The first of August is the start of the harvest and autumn is beginning to set in slowly now; a time I enjoy.
The weather has recently changed in the south, we have had rain over the past few weeks, meaning the parched lawns are beginning to green up once again and require cutting. I have never known a year where we haven’t cut the majority of lawns for such an extended period over the summer; usually it isn’t until the end of July into August when this occurs.
The wetter conditions are making it difficult to pick a time to undertake the Big Butterfly Count this year, although I am still seeing various butterflies and day flying moths around at the moment; Including the Jersey tiger moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria).
This beautiful medium sized moth (between 5.2 to 6.5 cm in length) is often seen in the south with the range growing upwards towards London and now Hertfordshire; found in Gardens, hedgerows and coastal areas. The caterpillars can be found between September through to the following May, surviving winter as larvae. The adults often visit Buddleia while the food source for caterpillars are Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), White Dead-nettle (Lamium album), Borage (Borago officinalis), plantains (Plantago Spp.), Ground-ivy (Glechoma hederacea) and Bramble (Rubus fruiticosus) amongst other herbaceous plants.
I have also seen a small copper (Lycaena phlaeas) butterfly recently.
This small (3.2- 3.5 cm) orange coloured butterfly can be found on waste ground as well as heath, moor, grass and woodland environments where the soil is chalky and the ground poor in nutrients. The caterpillars eat Sorrels and Broad-leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius).
This has been a wonderful year for ladybirds due to the very hot weather at the beginning of spring causing a huge increase in aphids. Out of the 46 different types in the UK, I mostly see Six-spot and Harlequin ladybirds. A couple of weeks ago I noticed another as it flew into the van; the 14 Spot ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata).
Much smaller than the six-spotted ladybird, this yellow and black beetle can be seen throughout the UK from May to September.
I finally saw a flower crab spider (Misumena vatia) while pruning a shrub too. As seen in the photo below, they are often white but the females of the species can change their colour to a yellow tint in order to blend into its surroundings better.
Usually noticed between May and August they are commonly seen in southern England. The different sexes differ in size, the males are half the size of the females which are between 9 to 11mm in length. These spiders will wait and ambush prey rather than spin webs and can eat various insects including moths and bees,
How is it nearly July? The passage of time has certainly flown by, for me, but then the growing season is in full swing and has kept me busy.
In April, a few weeks of unusually warm weather for the time of year ended with April showers. Since then there have been occasional periods of heavy rain, however it remained largely dry here in southern England. A couple of weeks ago (as well as this coming Monday) we had another very hot period of high temperatures. The weather remains warm, so colder mornings are refreshing. It was the sunniest spring on record and continues to be incredibly dry here in the south.
Early warm spring weather has meant that fruit picking this year has been very good. So far the strawberry, currants, gooseberry and raspberry harvests have been great. There are plenty of apples and plums developing too.
The allotment is coming along, we had to hold out planting for a while due to the drought we had early spring. I took advantage of that to add another wildlife area. The shed casts a shadow so I have been unsure what to do with it; now there is a dead hedge, stumpery, log pile and hedgehog house along with nettles and a few other plants to encourage insects, beetles and other invertebrates.
I have noticed a variety of insects this year. Lots of Brimstones (Gonepteryx rhamni) in spring have now been replaced by Commas (Polygonia c-album), Speckled woods (Pararge aegeria), Large whites (Pieris brassicae) and Peacock (Aglais io) butterflies.
Bees have been evident too; Ashy mining bees (Andrena cineraria) in particular. I saw a group of about 20 in one garden.
A buff tailed bee (Bombus terrestris) snoozing in a foxglove.
Juvenile ladybirds have also been evident, arriving soon after aphids show up, now becoming adults.
Mullein Moth (Cucullia verbasci) caterpillars were around one week in April and then disappeared in early June, presumably eaten by birds.
These vibrant caterpillars turn into a brown coloured moth.
Although the caterpillars had eaten a lot of the leaves, the plant survived and has begun to bloom now. It never ceases to fascinate me how the moths found the plant in the first place and how the birds found the caterpillars with no need for chemicals to control so-called pests. The adult Mullien moths are nocturnal, flying in April and May.
I have also learnt about another spider, the Cucumber spider (Araniella cucurbitina); named because of their vibrant green abdomens they are commonly found in the UK, especially in woodlands and hedgerows.
Larger than actual size. Males are about 3.5- 4mm while the larger females are between 4- 6mm.
In May, we met friends at Black park in Slough. It was wonderful to see the emergence of adult dragonflies from their nymph form, species unknown.
