Tuesday 31 May 2011
Bramble
Bees are busy pollinating the flowers of the brambles so the blackberries will be ready in late summer.
Monday 30 May 2011
Maize Plants
Sunday 29 May 2011
Oak Apple Day
29th May is Oak Apple Day commemorating the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. Charles II is reputed to have escaped capture by either hiding in an Oak or disguised as a woodman hence the oak leaf was a symbol to be worn on the anniversary of his restoration.
The oak apple itself is not a fruit but a growth caused by the eggs of the gall wasp which consume the growth and emerge in July.
People could be punished for not wearing the oak symbol on this day and schoolboys used to whip the bare legs of schoolgirls with nettles if they neglected to wear it until recent times.
Saturday 28 May 2011
Friday 27 May 2011
Wednesday 25 May 2011
Spotted Orchid
Monday 23 May 2011
Yellow Iris
It is an invasive plant thriving in wet conditions so this years dry spring may restrict its spread.
Saturday 21 May 2011
Snow in May
No not really for this is Oil Mill built in 1721 to produce rape seed and linseed oil. Later it was a corn mill, a fulling mill and it was attempted to turn it into a hydro electric power station . Now it produces snow for films and television so the next time you are watching snow scenes on TV , when the sun is high in the sky and leaves are on trees, it probably came from here.
We passed it on a pleasant walk along the towpath of the Stroudwater navigation.
Friday 20 May 2011
Adonis Blue Butterfly
Wednesday 18 May 2011
Greylag goslings
Monday 16 May 2011
Jay
Sunday 15 May 2011
Palmate Newt
Recently we had noticed Newts in our pond and whilst clearing some leaves we found this one in the net & so put him on a plate to have a look. Only about 3" long this is a Palmate Newt which has a dark brown/green body & white underside marked with dark spots. There was a touch of red on the tail and our research shows this one to be a male as he has webbed feet (during the breeding season which is between February to May).
This type of Newt spends the breeding season in water and are active during the day, hence us seeing them swimming about in the pond. Otherwise they are active during rainy or humid nights. Palmate Newts lay single eggs on plant leaves which soon hatch into tiny tadpoles.
Friday 13 May 2011
Stone Walls
Wednesday 11 May 2011
Tuesday 10 May 2011
Summer Woodlands
Saturday 7 May 2011
Dock
Cows in the meadows
Friday 6 May 2011
Red Campion
Wednesday 4 May 2011
Oak Woods
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