlmBtYVisimf1b0FB_/w640-h480/20230926_113313.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To spread its seeds as widely as possible the lime tree supplies each little bunch of seeds with a bract that acts as an autogyro spinning the seeds away from the mother tree. each bract may carry from one up to five fruits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Although there is a row of about ten mature limes beside the old railway wall at Tesco, Thornbury, this tree seems to be the only one that is fruiting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj19lyprgIauDq_IGuoBPyjdMiWC2iwucuagvTng6cdTe7PL3L3uH-B1CAG09SEAoJt3ZTNx6RArK6ID1XdvS7Y1TUPOvb6hGliavlmTvqtQ_puEYjwbmUlUgOW_-1-PdY7gtKr0o3ZHAIPh0t3EUkdQhUinBos-94gcFU98IUQEmWlNq_3eWL-gXqVqqf/s4624/20230926_113234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj19lyprgIauDq_IGuoBPyjdMiWC2iwucuagvTng6cdTe7PL3L3uH-B1CAG09SEAoJt3ZTNx6RArK6ID1XdvS7Y1TUPOvb6hGliavlmTvqtQ_puEYjwbmUlUgOW_-1-PdY7gtKr0o3ZHAIPh0t3EUkdQhUinBos-94gcFU98IUQEmWlNq_3eWL-gXqVqqf/w640-h480/20230926_113234.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-57833832590942120202023-09-28T13:00:00.000+01:002023-09-28T13:00:07.390+01:00RAT<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The remains of a Brown Rat (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPRY6_dzC7H85HNHnU-T_RMCcFj0iQyq_GwkcDcKlElpSMucEk0-3zYoSk6Vhl80DL2GVuoqlGzMwk-xvAcqiuySgeZYMvjlrH6z_a9TkHaX49eiyu18Amqhwfy3W78ROvm7X0zpe0OgSAqyJwjMWiTjKdRyyxHcdVHQc0umTFMzxjDAq3atbB5OmlLct/s4624/20230909_090949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPRY6_dzC7H85HNHnU-T_RMCcFj0iQyq_GwkcDcKlElpSMucEk0-3zYoSk6Vhl80DL2GVuoqlGzMwk-xvAcqiuySgeZYMvjlrH6z_a9TkHaX49eiyu18Amqhwfy3W78ROvm7X0zpe0OgSAqyJwjMWiTjKdRyyxHcdVHQc0umTFMzxjDAq3atbB5OmlLct/w640-h480/20230909_090949.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Although I worry that Polo, our cat, might be catching birds, she does seem to concentrate on bank voles, woodmice and the occasional rat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The long scaly tail is the best clue to the identity of this rodent.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not much else to go on. Although they are part of the native wildlife scene, brown rats are not desirable in the home or garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brown rats can produce up to 5 litters of 12 young in a year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So Go Polo Go.</div><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-21732708765373574662023-09-26T10:34:00.000+01:002023-09-26T10:34:35.832+01:00ASH GALLS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The ash keys on some trees are an attractive yellow contrasting with the green foliage. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Em2XfbhqgiC3D16zArG91_AUx8FrHELeRd_I50o6xCdetmgCjRrhfdRu4pHEwoveRbowFeYv18Ayzk7q_YHZaFonZoMCdAelZgylH3mS353UFoI1vWqBcOeJdkk283crVRPvfIzb5VcOgCPud_s1Aq_fbeLJRgkNpHHBpAhMSkLKvUYWOu4i76U__rh6/s4624/20230907_183519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Em2XfbhqgiC3D16zArG91_AUx8FrHELeRd_I50o6xCdetmgCjRrhfdRu4pHEwoveRbowFeYv18Ayzk7q_YHZaFonZoMCdAelZgylH3mS353UFoI1vWqBcOeJdkk283crVRPvfIzb5VcOgCPud_s1Aq_fbeLJRgkNpHHBpAhMSkLKvUYWOu4i76U__rh6/w640-h480/20230907_183519.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A closer look revealed several small brown 'cauliflowers' on the flower/seed stalks</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHOp8qZlaISrCQO1WohL7JcDrCEqBj8CS39HH1K-Klybcq453mFfXakpA-YJjJZjBdaO3Rz7qpD5wYiTJcTCwWh6wBhps6jIwWJC3qyv55rubBXnGn-iVa_sWhVNSSC0ixfObuAvX8QdknfqFTBqEQzRFO7QW4OQuQiHjkG3qrvrfC7FZ1rC52B-B14ih/s4624/20230907_183533.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHOp8qZlaISrCQO1WohL7JcDrCEqBj8CS39HH1K-Klybcq453mFfXakpA-YJjJZjBdaO3Rz7qpD5wYiTJcTCwWh6wBhps6jIwWJC3qyv55rubBXnGn-iVa_sWhVNSSC0ixfObuAvX8QdknfqFTBqEQzRFO7QW4OQuQiHjkG3qrvrfC7FZ1rC52B-B14ih/w640-h480/20230907_183533.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are cauliflower galls caused be a tiny mite, <i>Aceria fraxinivora.</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8EujeaA-5y5rKX26WS44WTAGl6MxTKumEHPQtfVKUn8m5CR92sHa34CwxuFZPHvrgeIGR85tPqxEBvZDIBmhsWdKufgb4RJo9KHaIgZkYAw5csdEKejvb2S0FjHEt8yrRx9N_ulzx-nN3hevPXU8tsOmWiRhXLxwUq5v9bN8bh_U0-7dBQT8zWvaacH9/s4624/20230907_202031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8EujeaA-5y5rKX26WS44WTAGl6MxTKumEHPQtfVKUn8m5CR92sHa34CwxuFZPHvrgeIGR85tPqxEBvZDIBmhsWdKufgb4RJo9KHaIgZkYAw5csdEKejvb2S0FjHEt8yrRx9N_ulzx-nN3hevPXU8tsOmWiRhXLxwUq5v9bN8bh_U0-7dBQT8zWvaacH9/w480-h640/20230907_202031.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-36732476672023914142023-09-24T09:07:00.000+01:002023-09-24T09:07:31.468+01:00CRANE FLY<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">September is peak crane fly time. I remember them appearing in the top corners of the tent when we went camping. They are attracted to light so they often come into houses at this time of year. They are quite harmless.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The one in the photo is a male; you can tell because the end of the body is blunt - square even. Females have a pointed end to the abdomen; this is so that they can deposit their eggs in the soil.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC52jCiuZJhDnmh-aZ5NyeW4YKOxx0dbORFBREHsYnpBjBfGC_PJZ_bIj0Uvdhy1kp4oDZE1Po7jbtA7B1CVCqBVot7nPurraV_wGFkI_8h8Vc7_ZFIfXz6UE-6vVnbeIrmxSLeNrYYewAG-UfqsQUDLEpXXA8W-M3rdLV7UxrMLRg1HciaGBOZmKqCA2i/s2402/20230922_220726.