Now September has arrived, there is definitely an Autumnal feeling in the air. Similar to March, this month often has a transitional effect on me; especially once the Autumn equinox arrives on the 22nd. The nights are noticeably getting colder and drawing in. Over the past few weeks, some mornings have been misty and there has been a mixture of weather throughout the weeks; humid and stormy one moment and colder and sunny another. Spiders and their webs have become more visible, helped in part by morning dew, plus leaves are beginning to turn on some trees while autumn Cyclamen and crocuses (Colchicum autumnale) are starting to flower. I love September after the intense heat of August I long for a bit of relief.
On the allotment, autumn raspberries (Rubus idaeus) and apples are ready to pick along with pears, damsons (Prunus domestica subsp insititia),
Damsons ready to pick.
elderberries (Sambucus) and blackberries (Rubus). Conkers are falling now too, although the walnut and hazelnut harvests have passed.
Sweet chestnuts are almost ready to fall.
On the last bank holiday of the year (almost a month ago), I visited Minster-on-sea with my partner and his parents. It was an ideal day for walking along the beach searching for treasure, perhaps fossils, sharks teeth, sea glass, pieces of broken pottery and the occasional sea lego. Washed up along the beach were lots of Slipper limpets (Crepidula fornicata).
These limpets arrived on these shores from America via ships in the 1800s and thrived in the UK; especially southern England and Wales, where they have become a pest to muscle and oyster beds (competing for food and space). They are edible themselves.
It is usual to see individual empty shells, in fact they are found in huge numbers on beaches in the Solent. The common name of this sea snail refers to the appearance of an individual shell when it is viewed upside down; similarly the latin means small boot. When alive, these gastropod molluscs are rarely found alone (as shown in the photo above). Up to 12 Slipper limpets can be stacked together with the female, the largest and oldest, at the bottom; all the others are male or, in the case of the second from bottom, in the process of transforming into a female. When the one at the bottom dies and falls off, the next one up then becomes female. Further information on these fascinating creatures can be found in an article written by Nick Baker here.
The Slipper limpet isn’t the only snail that I noticed recently. I often get to see land snails but I noticed this beautiful orange coloured Brown lipped snail (Cepaea nemoralis) hanging around after a rainy morning. Snail shells can be very beautiful and I am intrigued by their structure.
Whatever your view on snails it’s hard to look at their shells without admiring the beauty.
I have become more aware of insects lately, mostly when cutting back perennials at work. Although I try to be careful as much as possible, occasionally I disturb a few. I always make a point of replacing or moving them to a safe place. Mostly it is ladybirds but I have also noticed a few other species, such as Common earwigs (Forficula auricularia) and the Rusty tussock (Orgyia antiqua) and Knot grass (Acronicta rumicis) moth caterpillars
Common earwigs feed on organic matter and like to hide away in dark areas of the garden (not in human ears).
Earwigs are useful garden recyclers.
Once eggs are laid, the females diligently clean them and constantly guards the nest only stopping when the young can fend for themselves. While the adults can nip humans and predators, it is only as a warning.
Caterpillars of the medium sized Rusty tussock moth can be seen between May and September.
The males and females of this moth, also called the Vapourer, look different from on another. The males are orangey-brown while the female has a more grey colouration and also lacks any significant wings; therefore it is only the males of this species that are active (mostly flying during the day). The young feed on broadleaf trees and shrubs in gardens and parks, as well as along hedgerows, heaths, moorland and woodland. The adult female and male moths can be seen here .
Knot grass caterpillars (see photo above) can often be found in late summer (and even as late as October in Southern Britain; although these are usually a second generation). Pupa of this moth survive the winter in leaf litter. The grey coloured adults (with a wingspan of 3-3.5 cms) can be seen from May through to September. The caterpillars can be observed on herbaceous or woody plants such as knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare), bramble (Rubus), hawthorn (Crataegus), common sorrel (Rumex acetosa), heather (Calluna), plantains (Plantago), docks (Rumex) and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). It makes sense therefore that this one was found nibbling on a raspberry leaf on the allotment. The numbers of this moth are declining and while they are still commonly found in gardens, heathland and grassland, it is thought that the species is becoming vulnerable. I was happy to share my raspberry plant with this caterpillar; raspberries are my favourite fruit but it certainly wouldn’t do any major damage. A photo of the moth can be seen on the UK Moths website.
Sadly the results of the Butterfly count for this year came out last week. They confirmed people’s suspicion that it hasn’t been good for butterflies and moths (as well as bees). Many butterfly and moth numbers continue to fall, and significantly so from previous years results, due to a variety of factors including the cold wet weather we’ve experienced this year. Further information can be found on the butterfly conservation website here.
