This week has been surreal as lock down brings a change to life. Thankfully nature still continues to progress through Spring. Since the Vernal equinox arrived last weekend the weather warmed up and the sun shone daily. Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) and Speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) butterflies are flitting around now, joining Seven-spot ladybirds (Coccinellaseptempunctata) and Buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) that already emerged. I have been viewing nature from my flat as much as possible. Seeing the leaves unfurl on the Rowan (Sorbus) tree outside as well as the Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), which visit the tree each day, has been lovely. However to get exercise and improve my mental health I have also gone for a few local walks (while observing social distancing measures). It is important for me to be amongst nature and feel the air around me to remain happy. During these lock down walks I have noticed plants both bloom and begin to wake up including;
Berberis darwiniiViburnumPersian speedwell (Veronica persica)Hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta)Greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea)Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris)Cowslip (Primula veris)Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)Wild cherry (Prunus avium)European larch (Larix decidua). The deep pink female flower, also referred to as a Larch rose, can be seen on the branch.Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)
So much has happened in the world over the last fortnight. Changes are moving so quickly, that I have felt overwhelmed and struggled with my mental health, like a lot of people right now. Consequently I nearly didn’t write this latest post. However I remembered why this blog is so important to me. During my darkest hours nature helps me overcome depression and anxiety; so here it is, better late than never.
Lots of plants were starting to bloom last week.
– Forget-me-not (Myosotis),
– Green alkanet (Pentaglottissempervirens),
– White dead-nettle (Lamiumalbum,
– Red dead-nettle (Lamiumpurpureum),
– Brunnera macrophylla,
– Aubrieta deltoidea
– and Vinca minor were all flowering.
Bindweed (Calystegia sepium) is growing too.
When I found it on the allotment, initially my heart sank slightly; it means lots of work to control it organically. Yet I decided to see if it has a good side, after all it is a wild flower. Look up Bindweed on the internet and you find countless references to it being a horrible weed in gardens together with how to exterminate it (both traditionally and organically). I must admit I find it hard to like the plant but I wanted to challenge my views (gained from years of trying to get rid of it from people’s gardens). The Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) or Hedge Brown butterfly, Bees along with Hoverflies pollinate its large white bell shaped flowers. Moths too visit the flowers because they are also open at night-time. Bindweed is also food for the Convolvulus Hawk Moth (Agrius convolvuli) larvae.
Something else I discovered last week was the Bumblebee mite (Parasitus fucorum).
A Buff-tailed bumblebee visiting some Aubretia. Bumblebee mites can be seen clinging onto the bee.
They hitch a ride on the queen so that they’re taken to a new nest; once there it feeds on wax, pollen, nest debris as well as other small insects. They do not feed on the bees themselves. It is the first time I have noticed mites on a bee. I clearly saw four in total (two either side) just behind the head, on the thorax. It looked like the bee, which remained in the same spot for at least an hour, was attempting to groom itself so presumably the mites were irritating it even though they doesn’t harm the bee itself.
With an increase in sunnier moments last week the more life is seemed to come out to enjoy the sun’s rays. Amidst these strange times I am especially glad I can enjoy nature therapy. In particular seeing Bumblebees flying around makes me smile. Along with several Buff-tailed Bumblebees (Bombusterrestris), I also saw a Hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophoraplumipes) last Wednesday.
In fact Wednesday was a very productive day for sightings. I saw my first lacewing (Neuroptera) of the season, which was hitching a ride in the van. I also saw a couple of 7-spot ladybirds (Coccinellaseptempunctata) amongst some Heuchera.
Last week was great for counting frogs (Ranatemporaria) too. On Wednesday there were seven attempting to remain shaded by a pile of scaffolding boards in a garden attached to a new build development. Consequently the frogs were moved to a quieter area so that access could be gained to the garden. Even on Thursday, as I worked next to a pond, I observed tadpoles emerge; It was fascinating to see the process unfold. I couldn’t count the total number of tadpoles but the pond was full of them as well as frogspawn; as it had been the previous year. Plus I even found a frog on the allotment.