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2402" data-original-width="2030" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC52jCiuZJhDnmh-aZ5NyeW4YKOxx0dbORFBREHsYnpBjBfGC_PJZ_bIj0Uvdhy1kp4oDZE1Po7jbtA7B1CVCqBVot7nPurraV_wGFkI_8h8Vc7_ZFIfXz6UE-6vVnbeIrmxSLeNrYYewAG-UfqsQUDLEpXXA8W-M3rdLV7UxrMLRg1HciaGBOZmKqCA2i/w540-h640/20230922_220726.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All flies have only two pairs of wings unlike most insects which have four. Instead of the second pair they have two drumstick-like organs called halteres which help with balance in flight. The halteres on common crane flies are particularly large and visible. In the photo below I managed to get one of the halteres in focus - almost.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEwfL7E5a6zHG3U-Qn0scQuIEHS8DpqjIqZHj8Ndm7Iwn3u96oKpFCZOqFnVKE9B8pDS-XiVQVZye603JEoxO4GHo10tPtAazoW11iiu2yNIKuNyCRH72BoAPKqi2PNsMbUs0LRGf0FbQ5kGRDyFiX1ginS4ZCNElYyPP6Rx6qpeHk8eh4sE8ipWCdEe5/s2989/20230922_220854.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2989" data-original-width="2625" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEwfL7E5a6zHG3U-Qn0scQuIEHS8DpqjIqZHj8Ndm7Iwn3u96oKpFCZOqFnVKE9B8pDS-XiVQVZye603JEoxO4GHo10tPtAazoW11iiu2yNIKuNyCRH72BoAPKqi2PNsMbUs0LRGf0FbQ5kGRDyFiX1ginS4ZCNElYyPP6Rx6qpeHk8eh4sE8ipWCdEe5/w351-h400/20230922_220854.jpg" width="351" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Crane flies only live for 10 - 15 days so they have to get on with the business of mating and laying eggs a.s.a.p. You may see a pair joined end to end and when the female is laying eggs she bounces up and down on her spindly legs as she pushes her ovipositor into the soil. The legs are often damaged or missing, which doesn't seem to worry them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> The larvae are called leather jackets and are a menace because they feed on the roots of grasses and other plants. They are, however, an important source of food for hedgehogs, badgers, foxes and birds. If your lawn gets dug up it may mean that someone has been after leather jackets. What look like two eyes are actually breathing spiracles; the head is at the other end but they don't need eyes anyway as they live their whole life underground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEDSEVa9zduvDdJwQrruL-3y_HFIHG2fCXYBANhQqGupggqRmOI6y12wDd-z1Tm072EBLoltLpNHkCqYLK7N70IfOHzm-ZJVD76_cPwO1VpxeDsQVAyyUkWHzY2hDuuyh3wFVHuWmx21IjtSx4tXkSOnTq8AzH8JOJVqSBObKuBrqnHUCoTxHG79hpkt8/s600/cranefly%20larva%20002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEDSEVa9zduvDdJwQrruL-3y_HFIHG2fCXYBANhQqGupggqRmOI6y12wDd-z1Tm072EBLoltLpNHkCqYLK7N70IfOHzm-ZJVD76_cPwO1VpxeDsQVAyyUkWHzY2hDuuyh3wFVHuWmx21IjtSx4tXkSOnTq8AzH8JOJVqSBObKuBrqnHUCoTxHG79hpkt8/s320/cranefly%20larva%20002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: G Bradley on www.uksafari.com</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Crane flies are also known as daddy longlegs but don't confuse them with cobweb spiders or harvestmen, which are also called daddy longlegs.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-930130701199670972023-09-22T15:22:00.000+01:002023-09-22T15:22:55.207+01:00PLANT DESTROYER<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The dark stains on the trunk of this alder tree are probably a symptom of a <i>Phytophthora alni</i> infection. You can see that the branches are dying because the bark and cambium have been killed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSe87GryeTH1KF9v8Nt0Y_hhbkPtmuUMot1gjpHjYvwvGwOjBP5YoI06N979pRCaEKtOh6grEkUe1aDTQ0EmcmnY2Op6KgrI8g5czv1ilcnvCTYiB3JulV4LkkUbmCf4aTMIDGoaJUmmZ_MhvGSnSvkpy3gCC5bPlrHv4gq6ilEPo9d-3VY-pGnYJOJjK/s4624/20230818_100805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSe87GryeTH1KF9v8Nt0Y_hhbkPtmuUMot1gjpHjYvwvGwOjBP5YoI06N979pRCaEKtOh6grEkUe1aDTQ0EmcmnY2Op6KgrI8g5czv1ilcnvCTYiB3JulV4LkkUbmCf4aTMIDGoaJUmmZ_MhvGSnSvkpy3gCC5bPlrHv4gq6ilEPo9d-3VY-pGnYJOJjK/w266-h354/20230818_100805.jpg" width="266" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLpCtWpVqvYoL5qtPUyjqqOAzUubxzT1bUwYwela5O4y1FUWq8ztfmZpF1jTT_7wRFRTUqo9qVAgkNEpzlDC36CACAAxpmibPE0-AbGPeKy83TditGo-sY55nOmRg4GUV8BnErEKaoNSD07J7_eQw56OPcw1VUtTyjCXsvgLUEiU-z5t5Z6pAHztkh2jy/s4624/20230818_100717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLpCtWpVqvYoL5qtPUyjqqOAzUubxzT1bUwYwela5O4y1FUWq8ztfmZpF1jTT_7wRFRTUqo9qVAgkNEpzlDC36CACAAxpmibPE0-AbGPeKy83TditGo-sY55nOmRg4GUV8BnErEKaoNSD07J7_eQw56OPcw1VUtTyjCXsvgLUEiU-z5t5Z6pAHztkh2jy/w264-h352/20230818_100717.jpg" width="264" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Phytophthoras </i>are organisms a bit like fungi but different. They ae sometimes referred to as water moulds. There are at least 200 known species. <i>Phytophthora kernoviae</i> produces similar symptoms in beech trees and <i>Phytophthora infestans</i> causes potato blight. There is almost no known cure or antidote so they are indeed plant destroyers, which is what <i>Phytophthora </i>means.