Thankfully last Friday, I witnessed a wonderful sight during a warm sunny afternoon. A huge area of ivy in full bloom was covered in so many bees that it stopped me in my tracks. I stood nearby and listened to the wonderful buzzing sound, it was so relaxing. There were so many Ivy bees (Colletes hederae) alongside buff tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) and honey bees (Apis mellifera) visiting the ivy flowers. It was the first time I was able to definitely identify ivy bees which was amazing (see below).
First recorded in the UK in 2001, Ivy bees are becoming more common. They look very similar to honey bees but can be distinguished by the stripes on their abdomens; the bright yellow stripes are distinctly separate from the black ones than they are with honey bees. Unlike honey bees these are solitary, however there can be lots of nests close to one another and these bees will forage together when opportunity allows. As their name suggests, they feed predominantly on the nectar of ivy flowers and therefore their appearance coincides with this plant flowering (between September and November). I have been searching for a definite sighting of these bees for years and finally I have been rewarded for my patience.
I’ve found more galls, over the last few weeks, this time on the ground surrounding a few Pedunculate Oaks (Quercus robur).
These galls remind me a little of the Facehugger in the Alien film franchise.
They are produced by these trees as a result of the Knopper gall wasp (Andricus quercuscalicis) laying young in the acorns. As with the Oak apple gall wasps (Biorhiza pallida) mentioned in a previous post ‘Relaxing Evening Birdsong’ , they are not detrimental to these majestic trees and don’t appear on many of the fallen acorns. Interestingly each generation of the wasp will change between sexual and asexual each alternate year.
I also saw my first Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) in a cypress tree near the beginning of the month. Although I could see the silhouette of this tiny bird moving around the top of the tree. I was only able to identify it using the Chirp-o-matic app on my phone, due to its loud singing. The Goldcrests song can be heard on the Woodland trust website here , where you can also see a photo of this diminutive bird. I wish I could have viewed it at closer range, then I would have been able to see the wonderful plumage on the crown (yellow for females and orange for males). The Goldcrest is the smallest bird in Britain, even smaller than the Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes). Hold a 20 pence piece in your hand, and you will have an idea of the birds weight (just 5 grams). They inhabit mixed woodland and conifers along with parks and gardens. The numbers of our resident birds increase with the migration of others from Scandinavian countries during the winter. They feed on insects and other invertebrates. It is always lovely when I am still able to witness new things in nature like this. It gives me a buzz, allowing me to learn through research.
After a slow start, due to the weather, things are growing nicely on the organic, no dig, wildlife friendly allotment.
The view of the allotment from the Buddleia shrub.The view of the allotment from the apple tree.
While most of the soft fruit season has come to an end (apart from the autumn raspberries), the plums and apples continue to develop and are something to look forward to later in the season.
Thankfully the rhubarb has recovered a bit after a disappointing harvest. Rhubarb doesn’t like growing in waterlogged soil and although we have sandy free draining soil, I think it ended up being too wet over the winter. The rhubarb was on the plot when we took it over four years ago and had grown very large. Every five years Rhubarb can be divided when the growth has become weaker or leaves are overcrowded so I will do this around November and hopefully this will invigorate its growth next year.
The slightly depleted Rhubarb patch.
The vegetables remain on a three yearly rotation to maintain soil health and keep viruses at bay. Main crop potatoes, kale (Cottagers and Cavolo Nero), beetroot, radishes and courgettes are doing well as usual. This years addition are carrots. I always like to try something different each year and It’s been a while since I tried growing these; so far they are surviving. They are in a raised bed and were sown later and sparsely to help avoid detection by carrot fly (Psila rosae). They are also in a mixed raised bed which also helps.Â
Along with covering vulnerable plants and growing sacrificial plants such as nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) and marigolds (Tagetes), I intersperse herbs and other flowers in between the vegetables to help prevent too much loss from pests. I usually find beneficial insects soon appear when needed; there are lots of ladybirds on the plot at the moment. I also find the best way to deal with slugs and snails is to collect them and place them elsewhere; plus any plants with soft young growth are protected by copper tape on old pots and thorny material. I do allow some slugs to remain on the allotment however. The Leopard slug (Limax maximus) is one beneficial slug to have in a garden as they don’t eat living plant matter. They are great for the compost and also eat the eggs of other slugs.
Thorny material protecting new growth from slug and snail damage. Also a plastic bottle (with the bottom cut off) to allow water to be directed to the roots.Copper tape around an old pot (with the bottom cut off) used as a guard around the base of an annual while it establishes itself.
We have a lot of wildlife visiting the allotment. There is often evidence of a fox (Vulpes vulpes) visitor (which we have seen on other plots). Plus we often see grasshoppers and Common blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathigerum) and frogs (at the moment we regularly notice one adult and one youngster hopping around). Last saturday, the sun was out and there was an abundance of bees on the Catmint (Nepeta), Red clover (Trifolium pratense), Lavender and Buddleia.
