It rained overnight last week and one of the fallen poppy petals was looking rather pretty in the morning.

(c) K Wicks
It rained overnight last week and one of the fallen poppy petals was looking rather pretty in the morning.

(c) K Wicks
Because it looked so pretty…

(c) K Wicks
Seems we have lots of new starling hanging around and finding their feet (and wings) so to speak. Gathering in little groups to cause a small rucus, it’s quite fun to watch.

(c) K Wicks
Its been a busy month, for work and for nature. With all the sun and now a good bit of rain, its bulked everything up. New flowers are starting to open, with the yellows looking to be making way for the reds, pinks and purples.

The fuchsia has come back again, funny really, I tried 3 times to grow a fuchsia, bought already flowering and everything. They always died. This one was just a stick that had been left when we moved in, not even planted, just on the ground. I didn’t know what it was but could still see green under the bark so put it in dirt. Within a few weeks, it had leaves…

The potatoes have started flowering too, they have such pretty flowers. Potatoes are just great, the Bush crickets and snails are eating the leaves as quickly as they can but can’t keep up! Its providing great shade and bushiness for the bed too. I often see the sparrows having a little hop around in there looking for food.

I have white and red carnations this year, I don’t remember planting two colours so its good to see what appears to be new. A lovely dash of colour.

Another pink strawberry flower was poking through, its overshadowed by other strawberries, the loganberries and the fuchsia, so I’m impressed its made it at all.

The nasturtiums have just started to come out as well, its been a bit quiet for butterflies this year so far, but usually these bring the large and small white butterflies in.

The hydrangea is trying, its bee moved this year and surrounded by poppies which have now been and gone so ill clear some room and maybe it will do a bit better.

Its all pink and purple poppies this year, I thought I had planted some red ones but seems not. Either way, its a superb splash of colour and the bumble Bees love them.
(c) K Wicks
It was pretty awesome to see a full rainbow with a hint of a double one. They never fit in frame though, so I try and get the best side if I can.

(c) K Wicks
It’s been a while since I have created new patterns, but I finally have a new collection of nature patterns for 2021.
Starting with MKW-VN.737 – Blue Ammonite…
With over 1200 unique MKW designs, check out my shop and find something bright for you and your home 🙂
https://www.redbubble.com/people/Darling2425/shop
(c) K Wicks
Just one opened first, a beautiful dark purple poppy to give the Bees something extra.



The next day, loads bloomed and by the next day or two mostly gone. But they’re staggered and keep coming so hopefully a bit of brightness for longer.
(c) K Wicks
It was dark with a huge cloud just handing around and a few stars. It was nice.

(c) K Wicks
One white rose in the garden.




(c) K Wicks
It has been another exciting week for nature in the garden, still lots of flying things it seems. This is for the last week or so and one pic in May I forgot to post, but most all of these are my first time seeing them. I may have given them a glance before, but not that I remember, and not that I noticed. I amazed at just how much there is once you start paying attention and letting the garden grow a bit wilder and by plating a bit more.

I haven’t ever seen one of these hoverflies before, there have been a number of different ones, so of course they will get their own post at some point 🙂

A very small weird looking mayfly, checking out my new little tub pond I put together mid week. It’s a work in progress and a trial run really. We’ll see how that goes.

This is another first – a type of crane fly that looks a bit more special than the ones I see all the time. Nature is great.

A new moth for me, and more exciting because it was in my own garden. This almost looked like a leaf at first, but on second glance I noticed it had wings, and a brilliant blue trim on them. I have now seen another of these, so that’s two in a week (I know it was a second moth and not the first again, because it was smaller).

At first I thought this insect had orange eyes. He was moving quickly and didn’t settle for long. After getting a couple of pics he left. I studies the picture to see what it was having worked out it was a type of bee, and discovered the orange bits appear to be pollen. Must have been a very pollen filled flower he visited before getting to me garden.

I love these colourful little wasps. They are so quick and settle for so little time, it’s a difficult process trying to get a good pic, so this one isn’t great, but as it appeared this week again, I really wanted to get a shot.

I am seeing these almost daily now, they land often and give me plenty of time for shots, but are easily spooked. So I wait and enjoy watching them a while first usually.

Again, not a great pic as it’s another fast moving wasp. Enough to work out what it was though. They are as small and cute looking as the rub-tailed wasp.

This chap did not settle long, enjoying the fully flowering loganberry bush but there wasn’t much left for him it seems as the visit was brief. I’m trying to capture all nature at the moment, rather than wait for a perfect shot or miss it.
Hopefully I will get to see lots more this week, maybe something new, maybe not. That part of what makes nature watching so exciting.
(c) K Wicks