</div><br /><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-41129222802565966482023-09-20T08:46:00.000+01:002023-09-20T08:46:11.541+01:00HONEY FUNGUS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Honey fungus fruiting bodies appear in the autumn and are killed off by the first frosts, but the fungus lives on in the roots of the affected tree. A serious infection as on the birch tree below will appear around the base of the trunk and on the ground over infected roots. It is the cambium of the roots that it attacks first, opening them up to decay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtg-B81Oa0atyjKB6zaL1sOnAiuUwjyuUOA6u70SEXx0_7MplMi_w0qA5d5V6NKgVhqTq_8fuMQT1u5BpRECKBGnRc7Ow6IzB4FWmSwx5z3odBnmEgzGr2_N0dpHP5fRHjaNIXIVkpLg8oxIOOI-5Pp3_igI4WqvrOSfLm7qOfTSkTTGjCEM8ygFQ2GD7/s4128/20211109_115258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtg-B81Oa0atyjKB6zaL1sOnAiuUwjyuUOA6u70SEXx0_7MplMi_w0qA5d5V6NKgVhqTq_8fuMQT1u5BpRECKBGnRc7Ow6IzB4FWmSwx5z3odBnmEgzGr2_N0dpHP5fRHjaNIXIVkpLg8oxIOOI-5Pp3_igI4WqvrOSfLm7qOfTSkTTGjCEM8ygFQ2GD7/w640-h480/20211109_115258.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The brackets start off as small honey-coloured button mushrooms, turning brown as they increase in size. The tell-tale signature is the ring or collar near the top of the stem, just visible in the photo below left on the top left individual. If you are worried you have honey fungus, look underneath the cap. If there are no rings on the toadstools it is not honey fungus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLFQmfT8t5py9KpYhUfrryyesmNeVZU8PlrbwZp7V5m8GUeishEXIgzXhU5TnTMLCpt_gfTkE-2vWtEmm9Ske-HQBZ79kwyzOrIcbzztgnaZDw3XY4i493udsFZNpWQPuX5iFD_LsiGo5yrHMK3T-QTIZVd7rb9GhL5M677LPd_DXc-91UyOs7Keutw6Y/s640/IMG_6464.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLFQmfT8t5py9KpYhUfrryyesmNeVZU8PlrbwZp7V5m8GUeishEXIgzXhU5TnTMLCpt_gfTkE-2vWtEmm9Ske-HQBZ79kwyzOrIcbzztgnaZDw3XY4i493udsFZNpWQPuX5iFD_LsiGo5yrHMK3T-QTIZVd7rb9GhL5M677LPd_DXc-91UyOs7Keutw6Y/w280-h373/IMG_6464.jpg" width="280" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhRN4E3onRxiZFBBuSt47Go75OyH3mlXmUa7c5ZyTeEjRrdv3nWk5pg9k0cmX87qbsd9_nZIitfgPhfGC_Z9p30bv4p051Pz90yj1FdYGTk5itNYZnVHmyE72PErrd2NI92p-8lnS07ZGNnjdvsX4qHI0iArYhWo_FKuM8zd75-ZNon8tvrs_QaWaEWIX/s4128/20211102_122424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhRN4E3onRxiZFBBuSt47Go75OyH3mlXmUa7c5ZyTeEjRrdv3nWk5pg9k0cmX87qbsd9_nZIitfgPhfGC_Z9p30bv4p051Pz90yj1FdYGTk5itNYZnVHmyE72PErrd2NI92p-8lnS07ZGNnjdvsX4qHI0iArYhWo_FKuM8zd75-ZNon8tvrs_QaWaEWIX/w280-h374/20211102_122424.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The last four images show the degradation over time of the toadstools on an old</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> plum tree stump. Finishing as a black gooey mess.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRdpd2KjCB3TL9WjeNBpOGKubv9CaulgaisAj-SJD0tHBazFeIRekIHV6X66wdun3nBVuRCcZVoFMkUlrKZMzgvFxArQgsijmhEGYxczNaQIvURHM4jXQnMlp1FyFSUWSivWUjqwm__yL9MqveQBJW_P6oej6f_n8HIuzgoBWc_xsqUZ3isSuKqaZUHZC/s4128/20211102_122228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRdpd2KjCB3TL9WjeNBpOGKubv9CaulgaisAj-SJD0tHBazFeIRekIHV6X66wdun3nBVuRCcZVoFMkUlrKZMzgvFxArQgsijmhEGYxczNaQIvURHM4jXQnMlp1FyFSUWSivWUjqwm__yL9MqveQBJW_P6oej6f_n8HIuzgoBWc_xsqUZ3isSuKqaZUHZC/s320/20211102_122228.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnON2IswtXF399a-rPJ8N26PBPnN417kcHu9zdy-GuaZJjl0B_ixMUmh_XgNPgJIG_Y2497iEslUF0aW4TTGmKQyjOV97JVGHzK7tgCruqnnAc9I4x0F_lcfxEas1ar8aPGEbw4qCUQaARj-ZdcljPZW3d-B4AqaCCGvS7xlQ79VxtVfBEfyaIVcrtFzl8/s4128/20211113_151835.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnON2IswtXF399a-rPJ8N26PBPnN417kcHu9zdy-GuaZJjl0B_ixMUmh_XgNPgJIG_Y2497iEslUF0aW4TTGmKQyjOV97JVGHzK7tgCruqnnAc9I4x0F_lcfxEas1ar8aPGEbw4qCUQaARj-ZdcljPZW3d-B4AqaCCGvS7xlQ79VxtVfBEfyaIVcrtFzl8/s320/20211113_151835.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NqdrqXN7A2DF_Ex5e0APVZxFMmaYi0htbQ1DeB3Gf4YmQIDZBsBXQQgNBvADVuzswWz93LdJeYVoA0zmiSCvJi2ZAmqFyXr3o0_EoGj7RJ102te3zPZbt8tE_MfSj_DoknCC0tvmEbLS5ucS1RZxpq2axB7rZ_nRim52ubQfPzcFSyT8j6nvy80aDfUU/s4128/20211118_125135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NqdrqXN7A2DF_Ex5e0APVZxFMmaYi0htbQ1DeB3Gf4YmQIDZBsBXQQgNBvADVuzswWz93LdJeYVoA0zmiSCvJi2ZAmqFyXr3o0_EoGj7RJ102te3zPZbt8tE_MfSj_DoknCC0tvmEbLS5ucS1RZxpq2axB7rZ_nRim52ubQfPzcFSyT8j6nvy80aDfUU/s320/20211118_125135.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltHi3TjRuyenPa3XSuPMOWId3Gh5GOVoR8W23k4XF3oISyoTJli-44uy7f0cT-F8tnkDzTxFe4RFTk-T4aN2PeKjMJBmaRQfGuh7Ex-jl16YHCQk02K9iqvVnbsvYsQasOfRkPKgzb9AvG_oQLWM1vbA6GRMabY9L7CYmyxTf-aG_4TV2uP5W1V7lpf_P/s4128/20211125_152631.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltHi3TjRuyenPa3XSuPMOWId3Gh5GOVoR8W23k4XF3oISyoTJli-44uy7f0cT-F8tnkDzTxFe4RFTk-T4aN2PeKjMJBmaRQfGuh7Ex-jl16YHCQk02K9iqvVnbsvYsQasOfRkPKgzb9AvG_oQLWM1vbA6GRMabY9L7CYmyxTf-aG_4TV2uP5W1V7lpf_P/s320/20211125_152631.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-37277424957867597142023-09-18T08:33:00.000+01:002023-09-18T08:33:30.205+01:00MERIPILUS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the fruiting body or bracket produced by the Giant Polypore, <i>Meripilus giganteus</i>. A mass of overlapping fronds, which may be up to 60cm across.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tWBijjHY1Mndx3Kmpry2td64tjBTmJsxuuI0SQpuVhGNv8RkwFAc6_kHifO1RKU3K0aVCqrXPDyv1OHDm5zqxT4qojtvdBJDG7zhmXalmdNfFPmSVQn_Bby07qGLHba4VMfSEdbDhURWS7LY5_lSsI9FvD4GHGUR-8qathqVHZJMAOpZm8l52ZX5LJp8/s1600/IMG-20230817-WA0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tWBijjHY1Mndx3Kmpry2td64tjBTmJsxuuI0SQpuVhGNv8RkwFAc6_kHifO1RKU3K0aVCqrXPDyv1OHDm5zqxT4qojtvdBJDG7zhmXalmdNfFPmSVQn_Bby07qGLHba4VMfSEdbDhURWS7LY5_lSsI9FvD4GHGUR-8qathqVHZJMAOpZm8l52ZX5LJp8/s320/IMG-20230817-WA0004.