The wild area on the plot contains a bug hotel and is located near to a neighbouring pond. This is where the red clover grows.
This year, I decided to undertake the Big Butterfly Count at the allotment. The butterflies seen were;
2 Small skippers (Thymelicus sylvestris), 1 Comma (Polygonia c-album), 2 Gatekeepers (Pyronia tithonus), 1 Peacock (Aglais io) and 2 Large whites (Pieris brassicae)
Given the abundance of Cabbage whites (Pieris brassicae) nearby I have made sure my kale is covered up.
The perennial kale mixed in with the cut flower patch.
I find it reassuring to have seen so many butterflies and bees at the weekend, especially as overall there seems to be a reduction in numbers this year; partly due to the frequency of wet days.
I have noticed lots of moths this year too. Perhaps the most exotic looking one I have seen so far is the Scarlet tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula).
The creamy coloured spots on the top of the forewings can sometimes have a more vivid yellow tint.The red underwings can be seen here. I also managed to capture some of the shimmering blues and greens of the forewings when the sun shone on the moth.
This moth is medium sized, at 23- 27mm (across the wings). It flies during the day and night through May and June; often noticed while resting on plants. The caterpillars of this moth feed on Comfrey (Symphytum), Hemp Agrimony (Eupatoriumcannabinum), Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), Bramble (Rubus fruticosus), Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and Green alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens); they can be seen from August until May, overwintering into the following year. The habitats where the Scarlet tiger moth will be found are in areas of wetland, riverbanks, woodlands, gardens as well as coastal areas.
One sound and aerial display of summer which I enjoy is the return of Swifts (Apus apus). I have even been lucky enough to see them catching insects as they swoop over a pond (sometimes just skimming the water) along with another flock soaring high up the sky. I always treasure seeing these amazing birds as they are on the red list for Birds of Conservation Concern 5: (2021). A few things we can do to help them is to put up appropriate nest boxes, as well as adding swift bricks to new builds, giving them somewhere to raise their young. The RSPB also have a citizen science project where you can record their presence. Further information on how you can take part, can be found here. Having arrived in Britain in April and May, it won’t be long before they return to Africa as they only remain here until August. Most of their time is spent on the wing, only stopping to nest in roofs especially of old buildings such as churches. If this isn’t incredible enough when feeding the young they regurgitate a bolus, (a pellet formed in the back of the birds throat) containing between three hundred to one thousand insects mixed with saliva. More information on swifts, including how to identify them can be found on the RSPB website, where you can also hear a recording of their distinctive call.
Swifts are not the only thing I have noticed around ponds lately. I recently learnt about another pond invertebrate, the Common backswimmer (Notonecta glauca). So called because they swim on their back just beneath the surface of the water. Not only do they feed on insects, but also tadpoles and small fish. They suck out the contents of their prey’s body after injecting it with toxic saliva. Found all year round they moult a few times before reaching their final length of one and half centimetres. It was quite fascinating to observe them swimming around.
Although it’s close to the Summer Solstice, the weather remains very changeable; regularly alternating from sunny to dull and wet. However this is enabling vegetation to thrive. It is lovely to hear birdsong still. One in particular the blackbird (Turdus merula) is a joy to hear, especially in the evening. Sadly Blackbird numbers have reduced in recent years, due to the Usutu virus (increasing because of warmer winters), and the BTO are asking for help with a citizen science survey. If you have a garden and could spend some time recording your local blackbirds then please consider taking part. The link, for more information can be found here.
Elder (Sambucus nigra) is flowering now in woodlands, amongst hedgerows and in gardens, taking over from the Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna).
Elder can thrive for up to 60 years and reach 15 meters in height. It is thought that the common name developed from ‘aeld’ the Anglo-Saxon word for fire as the spongy centre of the branches can be hollowed out, enabling it to be used as a bellow to help ignite fires. As with the Rowan (Sorbus) tree, it was thought that the Elder could ward off evil spirits, along with the devil and witches. It was also believed that breaking or cutting any part of an elder would bring misfortune to the person responsible unless permission was granted from the elder mother (regarded as the witch or guardian within the tree) beforehand. However, the Elder tree is great for foragers. Both the flowers and vitamin c rich berries can be used for making cordials and preserves; although it is important to remember to cook the berries, making them safe, before consuming. Other uses for Elder have included whittling the stem into craft items such as beads, making whistles, using the foliage as a fly repellent in dairies as well as to create dyes. Historically all the dyes for Harris tweed came from the Elder, with each part of the plant resulting in different colours. The berries produced Blues and purples, the leaves created yellow and green while the bark was used to gain the greys and black dyes. Small mammals eat both the flowers and berries whilst birds such as Blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla), Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) and Thrushes (Turdus) enjoy the berries which ripen from late summer through to autumn. The flowers are also great for pollinators. Plus the caterpillars of the White-spotted pug (Eupithecia tripunctaria), Swallowtail (Papilionidae), Dot moth (Melanchra persicariae) and Buff ermine moths (Spilarctia luteum) will eat the leaves.
