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DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
13 February 2022 17:17:59

Bumblebee visiting the winter flowering honeysuckle today before the rain started


War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
Roger Parsons
13 February 2022 17:23:29


Bumblebee visiting the winter flowering honeysuckle today before the rain started


Originally Posted by: DEW 


Now then, David. That would be a Queen bumblebee - but which of the common spring species?


Spring Bees - Discover Wildlife


https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/identify-wildlife/how-to-identify-spring-bees/


Roger


 


RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
13 February 2022 19:58:02


 


Now then, David. That would be a Queen bumblebee - but which of the common spring species?


Spring Bees - Discover Wildlife


https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/identify-wildlife/how-to-identify-spring-bees/


Roger


 


Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


Buff-tailed, I reckon


War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
ARTzeman
13 February 2022 21:54:49

WEATHER LORE CALENDAR


If bees get out in February, the next day will be windy and rainy.






Some people walk in the rain.
Others just get wet.
I Just Blow my horn or trumpet
Roger Parsons
14 February 2022 07:02:58

Thanks, Dew. Buff-tailed sounds good.


A corespondent has send me the following links about hedgerows.

Benefits of healthy hedgerows:
https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/the-benefits-of-healthy-hedgerows



Hedge lifecycle
https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/hedge-management-cycle



History of hedgerows poster
https://ptes.org/hedgerow/a-history-of-hedgerows/




Roger


RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
ARTzeman
14 February 2022 09:18:50


 


Who said that, Art? Not heard it as a saying, though it is certainly true-ish, as I explained.


Roger


Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 

Weather Lore Calendar Old Farmers Almanac. 






Some people walk in the rain.
Others just get wet.
I Just Blow my horn or trumpet
speckledjim
23 February 2022 13:41:11
Mowed my lawn for the first time this year and very satisfying it was too. Looking forward to getting out a lot more and preparing for Spring
Thorner, West Yorkshire


Journalism is organised gossip
MRazzell
24 February 2022 08:31:03

Mowed my lawn for the first time this year and very satisfying it was too. Looking forward to getting out a lot more and preparing for Spring

Originally Posted by: speckledjim 


 


Theres something very chathartic about picking up all that winter crud and detritus into the mower box and looking out onto a 'clean' lawn in the spring.


All eyes on the models at the minute as we enter march. I'm hoping a reliable stint of mild weather emerges so i can germinate and plant out some of the more 'sensitive' species by the months end (although its starting to look potentially cold in the FI timeframe).


Hopefully by the middle of the month the outlook improves and can move on to something a bit more conducive to gardening - I don't think I could take another April like 2021!


Matt.
Roger Parsons
09 March 2022 20:48:08


Theres something very chathartic about picking up all that winter crud and detritus into the mower box and looking out onto a 'clean' lawn in the spring.


All eyes on the models at the minute as we enter march. I'm hoping a reliable stint of mild weather emerges so i can germinate and plant out some of the more 'sensitive' species by the months end (although its starting to look potentially cold in the FI timeframe).


Hopefully by the middle of the month the outlook improves and can move on to something a bit more conducive to gardening - I don't think I could take another April like 2021!


Originally Posted by: MRazzell 


Had the mower serviced last week and today mowed the lawn on bridge sunshine! Call me Mr Smug! Not too greedy a cut, just a tidying up so it's ready to grow. The planned wild area I am leaving a bit to see if it need a light trim to make management easier long-term. It was a great success last year. Lots of native species. We are pleased to see Cudweed on the list again this year.


Roger


RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
llamedos
05 May 2022 09:38:38

Good article worth reading, about ornithologist research at Wytham Woods in Oxfordshire. I couldn't believe how many caterpillars are brought to a nest of tits with an average number of nestlings ......


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-61314226 


"Life with the Lions"

TWO Moderator
Roger Parsons
05 May 2022 12:40:00


Good article worth reading, about ornithologist research at Wytham Woods in Oxfordshire. I couldn't believe how many caterpillars are brought to a nest of tits with an average number of nestlings ......


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-61314226


Originally Posted by: llamedos 


Yes, llamados - I read that earlier today and thought it very interesting. Ties in with the local picture here.


Did you also notice:


Flying insects splatting on cars have dropped by 60 per cent in UK


https://www.newscientist.com/article/2318621-flying-insects-splatting-on-cars-have-dropped-by-60-per-cent-in-uk/


Roger


RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
15 May 2022 08:30:10

Right I'm off for the day. It'll be be one of those days that when I return the garden will seem to have junglified in a few hours.


I wonder whether this is the start of a weather pattern change from dry to wet? If it is I'll be no doubt moaning in a few weeks about wouldn't it be nice to have some dry settled weather. 


 


Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Roger Parsons
01 June 2022 08:20:38
An excellent piece about managing your lawn for wildlife.

How to make your lawn wildlife friendly all year round – tips from an ecologist
https://theconversation.com/how-to-make-your-lawn-wildlife-friendly-all-year-round-tips-from-an-ecologist-183692 

Roger
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Gandalf The White
01 June 2022 09:17:22

An excellent piece about managing your lawn for wildlife.