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPZ30IFwtHV-nTdOi6SdRKZDwW-SO3-fd8MrAzKYqHF3Z4Gx4vyOAwEJpaUdE-T9fQZaLed1MUFpWhsXs3tLt0q34B54ytJ4j6fTXJmuCeZisRC2YA946t_4pn2Gap5_z89hh_BmW2ytylARfppKaJcr6FTuT4l0BX1RR8jVspZcRgRGkK2nV72JGyQIo/s620/MERIPILUS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="620" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPZ30IFwtHV-nTdOi6SdRKZDwW-SO3-fd8MrAzKYqHF3Z4Gx4vyOAwEJpaUdE-T9fQZaLed1MUFpWhsXs3tLt0q34B54ytJ4j6fTXJmuCeZisRC2YA946t_4pn2Gap5_z89hh_BmW2ytylARfppKaJcr6FTuT4l0BX1RR8jVspZcRgRGkK2nV72JGyQIo/w354-h321/MERIPILUS.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This fungus favours beech trees, though it will occasionally appear on oak, plane or monkey puzzle trees. It appears at ground level or even above roots some distance from the tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On beech it renders the wood at the base of the trunk brittle and is therefore rather dangerous. Once the brackets appear, the decay has been going some time and a strong wind could bring the tree down, especially, as with the tree in the picture, if the winter wind resistance is increased by a lot of ivy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The red goblin gives an idea of scale.</div><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-69642356389579925002023-09-16T10:45:00.000+01:002023-09-16T10:45:30.806+01:00MINING HAZEL<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDB9I-1ocm4iJ1CTi8ESUY-xdCg4u6T7o6lsp2mNZ31FXC5M5yQ_34fJD9jOR8_Q8sfe-YNcTjmKS1QMGD9BAeLI4FiyVpg3Nm_QECDis7CLERGeYwl16Ap39ji4kyKAaFO4kY5wjoHwNcmpJQVUOCtVy_ckLCT91qUBcDB4F0s86ggRgPf23uhMlMotV/s4624/20230909_095752.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDB9I-1ocm4iJ1CTi8ESUY-xdCg4u6T7o6lsp2mNZ31FXC5M5yQ_34fJD9jOR8_Q8sfe-YNcTjmKS1QMGD9BAeLI4FiyVpg3Nm_QECDis7CLERGeYwl16Ap39ji4kyKAaFO4kY5wjoHwNcmpJQVUOCtVy_ckLCT91qUBcDB4F0s86ggRgPf23uhMlMotV/w480-h640/20230909_095752.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Minute leaf miners scribed this pattern on half a hazel leaf. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are the larvae of a very small micro-moth, the hazel leaf miner, (<i>Stigmella microtheriella</i>), with a wingspan of 3-4mm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4f-OsCwXDRPDp5KfLzCvWu5MiyFhH6pXuHWmoeA0e6pjtaq_FZ-H7N_7en2NEf78DRUGcfAwMW3hIa5ZgzMrqlek4dHs4x50WGmN038Iuo_niiNEdjwn1TKwS7eWUnQih-1vquFTrUbHpPv8gmcmf7uqaNGEOoqLz7c-WUIArQ4MO4TeiFDHjRYenhSE/s500/hazel%20leaf%20miner,%20stigmella%20microtheriella,%20Stephen%20Thorpe,%20uk.naturalist.org.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="398" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4f-OsCwXDRPDp5KfLzCvWu5MiyFhH6pXuHWmoeA0e6pjtaq_FZ-H7N_7en2NEf78DRUGcfAwMW3hIa5ZgzMrqlek4dHs4x50WGmN038Iuo_niiNEdjwn1TKwS7eWUnQih-1vquFTrUbHpPv8gmcmf7uqaNGEOoqLz7c-WUIArQ4MO4TeiFDHjRYenhSE/w319-h400/hazel%20leaf%20miner,%20stigmella%20microtheriella,%20Stephen%20Thorpe,%20uk.naturalist.org.jpeg" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Stephen Thorpe, uk.inaturalist.org</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I wonder why they either couldn't or wouldn't cross the main central vein.</div><p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-82574410239845428942023-09-14T09:12:00.000+01:002023-09-14T09:12:11.724+01:00SHAGGY ROTTER<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5uVpADjyjk2OlDSeUnK2jTp4S2N6Fs2a--LLEGwR3fcYb7H5OmvgzzIWbj0U2SWCSB26C6mbe4ZJud8HlwdXY5xEjHbhhSXD6Xcmg5kxyRR6fsU4CZNZvFU6rYrYmY4_KqeYoz0diUxrp942IzK04vJpH7cLhCq9ePxv8bnrXvsIldQbi5Afp8NMUq9W/s2048/IMG-20230630-WA0003%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5uVpADjyjk2OlDSeUnK2jTp4S2N6Fs2a--LLEGwR3fcYb7H5OmvgzzIWbj0U2SWCSB26C6mbe4ZJud8HlwdXY5xEjHbhhSXD6Xcmg5kxyRR6fsU4CZNZvFU6rYrYmY4_KqeYoz0diUxrp942IzK04vJpH7cLhCq9ePxv8bnrXvsIldQbi5Afp8NMUq9W/w200-h200/IMG-20230630-WA0003%5B1%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX71z9k8tkrz31wCJOl1WEBHRFi9GlN5wYL2uucjHs7e42UoIJopc9wQoJykAOLx5SsouP85ORrCZRj8wBAo2By7i7YIX3_fnqEpvhGIsb667tf9EfP546h7Tc-f_23Trty_ZoojAvk6pspmSpEQ7JKoSqq9u8ldObMvOUY6lmnhuQHdpAEo5I3Tr1vlQB/s2048/IMG-20230630-WA0002%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX71z9k8tkrz31wCJOl1WEBHRFi9GlN5wYL2uucjHs7e42UoIJopc9wQoJykAOLx5SsouP85ORrCZRj8wBAo2By7i7YIX3_fnqEpvhGIsb667tf9EfP546h7Tc-f_23Trty_ZoojAvk6pspmSpEQ7JKoSqq9u8ldObMvOUY6lmnhuQHdpAEo5I3Tr1vlQB/w200-h200/IMG-20230630-WA0002%5B1%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This fungus, <i>Inonotus hispidus</i> grows on ash and apple and walnut trees but also on cherry apparently as in the photo above from Marianne Mogendorff. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The photos below are of it growing on apple.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyccLCrm2zBIXOnV38PSmjgXWQ7xU0JJQPoMicLpjGreKSXfqUIHngup7g85dgOUTaPsZjsHtj8-fnDbXgIg5RkUGk9aYhbeK3010CVjCFxh_dqdGtBD6CzcDOEe1bbQWqihNnpm9dD3FtPobyKTocx3yzGf7JYUmFhlCuaUCZ8E1wdGH5KCgnrSNK6QGu/s4624/20230622_110757.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyccLCrm2zBIXOnV38PSmjgXWQ7xU0JJQPoMicLpjGreKSXfqUIHngup7g85dgOUTaPsZjsHtj8-fnDbXgIg5RkUGk9aYhbeK3010CVjCFxh_dqdGtBD6CzcDOEe1bbQWqihNnpm9dD3FtPobyKTocx3yzGf7JYUmFhlCuaUCZ8E1wdGH5KCgnrSNK6QGu/w480-h640/20230622_110757.jpg" width="480" /></a> </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Actually, of course, this is only the fruiting body, a fungus's equivalent to a flower. The main living part of the fungus is a web of white fungal threads inside the tree. This fungus makes the wood brittle and trees can lose branches unexpectedly.