I have noticed a few Oak apples on several oak trees (Quercus) recently.
The growth of galls is a reaction to the Oak apple gall wasp (Biorhiza pallida) laying eggs in the leaf bud. They can reach up to 5cms in diameter and contain wasp larvae in chambers. While the larvae eat the tissue of the host tree, they do little long-term damage so the Oaks remain largely unscathed. The galls can be found in the tree canopy in May and June and the adult wasps will emerge in June and July. It is also possible to have a second generation within the same year with eggs being laid in the ground next to the roots. A picture of the wasp can be found at Naturespot. Once the galls are empty (they will have holes once the wasps have gone) they can be collected and made into oak gall ink. I look forward to giving this a go later in the year. Instructions on how to make this ink can be found here.
Some insects that I was able to see have been beetles. Unlike those which remain at ground level, some can be found on flowers as they wait for prey; this is where I saw these, a Malachite beetle (Malachius bipustulatus) and a Soldier beetle (Cantharis rustica).
The Malachite beetle is greener (emerald-like except for the red spots) than this photo is able to show, hence the common name given to it.
Malachite beetle adults are about 6mm in length and can be found between April and August. Later in the year they can also be found on tree bark where they lay larvae for the following year.
The soldier beetle is larger (between 9-13mm in length) again they consume other insects.
Black and red in colour, the Cantharis rustica is one of the UKs largest soldier beetles. Snails, worms and other invertebrates are eaten by its larvae, which can be found under rocks and leaf litter throughout winter.
There are lots of flowers blooming now and it is lovely to have the opportunity to learn more about wildflowers. Two new additions to my knowledge are, Salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor)
The delicate red flowers of the Salad burnet.
and Cotton thistle (Onopordum acanthium)- see below.
Salad burnet grows on chalky, limestone grassland. Part of the Rosacea family, as the common name suggests, its leaves (which have a cucumber scent when crushed) can be added to salads as well as summer drinks.
A poultice made from the flowerheads can be used to treat wounds as compounds within them can stem bleeding. It can grow up to 50 cms tall and spreads via rhizomes.
The common name of Cotton thistle derives from the hairs on the leaves which resemble cotton. This thistle has many names including the Giant thistle, Silver thistle, Scots thistle as well as Queen Mary’s thistle. Although this plant is often connected to Scotland, the emblem used in Scottish heraldry and the national emblem of Scotland is most likely to be the Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare). The large silvery foliage of the Cotton thistle makes this wildflower quite striking. A biennial, the growth in the second year can reach up to 3 meters high and the leaves 10-50 cms in width. It particularly enjoys growing in fertile soil in areas that have been disturbed, along with roadsides and fields. Its pinky purple flowers bloom in summer. Some caterpillars like those of the Thistle ermine moth (Myelois circumvoluta) will eat the leaves. Pollinators and Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) also visit the flower heads, the latter eating the seeds.
Time has flown since my last post. The allotment has kept my partner and I busy; It’s in full swing after a slow start, due to initial cold weather followed on by a hot dry spell. Soft fruit production has been good this year; Red and White currants, Strawberries as well as Gooseberries have been plentiful, plus the Rhubarb has been as reliable as always. Thankfully we have now had a fair bit of rain (along with thunder storms) here in the south, giving us a slight break in having to manually water. Plus the rain has finally encouraged the Popping corn, Courgettes, Radishes and Beetroot plants to flourish.
The Summer Solstice passed a while ago now and although the nights are noticeably beginning to lengthen once again, traditionally the hottest days are still to come (even though June 2023 was the hottest on record here in the UK).
Since the beginning of May all three St Albans Abbey Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) chicks fledged (there was one female and two male); It was so lovely to see them all successfully develop into juveniles.
Initially I was beginning to think that l wouldn’t see many insects, however they have started to show up now. Ladybirds (including young ladybirds), bees, butterflies and moths are becoming more noticeable (great news as the Big Butterfly Count started on 14th July and runs until the 6th August).