How to make your lawn wildlife friendly all year round – tips from an ecologist
https://theconversation.com/how-to-make-your-lawn-wildlife-friendly-all-year-round-tips-from-an-ecologist-183692

Roger


Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


 


Very interesting - but I will have to battle against my learned expectations of how a lawn and garden should look.


Fortunately, as discussed before, we have several lawned areas. The main one seems particularly keen to become a haven for wild plants.


Location: South Cambridgeshire
130 metres ASL
52.0N 0.1E


speckledjim
01 June 2022 09:23:06

An excellent piece about managing your lawn for wildlife.

How to make your lawn wildlife friendly all year round – tips from an ecologist
https://theconversation.com/how-to-make-your-lawn-wildlife-friendly-all-year-round-tips-from-an-ecologist-183692

Roger

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


I like my lawned areas so I’m not prepared to turn them over to nature, however, I do have 2 wild areas where wild flowers grow. One is full of foxgloves and nettles and the other has various wild flower varieties that I seeded a few years back and now just let it do it’s own thing. The rest of the garden has some order to it but I always try and ensure that the flowers that grow are attractive to bees and insects.


Thorner, West Yorkshire


Journalism is organised gossip
ARTzeman
01 June 2022 09:43:41

TWO tomato plants outdoors. One with buds and the bush tomato has flowers.


All my potted bulbs need drying off. 






Some people walk in the rain.
Others just get wet.
I Just Blow my horn or trumpet
Roger Parsons
01 June 2022 09:51:50


Very interesting - but I will have to battle against my learned expectations of how a lawn and garden should look.


Fortunately, as discussed before, we have several lawned areas. The main one seems particularly keen to become a haven for wild plants.


Originally Posted by: Gandalf The White 


I treat the lawn in two ways. The first part and most public I mow regularly but on a fairly high setting to there is depth to the sward that allows variety of species to flourish. The other is in its 2nd year on "No Mow May" and is looking promising, with several species progressing including Yellow Rattle and Cowslips. Lots of insects. When I finally strim this I will remove the "Hay" after seed has dropped and leave the aftermath a manageable length for future mowing.


Off to Wednesday exercise class now....


Roger


RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
ARTzeman
01 June 2022 09:52:14

A good leek in June sets all in tune.  Weather Lore Calendar. 






Some people walk in the rain.
Others just get wet.
I Just Blow my horn or trumpet
Bertwhistle
04 June 2022 18:33:55


 


I treat the lawn in two ways. The first part and most public I mow regularly but on a fairly high setting to there is depth to the sward that allows variety of species to flourish. The other is in its 2nd year on "No Mow May" and is looking promising, with several species progressing including Yellow Rattle and Cowslips. Lots of insects. When I finally strim this I will remove the "Hay" after seed has dropped and leave the aftermath a manageable length for future mowing.


Off to Wednesday exercise class now....


Roger


Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


Sounds like a good plan Roger- and this May the growing was optimal locally.


Garden looks, smells and sounds great right now and I've just harvested the first crop of broad beans, garlic and (admittedly smallish) early potatoes for a tapas dish for tomorrow.


Happy we have water measurers in the north pond again.


You will already know of course about yellow rattle's unique 'relationship' with grass: can be useful, depending on plans!


 


Bertie, Itchen Valley.
Retire while you can still press the 'retire now' button.
Roger Parsons
24 June 2022 07:40:11

Interesting links for gardeners: Butterflies and burying Beetles.


Big Butterfly Count 2022
https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/



Half of British butterfly species on new Red List
https://butterfly-conservation.org/



Phoresy: mites hitchhiking on burying beetles
https://rcannon992.com/2020/03/15/phoresy-mites-hitchhiking-on-burying-beetles/




Roger


RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
12 July 2022 11:51:48

Not really gardening but it seems to be a developing fly ant day. The seagulls and other birds are having a feast aloft.


Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Roger Parsons
16 July 2022 06:57:41


Not really gardening but it seems to be a developing fly ant day. The seagulls and other birds are having a feast aloft.


Originally Posted by: NMA 


We've not had flying ants here yet. Here's an informative article.


In defence of ants


https://theconversation.com/in-defence-of-ants-186220


 


R.


 


RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Roger Parsons
18 July 2022 06:59:21
Flying Ant Days - BWARS - Professor Elizabeth Liz Duncan:
The study is current, and they would really appreciate any reports.
https://www.bwars.com/content/flying-ant-days-we-need-your-data 
Roger
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
18 July 2022 08:05:32

Flying Ant Days - BWARS - Professor Elizabeth Liz Duncan:
The study is current, and they would really appreciate any reports.
https://www.bwars.com/content/flying-ant-days-we-need-your-data
Roger

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


Done.


Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Retron
18 July 2022 14:12:57

Flying Ant Days - BWARS - Professor Elizabeth Liz Duncan:
The study is current, and they would really appreciate any reports.
https://www.bwars.com/content/flying-ant-days-we-need-your-data
Roger

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


Also done - there were dozens of winged ants on my patio door earlier!


Leysdown, north Kent

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