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90SQViWvVoEUN-bZAmyyoJ2t0oQuVbaIqAscl2BzDWLaHvwaSteUXDASOZiHNZ-t_lzuoTMxhsdPyC7Cv_WW19EuRa6rjy-Ec3rUh0QH33hztcTFKHSxpM49UWuh_6KCjySO4N2b8HGWoaeieJ4PfA1MHJDruaZ0fGh0OPyplDAXvAsPAsk6r_uukbg7R/s4624/20230622_110741.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90SQViWvVoEUN-bZAmyyoJ2t0oQuVbaIqAscl2BzDWLaHvwaSteUXDASOZiHNZ-t_lzuoTMxhsdPyC7Cv_WW19EuRa6rjy-Ec3rUh0QH33hztcTFKHSxpM49UWuh_6KCjySO4N2b8HGWoaeieJ4PfA1MHJDruaZ0fGh0OPyplDAXvAsPAsk6r_uukbg7R/w287-h215/20230622_110741.jpg" width="287" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvIRV2FCPYOBB22RPIWGjDpSWTw3WCBokjTWZRDrGxREgMJ5UIrpjUr49yFAadIaYXSjbSo6w-82_jYW-4lLO4JL11C5GHgArvO_yGIrbPWqB1Q4dCuZXssSf9dyIrYk15mUiCVo5ZKbosWYySIZM4-rBgsMnFMyE70QDcVg-ZqdrRuEUqghRyRM9CQ41/s4624/20230622_110749.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvIRV2FCPYOBB22RPIWGjDpSWTw3WCBokjTWZRDrGxREgMJ5UIrpjUr49yFAadIaYXSjbSo6w-82_jYW-4lLO4JL11C5GHgArvO_yGIrbPWqB1Q4dCuZXssSf9dyIrYk15mUiCVo5ZKbosWYySIZM4-rBgsMnFMyE70QDcVg-ZqdrRuEUqghRyRM9CQ41/w288-h216/20230622_110749.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After about ten days the bracket turns from bright orange to brown and the bristles on the top show why it is called the shaggy bracket. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYBUCED7vMpbDV2V0OdWtJnkknHl54VhEEcIJTvmXgTeFM1cpOmpOeY2no_cZtQJsX5pGcOlzMD3gtr_kGszAELGrlZO5NydPgTUyT_zNrhZRSuDGPBk-UAMoI-ODn1SUbtRqnPpOaVO7VQG8QDsMYx-Z-Hf9gIRXDpw1_YBU0EZGOFNaBZKNzltWvMiA/s3219/20230702_084653%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2993" data-original-width="3219" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYBUCED7vMpbDV2V0OdWtJnkknHl54VhEEcIJTvmXgTeFM1cpOmpOeY2no_cZtQJsX5pGcOlzMD3gtr_kGszAELGrlZO5NydPgTUyT_zNrhZRSuDGPBk-UAMoI-ODn1SUbtRqnPpOaVO7VQG8QDsMYx-Z-Hf9gIRXDpw1_YBU0EZGOFNaBZKNzltWvMiA/w251-h234/20230702_084653%20crop.jpg" width="251" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OeJ2qkNRm2m0rP840v_jpVra1GBVirxQEan1WP63F9Bmz4g2oPX2w7JDJO9qoPVtulzk3fS498j6X27HOOCp2WMFjsB0lUQ5Kk8YQaYqZvERk_McSYfIJrsJIkoQLBpvPSyd25NENZePBImaiGwu0YYaYHBeuZ1pZunPCzS9nLfLNVfldFUgxs0Pg-zL/s4624/20230702_084703.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OeJ2qkNRm2m0rP840v_jpVra1GBVirxQEan1WP63F9Bmz4g2oPX2w7JDJO9qoPVtulzk3fS498j6X27HOOCp2WMFjsB0lUQ5Kk8YQaYqZvERk_McSYfIJrsJIkoQLBpvPSyd25NENZePBImaiGwu0YYaYHBeuZ1pZunPCzS9nLfLNVfldFUgxs0Pg-zL/w310-h232/20230702_084703.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gradually after it has shed trillions of spores it begins to turn black and may persist on the tree for a year or more, warning of brittle branches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QUhcbZThN_6vfQ_-tNgFm00nlnN2gWaXaITQ0JqpSPLgloGiRhraLUALjeBQnmjZe1Vq_a4T0eZCjwg8pNPj9pHJ_589fNxV7PUmbvtzWYLBrjuWG7UyqjxVH4LCUTUJeYzCIOhTa-znziHJYBJBzcGl2D2uJmhfXg_JOIhR6pw5QKnN3RpZ-V3k1Mqf/s4624/20230730_160624.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QUhcbZThN_6vfQ_-tNgFm00nlnN2gWaXaITQ0JqpSPLgloGiRhraLUALjeBQnmjZe1Vq_a4T0eZCjwg8pNPj9pHJ_589fNxV7PUmbvtzWYLBrjuWG7UyqjxVH4LCUTUJeYzCIOhTa-znziHJYBJBzcGl2D2uJmhfXg_JOIhR6pw5QKnN3RpZ-V3k1Mqf/w400-h300/20230730_160624.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOg-jUOtU7rdexJFubYnLw6inJLTk9j0HezJ0dDMU9-o26NjyQ6i2yRE0PZyNqjgNAzFhI9Mu905G5R874NvKQvmKpvuM6_f7uZSLvjN84X3M6NYQcEA9B3NYSvDZTmfrU0jJN5yfIH9zuZrTV7YH7cCNortQFGHI4QunfACBu3ZJhlPfeJAo4vT80DVQ4/s4624/20230912_111044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOg-jUOtU7rdexJFubYnLw6inJLTk9j0HezJ0dDMU9-o26NjyQ6i2yRE0PZyNqjgNAzFhI9Mu905G5R874NvKQvmKpvuM6_f7uZSLvjN84X3M6NYQcEA9B3NYSvDZTmfrU0jJN5yfIH9zuZrTV7YH7cCNortQFGHI4QunfACBu3ZJhlPfeJAo4vT80DVQ4/w400-h300/20230912_111044.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-57195733415035931012023-09-12T10:50:00.000+01:002023-09-12T10:50:14.064+01:00BOX MOTH<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've noticed several of these striking black and white moths flitting round the garden when their roosting spot was disturbed. They're not in my comprehensive moth book because they are a fairly recent arrival to Europe. Native to South-east Asia, they were first recorded in the UK in Kent in 2007 and have spread throughout southern England. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHp2ErEy_6xZ66c1U7nFFe2yxp6BpnYEDUpoKFiKUxxz1jqCG8jxCQA14IfiKfOrOaVCcQjJ88briRMRw5zLS8mH-3Rj46572-YD1vDRfZnRZ1dyxXO6gLDY-LLabkBw0vSMDAI4RgGCUgwddWuhngSumWDSNQXZLJxNCsPOsIRBSK705BH4-iiJEOCsh/s2576/20230908_090821.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2576" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHp2ErEy_6xZ66c1U7nFFe2yxp6BpnYEDUpoKFiKUxxz1jqCG8jxCQA14IfiKfOrOaVCcQjJ88briRMRw5zLS8mH-3Rj46572-YD1vDRfZnRZ1dyxXO6gLDY-LLabkBw0vSMDAI4RgGCUgwddWuhngSumWDSNQXZLJxNCsPOsIRBSK705BH4-iiJEOCsh/w400-h300/20230908_090821.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is not such good news because this is the Box Moth, whose green and black caterpillars can defoliate box bushes, hedges and topiary. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYTkbNB2ZYgw1c_kQnbBkEQeuuLmelwL71u1JSAhaCHe0xulKFmwVmCsEyR5n3HemrSyoiSyyIkJZ8N78grdTGsUuLnScmymlzlIjZ7me70whnsBeYfe0X9li9twQmNF10KX1m3NBdlQm9JBxQ5UtMsQKMmcKk3JAi60r6LY9GRNXTaYsb1BX-0JWJjfJ/s640/Box%20moth,%20Vlad%20Proklov.