The Horse Chestnut tree is one of the first to open its leaves. A bud bursts and the leaf structures rapidly expand as water is taken up...

This cheerful fellow came and stood right beside me ..... an inquisitive bird with less fear than most of humans.

With no leaves on the trees the lichens stand out as unusual. A lichen is a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an alga. The alga...

These hyacyths have been dormant until now. There has been some movement in the last week to register the first sign of a welcome Spring.

The “ear fungus” is one of the few fungi found growing in winter. It has a soft touch and ear like shape and is common on Elder trees....

The black spots are the dried Maple leaf are caused by a fungus disease called Tar Spot. The disease infects leaves late in the season...

Ice crystals formed after a hard frost. - On my garden table - On my Robin - On the bird feeder

This pretty primula flower is frozen except for the petals which have a antifreeze substance in them which prevents ice crystals forming...

Its Christmas Eve and a White Christmas, first hail and then snow. The leaves of this foxglove form a green basket to catch the evidence.

Droplets of dew have become entangled in a spiders web on a bush in the early morning.

The Water Mint flower head seen from above. Water Mint is common at this time of the year. It prefers damp habitats and will grow in...

My primulas are back in flower. The picture shows the stamens at the centre of a flower which is thrum-eyed. Here the stamens are long...

The Meadow Cranesbill or Meadow Geranium has striking blue flowers with 5 petals and the anthers of the stamens are dark purple. The...

As its name suggests this is the most common of the blue butterflies. It is a small butterfly, blue on top and with a very pretty...

Hoverflies are very common in our gardens and along hedgerows in summer. The sun fly is one the most common and most colourful. Its...

Herb Robert is very common in woodland and along woodland edges. It is called a herb as in ancient times it was used for many cures: for...

A tree bumble bee drinking the nectary of a cow parsley flower. The dusting of yellow spots is pollen that the bee will carry to...

The flower of the Common Plantain at its most attractive. This plant is considered a weed and most would not give a second glance.

This minbeast is only a few mms long and our friend. The 7 spot ladybird larva lives on Aphids.

A wolf spider waits hidden in the centre of a clematis flower for prey to arrive.