Woke
As you can see from this photo it was a dark and dreary day, but I still found several signs of impending spring as I walked around the garden this afternoon: A carpet of snowdrops in the rose bed. Early … Continued
Two out of three
This afternoon I was on my way out of the door, big gear in hand, when a blast of cutting wind sliced through me, and I realised that spending even an hour sitting still in an open hide in the … Continued
Still hanging on
I know: we’re in “same old…” territory here – but I love these tiny guys and I know some other people who do too. And I’m very happy to still be finding them at this point in the winter, especially … Continued
Weevil huddle
I was starting to worry that I might have posted a surfeit of roosting pairs of Oxystoma pomonae weevils over the past few weeks, so I went out into the garden this afternoon and found a quartet of them. Don’t … Continued
Solstice promise
The Shortest Day Susan Cooper (1935-) And so the Shortest Day came and the year died And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world Came people singing, dancing, To drive the dark away. They lighted candles in the winter … Continued
Shepherdess
Oh, hello! You’re a gorgeous big fat chap! Oh! Chappess…. sorry! You are mahoosive though – who have you been eating? I hope it wasn’t my hawthorn shieldbug – it was round about here that I last saw it… No … Continued
Adorabubble
When I first came across a pair of Oxystoma pomonae roosting like this, I thought it was sweet but probably aberrant behaviour, but now I know that this is how these tiny weevils prefer to settle down for the winter. … Continued