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYTkbNB2ZYgw1c_kQnbBkEQeuuLmelwL71u1JSAhaCHe0xulKFmwVmCsEyR5n3HemrSyoiSyyIkJZ8N78grdTGsUuLnScmymlzlIjZ7me70whnsBeYfe0X9li9twQmNF10KX1m3NBdlQm9JBxQ5UtMsQKMmcKk3JAi60r6LY9GRNXTaYsb1BX-0JWJjfJ/w400-h300/Box%20moth,%20Vlad%20Proklov.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Vlad Proklov</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you notice silk webbing over your box plants, it might be a good idea to investigate. The larvae also use silk to knit a couple of box leaves together for a winter retreat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-25824971682911584882023-09-10T11:26:00.000+01:002023-09-10T11:26:30.648+01:00BERRIES<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While out blackberrying we were impressed by the richness of the autumn fruit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZV8591xl1U92BENzjRmF-PhNnw7XULZ7tFopG_IVc2yV4EVeOb8zjcA-cp6UIJeH_3XBGkdriv_xV6Ozy2j6a-VbJpIS0adYDNpyPzxyizyAgzWhhrQrzrjqzdktc0xaCfx2l7dNYs638IA-won3qfL8RfhThDnWB6RyeZY-cs0MPFIvgMUZb1SENFqb/s4624/20230907_181816.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZV8591xl1U92BENzjRmF-PhNnw7XULZ7tFopG_IVc2yV4EVeOb8zjcA-cp6UIJeH_3XBGkdriv_xV6Ozy2j6a-VbJpIS0adYDNpyPzxyizyAgzWhhrQrzrjqzdktc0xaCfx2l7dNYs638IA-won3qfL8RfhThDnWB6RyeZY-cs0MPFIvgMUZb1SENFqb/w640-h480/20230907_181816.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rose Hips</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheq-Rgg8SMM9A--brxSiHARa9wD7JZgF0nkpind51AjngGplmDUv-z_CJvcajOaf0QTB7-mILPOMVA1A46HQVGh6-hdhZ_DbCEzyaLpSWEV-jYj0bW1PtPXtaI-uf0Vkj2X7wo9LRI-ATc236Mm0TvYkFxI9RzYYDmLSuILwwmzJc8CmZZC-Q3nvS6S6dF/s4624/20230907_181851.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheq-Rgg8SMM9A--brxSiHARa9wD7JZgF0nkpind51AjngGplmDUv-z_CJvcajOaf0QTB7-mILPOMVA1A46HQVGh6-hdhZ_DbCEzyaLpSWEV-jYj0bW1PtPXtaI-uf0Vkj2X7wo9LRI-ATc236Mm0TvYkFxI9RzYYDmLSuILwwmzJc8CmZZC-Q3nvS6S6dF/w640-h480/20230907_181851.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Haws on the hawthorn</div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEDF9hOlDtadP3rg0ft_ZlDg3Fmm1TQobQxyKoO7F1eSKY_wDctW_2ww8A_7J8O9jxIHS4ZKiMnMfSz6esdD63uxhTRB9NWMUehzaJ6Gh3ptEnb3j0ktX2GYASJo2z7el7heMdtRUtOn4mt2H7zzydkUOgWwSlZQy0mR1txB_6HugFMs0sGQUe0HK7ht2/s4624/20230907_181754.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEDF9hOlDtadP3rg0ft_ZlDg3Fmm1TQobQxyKoO7F1eSKY_wDctW_2ww8A_7J8O9jxIHS4ZKiMnMfSz6esdD63uxhTRB9NWMUehzaJ6Gh3ptEnb3j0ktX2GYASJo2z7el7heMdtRUtOn4mt2H7zzydkUOgWwSlZQy0mR1txB_6HugFMs0sGQUe0HK7ht2/w640-h480/20230907_181754.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The tempting but poisonous berries of the climber Bryony.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeTR8zUovhk1saQvdaUycckOdT8TR8Bkdlfe7rUL2kxgM45QJOZI-y-cUGDWW2cA8_JX_VuUYs1LqEhGy18zcC4nUWQLrShSrYSGyycmK0JiShrcQT9ZSoo5FeA4WMkSJLjqK5Gl1DtbORLPAKTH_1jMFbHYjkdgzglYQMrGIMpx-8RiqE8vkHjOQXS57/s4624/20230907_181926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeTR8zUovhk1saQvdaUycckOdT8TR8Bkdlfe7rUL2kxgM45QJOZI-y-cUGDWW2cA8_JX_VuUYs1LqEhGy18zcC4nUWQLrShSrYSGyycmK0JiShrcQT9ZSoo5FeA4WMkSJLjqK5Gl1DtbORLPAKTH_1jMFbHYjkdgzglYQMrGIMpx-8RiqE8vkHjOQXS57/w640-h480/20230907_181926.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-48235844338996171722023-09-08T09:54:00.000+01:002023-09-08T09:54:47.738+01:00DRYAD'S SADDLE<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A dryad is a wood nymph and this fungus (<i>Polyporus squamosus</i>) is known as Dryad's Saddle, clearly a place where you might catch one having a rest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwABBvWAjLARNlZi69MgFT4EfYEA3RfNavyhWPPAFdq8uFmCQl3uiO3GmRn49kBqk0gFCz3t6nW5bP1vovT2G2NMF4f4BjV_LIlyurjvRJoqG2ApzpHO80X5zU01beLzwqdJ61ptaLjoI8Lb8FJi4TyUT-zTtfR4Oz-sLRSVqbCrguWuQVXDmBn87D9cq/s4624/20230814_161359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwABBvWAjLARNlZi69MgFT4EfYEA3RfNavyhWPPAFdq8uFmCQl3uiO3GmRn49kBqk0gFCz3t6nW5bP1vovT2G2NMF4f4BjV_LIlyurjvRJoqG2ApzpHO80X5zU01beLzwqdJ61ptaLjoI8Lb8FJi4TyUT-zTtfR4Oz-sLRSVqbCrguWuQVXDmBn87D9cq/w640-h480/20230814_161359.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The upper surface is covered in brown scales on a yellow background, but you can't see the scales if it's too high up the tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWK1h5hFd2vSxcrotf1w72lB3YznDxAVQy0zbkzEOYQiolPukYUPW605pca8uG3kPEUsqhi1Qh--Mtx52-eI2sJArVwXZ9RGb7DZ9hNQstyKfFSXRRwM7cv8L5SAfVp-7_4KPp8k2fMPBp1wIMenUgT5zIhr0RgKOXd5vN1bL5KbrIDJ_Z3ntVm4zBXNR/s4624/20230814_161410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWK1h5hFd2vSxcrotf1w72lB3YznDxAVQy0zbkzEOYQiolPukYUPW605pca8uG3kPEUsqhi1Qh--Mtx52-eI2sJArVwXZ9RGb7DZ9hNQstyKfFSXRRwM7cv8L5SAfVp-7_4KPp8k2fMPBp1wIMenUgT5zIhr0RgKOXd5vN1bL5KbrIDJ_Z3ntVm4zBXNR/w640-h480/20230814_161410.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the images below you can see last year's bracket or 'fruiting body' near ground level.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLTyetL6lrmn29QJVaSK7qA2Wq6nzNLka7VJVRtW4Hk7yRiTMNh1zY1X-1ITBpOjA5oUEByUhAqNWCZkWmfKB7guwH5Iwuq1gtmKnocU_wJXOy-wpSQCi_-4J1ugqiW4uiIGiO4Hli6m5Hhmys2EGuKaStJ72IVx5Hey4MEfAOrtIs_lrB3twWQXuF3AI/s4624/20230814_161442.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLTyetL6lrmn29QJVaSK7qA2Wq6nzNLka7VJVRtW4Hk7yRiTMNh1zY1X-1ITBpOjA5oUEByUhAqNWCZkWmfKB7guwH5Iwuq1gtmKnocU_wJXOy-wpSQCi_-4J1ugqiW4uiIGiO4Hli6m5Hhmys2EGuKaStJ72IVx5Hey4MEfAOrtIs_lrB3twWQXuF3AI/s320/20230814_161442.