Over the last few months, I noticed the first Silver Y moth (Autographa gamma), Hummingbird hawk moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) Ashy mining bee (Andrena cineraria), False oil beetles (Oedemera nobilis) Red soldier beetles (Rhagonycha fulva), Ringlet butterfly (Aphantopus hyperantus), Small skipper butterflies (Thymelicus sylvestris), Hornet mimic hoverfly (Volucella zonaria), along with a grasshopper of the season.
Other insects I have seen include a -Yellow shell moth (Camptogramma bilineata) so named because the wing patterns are said to look like the edges of some shells.
Yellow shell moth resting in a Yew hedge.
I saw this night flying moth as it sought shelter during the day. The caterpillars have a varied diet ranging from Bedstraw (Galium), Chickweed (Stellaria media), Docks (Rumex), Sorrels (Oxalis) to Dandelions (Taraxacum); wild flowers often seen as weeds. Seen on the wing from June to August, these moths are often found in urban areas, gardens, hedgerows and meadows throughout Britain.
– and a Broad-bodied chaser (Libellula depressa) dragonfly;
Photo of a male Broad-bodied chaser.
The female is disguinuishable from the male because it’s abdomen is golden brown with light markings each side. I had previously observed a female laying eggs in the freshly rejuvenated garden pond before seeing the male. These dragonflies are 39- 48mm long and seen from May to August in central and southern England as well as south Wales. Broad-bodied chasers are one of the first to visit and lay eggs in newly created ponds.
I have also learnt more wild flowers during my walks or at work. These are;
– Black medick (Medicago lupulina)
This wildflower is a lugume and therefore fixes nitrogen in the soil. Similar to true clovers, it is found on grassland and in lawns. The seedpod is black in colour, hence it’s common name. They are a great nectar source for bees, flowering between April and August. This plant is traditionally used as fodder for grazing livestock.
– Common agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)
Standing at 1.5 meters high this plant is also known as Church steeples because of the flower head spikes. In the Victorian language of flowers it represented gratitude and thankfulness. In folklore Agrimony was believed to ward off witchcraft and help the injured recover from musket wounds. It was also used to aid sleep if placed beneth a persons head, only for them to awaken once the flower was removed. Common agrimony is found in meadows and often visted by bees and hoverflies. It is also eaten by Grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae) caterpillars. More information on this increasingly rare butterfly can be found here.
– St johns wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Often found in wasteland but also in open areas of woodlands or along hedges and roads, it flowers from June through to September. This plant is strongly associated with the feast of St John the Baptist (hence the common name) which is observed on the 24th June, a few days after the Midsummer solstice. Both the red juice from the stem (representing blood) and the time it starts flowering were seen as associated with St John the Baptist. This wildflower is a traditional remedy for wounds and burns and also known for aiding mild depression.
– Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
This plant grows up to 2m high and has grey wooly foliage. It blooms in June, July and August, found along wasteland, verges, along roads and sometimes popping up in gardens. This plant is eaten by the mullein moth caterpillar. More information on Mullein moths (Cucullia verbasci) can be found on the Butterfly Conservation website.
– and Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
This wildflower grows up to 1.3m high and blooms in late summer. The flowers are reddish brown developing from white buds. Mugwort is often found growing by roads on verges as well as amongst fields and wasteland.
Scientifically named Artemisia after the Greek goddess Artemis and Vulgaris meaning common. Partly due to it’s silvery appearance when light shines on the foliage it is connected to the moon and dreams.
Etymologically the common name is fascinating. Mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm, the spelling was Mucgwyrt. Giving some idea to the origin of the common name being linked to old English words for midge ‘mycg’ and root, herb or plant ‘wort’. Traditionally this plant was used as a deterrent for midges and moths. It was used as flavouring for food and before hops to flavour beer, Plus it was used medicinally and had spiritual significance. Mugwort is also linked to St John the Baptist as it was believed that he wore a girdle of it for protection while he was in the wilderness (possibly why placing it over doorways was believed to give protection too) therefore another name for this plant is St John’s plant. It was also used by Roman soldiers; placing it in their footwear was thought to ward off fatigue.
With May finally here, spring is now in full swing. Lots of things are growing on the allotment from seedlings to fruit, even the Rhubarb is almost ready to pick.
During a woodland walk, on the Easter weekend, I observed the first Speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) butterfly of the year. Plus local ornamental Cherry trees (Prunus) began their spectacular show at the same time; later joined by the flowers of the Hawthorn (Crataegus) , Rowan (Sorbus) and Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum).
Over the last few weeks, more wildflowers have started to bloom, including Buttercups (Ranunculus), Stitchwort (Stellaria), Ground-ivy (Glechoma hederacea) Honesty (Lunaria annua) and Hedge garlic (Alliaria petiolata) along with Cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis).
