nature

Bigroot Geranium

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This is called a big root geranium. I didn’t know this when I got it, thinking it was just a normal geranium like my grandma used to have. Nope, this one is different.

Starting as just an ordinary small plant i bought for my wedding anniversary a couple of years ago. It’s growing and spreading. Creating a small little patch of green and pink. It’s lovely. Smells a bit weird when you touch the leaves, but the bugs like it.

The bees however, love it. There were 3 different types yesterday, but they move quickly so not the easiest to catch!

I have now taken a section of it and planted in another pot, so I can move some of that awesome pink colour around the garden.

(c) K Wicks

Strawberry patches

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I bought two strawberry plants a couple of years ago. One with white flowers, one with red flowers. I didn’t realise the red one was just ornamental, or must be as no strawberries on it last year. And so far this year, no red flowers on it either. Maybe the other one took over, as per the picture further down.

These are three different patches of strawberries now flowering. If you didn’t know, strawberries spread, going as far as you let them.

One box now has them all the way along. And, although I didn’t plant any potatoes in this one this year, we have potatoes coming up! I guess I didn’t find all of last years and they’re coming back. Funny because I’ve planted potatoes in the next bed along this year.

At the end of the strawberry box, we also have a mingled corner with rosemary, parsley and winter jasmine.

Lots of green at the moment in the garden with small spots of colour coming through. Another couple of months and I am expecting a lot of colour 🙂 One of last years strawberries below, so I’m hopeful of at least a few more this year!

(c) K Wicks

Jumping Spiders

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I have been trying to work out what all the little jumping spiders are. I knew there were lots of different ones, I just hadn’t realised how many I had seen. Once I started looking closely at my pictures, I started to notice quite big difference.

In Spain they were very friendly little spiders. In the UK, so not much and they are, well, jumpy. I figured the heat out there slows everything down, wildlife included. But I have still captured a number recently, they don’t stop for long if at all, so only a few UK ones included.

Some of the names may be off, but I think they’re mostly correct.

Corythalia – it’s hard to tell with this one, so it’s a maybe?
Evarcha
Heliophanus
Red backed jumping spider (phidippus johnsoni)
Aelurillus
Menemerus Semilimbatus
Sitticus Dorsatus
Colonus
Plexippus paykulli
Male Zebra jumping spider
Female Zebra jumping spider

I just used to think there was one type of jumping spider, the little black and white one I called them as a kid. Now I know better!

(c) K Wicks

Noble False Widow

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For days now I have been trying to identify a spider hidden its its home in a hole in the garden wall. I scared it at first with the camera flash, but after a couple of weeks it seemed to be less afraid and stayed put as I tried to see in the hole enough.

I suspected it was a noble false widow but needed a better view (I had posted the above pic on Twitter asking @BritishSpiders for some help, and that was the suggestion with only a limited view, but the white stripe gave it away it seems). Today, I noticed it was a bit further forward, and while I was trying to get a shot some flies landed near and tempted it out.

It didn’t seem to mind me being there, but also didn’t seem that motivated for the food either.

It came out for long enough for me to get a good shot for identification though, so I was rather pleased. Patience paid off (and just happening to be there with my camera in hand, so timing helped).

(c) K Wicks

A little patch of wild

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This little patch seems to be quite happy this year. I’ve cleared some of the weeds which were looking to clog it up, but left everything else as it is. Its a small strip at the edge of the lawn, but happily houses the redcurrant bush, bluebells, a few other plants and a geranium which is slowly raging out of control at the other end. But, I did find an angle shade caterpillar under the geranium this morning, and bees were enjoying it as well, so it’s doing a good job for now.

White winter heath
Pyramidal Bugle
Redcurrants
Geranium
Angle shade moth caterpillar
Geranium and buff tailed bumblebee

(c) K Wicks

Buds in the garden

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Every day there seems to be more and more happening. Today was filled with finding buds, bugs and Bees 😁

Rose bud
Carnation bud
Wood Avens (St. Benedict’s herb)
Loganberry bud

These things are all a bit late on developing this year as the cold has slowed them down. But they’ll progress quickly now I think if we can have a few more days of sunshine and rain.

(c) K Wicks