As well as amphibians and insect sightings, further flowers blooming were, Glory of the snow (Chionodoxaluciliae)
Anemone apennina and
Two-leaf squill, also called Alpine squill (Scilla bifolia)
As with the first of March, this week ended with sunshine; although there have been moments of heavy rain as well. Meteorological Spring has begun and things are certainly waking up in the gardens. My Scilla have started to bloom and the Anemone blanda are looking magestic too.
ScillaAnemone blanda
Wild flowers are starting to grow now as well; particularly Hairy bittercress (Cardaminehirsuta) and Common chickweed (Stellaria media).
When the sun was out, I noticed bees foraging. I have seen an Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) and a few Buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) visiting flowers. Early bumblebees are one of the smallest in the uk and emerge from hibernation in March, before many other species are seen.
A Bombus terrestris visiting a Spring crocus (Crocus vernus)
I managed to spend Saturday at the allotment. It’s only the second week on a new plot. After an initial viewing the previous Saturday, my partner and I spent five productive hours this weekend; pruning the apple tree, removing grass from the weedsheet covered beds and sorting the compost bins. No Robins (Erithacus rubecula) visited as earth was disturbed but we did have some friendly Jackdaws (Corvusmonedula).
Our allotment helpers
I also treated myself, and pollinators, to a Fuji cherry (Prunusincisa) ‘Kojo-no-mai’. It is the only thing flowering on the allotment at the moment (until we start growing cut flowers, fruit, herbs and vegetables) so it looked wonderful blooming in the sun.
Wow I can’t believe a year has passed since I started this blog. Occasionally the discipline of writing something each week has been difficult but I am glad I’ve stuck with it as I do enjoy it.
I began this nature journal for many reasons;
To learn more about the natural world
Record the natural world around me
Develope my wildlife gardening knowledge
Make use of the photographs I take
Observe the small things in life
Give me focus
Improve my mental health.
I reviewed my first post, from the 26th February 2019, comparing it with this year. The first grass cut of 2020 was a week earlier but I haven’t noticed Brimstone (Gonepteryxrhamni) butterflies. We haven’t had record breaking February temperatures either. Instead we have had storms Ciara and Dennis on consecutive weekends and will end the month with Jorge (this weekend). This past week, the weather continued to be very wet with occasional sunshine and briefly hail and snow. Some areas of the UK are dealing with floods while others have snow.
Spring is still trying to break through. Clematisarmandii is blooming while snow is falling.
Things that have remained the same however are the emergence of the spring bulbs, foraging bees and the Blackthorn (Prunusspinosa) flowering (traditionally this occurs in March and April).
Along with the observations I’ve occasionally shared my love of nature writing, in the Bookworm Reviews, which I have enjoyed. More recently I have begun to include my Sundew Crochet as my crochet is influenced by what I notice in nature.
I never imagined that people would read my blog, so thank you; I hope you continue to enjoy my future posts.
I treated myself to this glorious sunny yarn over Christmas.
Wendy Stella yarn (5185), crocheted into a Granny square blanket, reminds me of the sun.
I have been making the most of this extra layer recently. Usually the coldest month, February seems to drag it’s feet into Spring; meanwhile this blanket continues to keep me toasty and cheerful.
After Ciara’s departure, last weekend was another wild one with Dennis’s arrival. Thankfully, apart from a few blown down fence panels and trees there wasn’t much destruction in the gardens. Once again we got off lightly compared to some parts of the country. Since then, the weather has cooled down slightly and it has remained windy and wet with occasional sunshine.
Despite the topsy turvy weather Forsythia
Strachey’s elephant’s ears (Bergenia stracheyi)
and Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
are flowering. Plus as I have traveled round I have noticed that in some places Dandelions (Taraxacumofficinalis) and Common gorse (Ulexeuropaeus) have begun blooming too.
Over the last few weeks I have noticed several bees motionless on the ground. Thankfully they were just resting so each time I carefully moved them to a nectar source. It is so lovely to see them hungrily lap it up, getting covered in pollen as they go. Just shows how important it is to grow late winter flowering plants for bees to visit. Yesterday I found another Buff-tailed Bumblebee in the same predicament. Showing love to that bee made my Valentine’s day. ♥️ 🐝🌸
Bee in the Moment 