Ground-ivy Cuckoo flower
Another butterfly that began to emerge recently is the Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines). Hedge garlic and Cuckoo flower are important food sources for Orange-tip caterpillars, so it is lovely to think these butterflies will be laying eggs on the plants I’ve noticed to ensure future generations; the verge not being mown, allowing both plants to develop, enabling this.
The ‘No mow May’ campaign is back this year. Encouraging us to avoid mowing lawns in order to encourage a wide variety of wildflowers to bloom (including rare ones), thus increasing the availability of pollen and nectar for pollinators as they start to emerge (along with helping butterfly populations, as discussed above). After several years of this campaign together with the every flower counts survey, improvements in wildflower growth have been recorded, as people report their sightings taken at this time. An article from the Plantlife charity discusses their findings in more detail here.
Even leaving the humblest of flowers to flower on lawns, like Dandelions (Taraxacum), Daisies (Bellis perennis) and Buttercups helps.
During the previous week there were the few days of unusually high temperatures for the time of year; a final flourish for late summer?
The heat encouraged lots of bees, especially Honey bees (Apis mellifera) to visit Hylotelephium (once called Sedums) which began to bloom. The sound was amazing and it was so relaxing to work near them; you could almost feel the buzz it was so intense.
How many bees can you spot?
Things have been ticking over nicely on the allotment for the past month. Corn and Squash are developing nicely while the supply of Sweetpeas and Beetroot keep coming. Plus the Potatoes have been dug up and Apples are ready to pick too.
Time spent planning next years harvest is in full swing, while changes to the allotment occur. I began to create a space for a wild flower area next to a patch of long grass, where a resident frog is no doubt loving the huge supply of slugs this year. Plus work has begun on transforming the veg patches into raised beds.
Away from the allotment, on Friday 10th September, I noticed a rather large moth in the hallway. It was an Old lady/ black underwing (Mormo maura) moth. The wingspan of the Mormo maura is between 55 and 65mm.
The common name of Old Lady is due to the colouration and pattern on the forewings, which resemble the shawls of old Victorian ladies. There is only one generation per year and adults fly between July and August; as I noticed this one in September it must be near the end of its lifespan. A nocturnal moth it is attracted to light (and sugar if you place feeding stations for moths). Clearly the open window had encouraged it into the building. The main habitat for this moth are gardens and waste ground, particularly in damp locations. In spring, after overwintering, the caterpillars will feed on various trees and shrubs, such as Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).
Then last Friday, another moth found its way to the hall. Also a nocturnal moth attracted by light, the Snout moth (Hypena proboscidalis), so called for obvious reasons.
There are two generations per year of the Hypenaproboscidalis, adults initially fly between June and August and again later in autumn. The wingspan of the Snout moth is approximately 30 to 38mm. Like the Old lady moth it also frequents gardens and wasteland, along with woodlands; essentially it can be found anywhere nettles (Urtica dioica) are found, which the caterpillars feed on.
Over the last few weeks Buddleja have been in flower, encouraging butterflies to visit and making them more visible. I have begun to notice Red admirals (Vanessa atalanta) and Peacocks (Aglais io) alongside Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small white (Pieris rapae) butterflies.
Having some time off work enabled me to take more walks. In my local woodland park I started to see a lot more Commas (Polygoniac-album) and Small heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) butterflies too. On a few occasions they flitted around me as I stopped to watch them; an absolutely joyful experience, almost like they were interacting with me in their own way.
Thankfully in the two weeks, I managed to venture further afield. On one occasion, I saw a Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) butterfly while visiting an Arboretum in Herefordshire.
Woodlands are their habitat and they can be seen during July and August. The Caterpillars of this butterfly feed on various grasses, such as Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa), Common Couch (Elytrigiarepens), and other meadow grasses (Poa spp.).
Spending some time away on holiday gave me the chance to explore other environments, including those next to water, thus enabling me to notice different wildflowers.
One walk took me past a canal. Water mint (Mentha aquatica) and Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) were growing all down the canal edge.
Water mint
Both plants grow in shallow water and boggy conditions so are often found in fens and marshes as well as along the margins of ponds, streams, rivers and of course canals, as I discovered. They require habitats with full sun or dapled shade to bloom and are great for pollinators. Water mint flowers from the beginning of July up to November while Purple loosestrife only blooms between June and August. Purple Loosestrife can be visited by insects with long tongues and particularly enjoyed by butterflies and Red-tailed Bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius). It is also eaten by caterpillars of the Small Elephant Hawk-moths (Deilephila porcellus).
A Large white butterfly visiting some Purple Loosestrife.
As well as butterflies there were several dragonflies and damselflies, including this Blue-tailed damselfly (Ischnura elegans) dancing over the water.
This Blue-tailed damselfly was seen resting on a nettle leaf.