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOo0H-3OAcyzUIJsd2-UavjOno7MEPwh0UuZuPrTTjaWJE5jCdzq6NsyMqdh5GOZ65PdZUdOxCeKvvo79D3R75YD9__dF4KLEhqlbiDtw_BIOY_zvjCKIWYHKV1fF49mW8c8tb6dHk6pbGY58KE9GnOgPv-QM-dXCoHTMJPCKqD0-CYSt9bU3O1oniuRnp/s4624/20230814_161436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOo0H-3OAcyzUIJsd2-UavjOno7MEPwh0UuZuPrTTjaWJE5jCdzq6NsyMqdh5GOZ65PdZUdOxCeKvvo79D3R75YD9__dF4KLEhqlbiDtw_BIOY_zvjCKIWYHKV1fF49mW8c8tb6dHk6pbGY58KE9GnOgPv-QM-dXCoHTMJPCKqD0-CYSt9bU3O1oniuRnp/s320/20230814_161436.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><br /><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-70873482218754181672023-09-06T13:44:00.000+01:002023-09-06T13:44:47.780+01:00THE BLACK SPOT<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tar spot is a fungus that is almost exclusively found on sycamore leaves towards the end of the summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMxuE9UqRziGby57Dkh41T6iuqvxgU3QDZzzPIpaGxFWv-GjtyHrQf3E9lAwAbs9xEG1SS0ybiHoFOp8BVfEFuYuVMphdxPyuskcWpmvusUNaNHnBJFdVIRDYIetKYsC6WBx_GP9w_oSMbUsgVW8yrV__3Ts6SqKWh9t2X3rzZXx7RWFKqB-umjVjAGAk/s4624/20230818_100444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMxuE9UqRziGby57Dkh41T6iuqvxgU3QDZzzPIpaGxFWv-GjtyHrQf3E9lAwAbs9xEG1SS0ybiHoFOp8BVfEFuYuVMphdxPyuskcWpmvusUNaNHnBJFdVIRDYIetKYsC6WBx_GP9w_oSMbUsgVW8yrV__3Ts6SqKWh9t2X3rzZXx7RWFKqB-umjVjAGAk/w640-h480/20230818_100444.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It does no harm to the tree as there is still plenty of green leaf to photosynthesise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc_cFA7oyqrsxA-ejGUHilfZ_XI6FbTwDF8kFPJVRqzgM_SF1_QSBOYxEEAHNg6dnrPbieyrttbN2PlY34nlYIilRGQW3Hw21a65rluUpq_tShKB-GYSpOAmKTjbjbJlfuplBPNMh5-58o_4h9CC9NaV-2-clnjrO1pC8vl7keadElWjcwW7gxLmsDGto/s4624/20230818_100437.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc_cFA7oyqrsxA-ejGUHilfZ_XI6FbTwDF8kFPJVRqzgM_SF1_QSBOYxEEAHNg6dnrPbieyrttbN2PlY34nlYIilRGQW3Hw21a65rluUpq_tShKB-GYSpOAmKTjbjbJlfuplBPNMh5-58o_4h9CC9NaV-2-clnjrO1pC8vl7keadElWjcwW7gxLmsDGto/w480-h640/20230818_100437.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think it's rather attractive, bringing a bit of variety to the tree's appearance.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-404020485386516562023-09-04T14:45:00.000+01:002023-09-04T14:45:04.198+01:00BASTARD SERVICE <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Bastard Service tree (<i>Sorbus thuringiaca</i>) is related to whitebeams and rowans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRH0TGzb9vbe2yTcMORyeCqMxjm3r94_gTAk-JY4SjOOoCyYj8JmdaiW3j_9uZNkT2Uy98OURn1yK_Z9GkROyJ5Pp9HkB4PtFR24C2pVvbLVyPyQ4UWGxcQdpoUBuDHEkG4-aYW7wzBnT2v0oyCfV3Sakmtchre9Hbj7iujg_9UD5E4eUA7_nGysf9n5Xt/s4624/20230818_095938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRH0TGzb9vbe2yTcMORyeCqMxjm3r94_gTAk-JY4SjOOoCyYj8JmdaiW3j_9uZNkT2Uy98OURn1yK_Z9GkROyJ5Pp9HkB4PtFR24C2pVvbLVyPyQ4UWGxcQdpoUBuDHEkG4-aYW7wzBnT2v0oyCfV3Sakmtchre9Hbj7iujg_9UD5E4eUA7_nGysf9n5Xt/w480-h640/20230818_095938.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is its moment of glory when it is covered in bright red berries.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zHuPRMPaVog1EdiQoICCUJtMIS19LDqFbdK8GGl_IZMTPtrzfpPM8Lco8NGCauRUSPgyz_mdqtdjprBCjz_CDFDihubWoUbnWqLBhg99E7Xw0UsxYRkUXtkLuRopW6RUbR0G7PI-wd9I4kqHxD2SMhWaJldOwYSiLQCFcXnEY8mu1Bzy0VhJmWsrMXbQ/s4624/20230818_095953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zHuPRMPaVog1EdiQoICCUJtMIS19LDqFbdK8GGl_IZMTPtrzfpPM8Lco8NGCauRUSPgyz_mdqtdjprBCjz_CDFDihubWoUbnWqLBhg99E7Xw0UsxYRkUXtkLuRopW6RUbR0G7PI-wd9I4kqHxD2SMhWaJldOwYSiLQCFcXnEY8mu1Bzy0VhJmWsrMXbQ/w480-h640/20230818_095953.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The leaves are distinctive, rather like an oak leaf with the lowest lobes cut free from the rest of the leaf.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHGhItH4Ov7qAplDSpBHOYPb3ye7tMClxTQddcJnc4P_QhRt9qY1gRHIHWJU83HnXz_embpcIMjWuuSfZxcpWYX1iN-be2CtOcWannknhLzizWcTm1Hj5XnSxrFcrMcSDGM0d5OFJ46DhsVmIMeq2To1t89Ys0-AHhzD4PIRX0ZNuZ_5Ahkx12jBHnWfN/s4624/20230903_110427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHGhItH4Ov7qAplDSpBHOYPb3ye7tMClxTQddcJnc4P_QhRt9qY1gRHIHWJU83HnXz_embpcIMjWuuSfZxcpWYX1iN-be2CtOcWannknhLzizWcTm1Hj5XnSxrFcrMcSDGM0d5OFJ46DhsVmIMeq2To1t89Ys0-AHhzD4PIRX0ZNuZ_5Ahkx12jBHnWfN/s320/20230903_110427.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxseYKZj1dIYcxmuj-PcOsZceqvFqzoqMtzY4BgYUuFJFOTVn8ZW95XB8MhjRiX8UV8B3ayRx-uzHO6uUBGwc_ZDDAOx6ft5PZxhf9LxlpMvVR6P7PiO3AkcC-yBLc8keZPNp4QAOE3adOHOL8k68nOE00A7XzYKCVI5N1WqDhtxTedv7mXpIvo2I5CgB3/s4624/20230903_110939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxseYKZj1dIYcxmuj-PcOsZceqvFqzoqMtzY4BgYUuFJFOTVn8ZW95XB8MhjRiX8UV8B3ayRx-uzHO6uUBGwc_ZDDAOx6ft5PZxhf9LxlpMvVR6P7PiO3AkcC-yBLc8keZPNp4QAOE3adOHOL8k68nOE00A7XzYKCVI5N1WqDhtxTedv7mXpIvo2I5CgB3/s320/20230903_110939.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-5089895978933392092023-09-03T09:47:00.000+01:002023-09-03T09:47:56.365+01:00WILLOW HERBS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This frequent visitor to my garden is the weedy Broad-leaved Willow Herb<i> (Epilobium montanum).</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcb_fcKyPm2--0swXBSZEypy9ztkK7gOPi3cKOuJE3PH7Gxdw8z2D98gDoXP0A6hUNDw1T01EIRF-Ag9DhERp3WZj9TCR726XMGt8Bb2fRJD_rJbyAcK8hcO6teQLBGUU-XiQ6HEFlwarvzvLMECfmeR7feAEu51p_e7oKBoc172DJd340PkucWz22uwG/s4624/20230719_160405.