However, most of the bees I saw on that walk were interested in the plant I encountered at the first lock, Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera).
While the lock was completely swamped by this plant, it was only section I saw it in. It’s the first time I had come across Himalayan balsam, although I know of its reputation.
The pretty flower of the Himalayan balsam is popular with pollinators, especially bees. Here a bee is seen climbing into the flower to obtain nectar and pollen.
First introduced into the UK in 1839, from the Himalayas, this plant soon escaped formal gardens and naturalized in the wild becoming a nuisance in waterways. It grows fast and can become invasive very quickly as, up to 800 seeds from each pod, explode as far as 7 meters from the parent plant and even travel downstream. It isn’t long before a thicket is created where the plant out-competes other species to reduce biodiversity, cause erotion of riverbanks and affect water quality. All this means it is considered a weed in waterways and often removed by work-parties whenever possible. In fact it had been previously cleared from a lot of this canal. Control methods include pulling and cutting before they get a chance to set seed. It can take a few growing seasons before control over this plant is established. Management of this plant is mentioned under schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Interestingly, in Hertfordshire, control of this plant involves collection of the flowers to produce pink Gin (further information can be found at Herts Wildlife Trust).
The following week I visited a beach in Kent, it was so relaxing to hear the sounds of the seaside. One plant I noticed growing amongst the rocky area near the shingle was Alfalfa (Medicago sativa).
I know this plant as a green manure on allotments and gardens, adding nitrogen to soil for crops the following season. It’s also used as silage for livestock in agriculture plus alfalfa sprouts are used in some cuisines. I have never seen it in the wild or even flowering. There wasn’t a great swathe of it so clearly the plants were due to the odd escapee into the wild; perhaps a few seeds having blown there or been disposed by a bird. It was certainly good for local pollinators.
The last few weeks have been opposites in terms of the weather. A wet previous week turned into the hottest of the year so far (with no relief overnight). Although too hot for my comfort, it was perfect weather for butterflies, and a great start for the Big Butterfly Count. Finally I was beginning to witness an increase in the amount of butterflies. I was getting worried this years reduction in butterfly sightings (due to the cold spring and wet summer experienced in 2021 up to this point) would continue. However by the end of the first week, I saw a Speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) and a Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni). Then, while on a walk around my local woodland park (early on the following, sunny and very warm, Sunday morning) I witnessed lots of butterflies making the most of the sunshine.
In one open area of the park, the grass had been allowed to grow, with many species of wildflower blooming amongst it. One of the plants I saw was Common centuary (Centaurium erythraea) which blooms between May and October. Overshadowed by the other wildflowers and grasses, initially this shorter plant was difficult to spot; in fact had it not been next to a mown walkway, I may not have seen it. Thankfully it’s pink and yellow colouration stood out enough, from the more muted colours surrounding it, as I wondered past trying to identify butterflies.
Common centuary represents delicacy and felicity in the Victorian Language of Flowers.
This plant is found in a many places, from heathlands and woodlands to cliff tops and quarries. A natural meteorologist, the flower closes when the weather is dull and damp to reopen once the weather brightens up. While I’m not sure this is a practical weather indicator to use (when a simple observation of the sky, in that moment, will give you the information you require) it’s a pretty cool reaction to weather conditions.
There were many butterflies flitting about on that Sunday morning. Most prominent were Gatekeepers (Pyronia tithonus), Small skippers (Thymelicus sylvestris)
A small skipper visiting some Knapweed (Centaurea).
and Small heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) butterflies; probably due to the grass being allowed to grow fully. All these species of butterfly are associated with grassland and their caterpillars feed on grasses. Marbled white (Melanargia galathea) caterpillars also feed on grasses while the adults feed on many purple coloured flowers, including knapweeds; so it was lovely to see one of these butterflies flying around the meadow too.
Another plant that was growing amongst the long grass was Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris). This is a favourite nectar source of the Gatekeeper butterfly, along with other plants including Bramble (Rubus fruticosus), Wild marjoram (Origanum vulgare) and Wood sage (Teucrium scorodonia).
Ragwort is great for many pollinators, including these Small heath butterflies.
I also got to see another insect with a strong connection to Ragwort, a caterpillar of the day flying moth, the Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae).
This wasn’t the only caterpillar I noticed. Earlier in the week, I saw a caterpillar of the Knot grass moth (Acronicta rumicis), seen below on a bramble leaf.
This caterpillar will be part of this years second brood, the adults of which appear in August and September. The Caterpillars have a varied diet, eating a wide range of herbaceous plants; this one clearly eating out (and pooping on) bramble. The photo of the adult moth can be seen at Uk Moths.
Bee in the Moment 