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcb_fcKyPm2--0swXBSZEypy9ztkK7gOPi3cKOuJE3PH7Gxdw8z2D98gDoXP0A6hUNDw1T01EIRF-Ag9DhERp3WZj9TCR726XMGt8Bb2fRJD_rJbyAcK8hcO6teQLBGUU-XiQ6HEFlwarvzvLMECfmeR7feAEu51p_e7oKBoc172DJd340PkucWz22uwG/w640-h480/20230719_160405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The small pale pink flowers have a white cross in the centre, which is the stigma. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSFIKYDMY1bj6VPhM9rUTRKoEW1LDPFItTFArOqxK5n8uzNrkMiyVNpu3X61QpdLicDqx56yEPCVsUSdYZ71xkYjHmBuQ6U_fbY6iO1BdActKnKiLhwaN70KaafUIwYp1QyFSy9NH92R4PbD4gslLvU4B7xBWFYnsMwwh6p4QqMMCDOhQI5D7W7ub_JOT/s2576/20230719_160437%20darker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2576" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSFIKYDMY1bj6VPhM9rUTRKoEW1LDPFItTFArOqxK5n8uzNrkMiyVNpu3X61QpdLicDqx56yEPCVsUSdYZ71xkYjHmBuQ6U_fbY6iO1BdActKnKiLhwaN70KaafUIwYp1QyFSy9NH92R4PbD4gslLvU4B7xBWFYnsMwwh6p4QqMMCDOhQI5D7W7ub_JOT/w640-h480/20230719_160437%20darker.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It soon goes to seed and so spreads to every bit of bare soil.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg609PGm5lZyT8XPNj7XMt2SPRiHSUtTHD05ii_snq4-wXHg1D8qyj0XkuBZFAEx0921vw0P_0o7Wc46cdaXr63Z1V5WeqnZT2TyUtX45mU-Q0FlriztAjlkjiO-84ezSVg9eNIYv05JzGkFoPrWh7b-_JC89ZafLph358BjQiMb33HBO7bukyryLhlc91l/s4624/20230719_160527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg609PGm5lZyT8XPNj7XMt2SPRiHSUtTHD05ii_snq4-wXHg1D8qyj0XkuBZFAEx0921vw0P_0o7Wc46cdaXr63Z1V5WeqnZT2TyUtX45mU-Q0FlriztAjlkjiO-84ezSVg9eNIYv05JzGkFoPrWh7b-_JC89ZafLph358BjQiMb33HBO7bukyryLhlc91l/w480-h640/20230719_160527.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Its big cousin, the Great Willow Herb (<i>Epilobium hirsutum</i>) also has the white cross in the centre of each flower. We have plenty of these at Filnore Woods.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_83TEcSNZUVjssgpLiLChdDk9zRQ22by-iqhNEofEPcJLK6kNMvlN0MiYrN8SffO1ypdA68llyHasy3OepMgbU8Z3GB2SgnvJPSw2ZTO35IsDYyH881C5kaRpLTufsMx5mb492B6VneEn8pO6n2hNjvSY_qjoGLy4HALJJvBBAOUJJ6cFT238Fv4mVo1/s4624/20230721_110835.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_83TEcSNZUVjssgpLiLChdDk9zRQ22by-iqhNEofEPcJLK6kNMvlN0MiYrN8SffO1ypdA68llyHasy3OepMgbU8Z3GB2SgnvJPSw2ZTO35IsDYyH881C5kaRpLTufsMx5mb492B6VneEn8pO6n2hNjvSY_qjoGLy4HALJJvBBAOUJJ6cFT238Fv4mVo1/w213-h284/20230721_110835.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkF13vlpnisYaqkSN7UmkP4anen762_VqdPK-vgGkS-Fr7-zry9vvA5nU-QGwMdCXkvyfu9lXIMSTuO8XeH-qtzvshAN8GiM7v6APmzUlwKrqw6bHC_5Wyi5GBSZPN5PXt-UoOirWcdg3jJ2X4CQIW1F-9gp-d7nnU3tiCxcUSQRxSuQidPDv5qbUnph7s/s2576/20230721_110944.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2576" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkF13vlpnisYaqkSN7UmkP4anen762_VqdPK-vgGkS-Fr7-zry9vvA5nU-QGwMdCXkvyfu9lXIMSTuO8XeH-qtzvshAN8GiM7v6APmzUlwKrqw6bHC_5Wyi5GBSZPN5PXt-UoOirWcdg3jJ2X4CQIW1F-9gp-d7nnU3tiCxcUSQRxSuQidPDv5qbUnph7s/w375-h282/20230721_110944.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> And there is a big area of Rosebay Willow Herb (<i>Chamerion angustifolium</i>) near post 14 but it is in a different genus and quite different in structure</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad3F85LuG5hHSye2NRr_EBfXGGbevCYsSPh7VR1pBaXdHHCXCyi2rbSb7Kk40oEa4VhZJtMVjXBrwPpLBaXo5jTqofX5MNTJ1IfqcPN7imszNH_K_hwPjU8jpkRrke1Tj5rRK7MNHm8sVyATDvxnR-7oVbFzpylnnXGcLxbbddgJjooq13LKB7Z2OXCaX/s4624/20230817_115617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad3F85LuG5hHSye2NRr_EBfXGGbevCYsSPh7VR1pBaXdHHCXCyi2rbSb7Kk40oEa4VhZJtMVjXBrwPpLBaXo5jTqofX5MNTJ1IfqcPN7imszNH_K_hwPjU8jpkRrke1Tj5rRK7MNHm8sVyATDvxnR-7oVbFzpylnnXGcLxbbddgJjooq13LKB7Z2OXCaX/w480-h640/20230817_115617.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329776161926802342.post-22798819275748331582023-09-02T08:59:00.000+01:002023-09-02T08:59:19.525+01:00THE MOON DWELLER<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another victim of an open conservatory. This little creature perished quietly, unable to find its way back into the garden. At first glance, when alive, they look like small wasps but . . . .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-kt-iQJ3ITWZG9INrwiY72j41XxG70rdVn2VLij2NgX_0GceX2j1oJz3U9aVOph2JLpahM9HW9w6bfvIxS29FaGoXH5vHgo1NEUfeolxP5Rl1XrQ8ur8BxtlVLPJWur83d7nzwYA_9wNYuUeEMSjPqJ4YXbhkZU0DL4Zlm31Ik3IxE3XAMk1EUkOxLf8/s4624/20230730_080405.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-kt-iQJ3ITWZG9INrwiY72j41XxG70rdVn2VLij2NgX_0GceX2j1oJz3U9aVOph2JLpahM9HW9w6bfvIxS29FaGoXH5vHgo1NEUfeolxP5Rl1XrQ8ur8BxtlVLPJWur83d7nzwYA_9wNYuUeEMSjPqJ4YXbhkZU0DL4Zlm31Ik3IxE3XAMk1EUkOxLf8/w640-h480/20230730_080405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">. . . this is a hoverfly called <i>Scaeva selenitica</i>, Selenitica means 'to do with the moon' and I guess that's because of the six yellow crescents on its abdomen. A selenite, according to my Chambers Dictionary is a moon dweller. This insect has no widely recognised English name.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is a very similar hoverfly with white crescents called <i>Scaeva pyrastri</i>. Pyrastri means to do with pear trees, but because it is black and white it is sometimes called the Pied Hoverfly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The<span style="text-align: left;"> larvae of both species feed on aphids. </span></div><p></p>Jerry Dickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11676737256059666342noreply@blogger.com0