Viola odorata – Jill Orme Photography

13 Mar 2026

Flower Friday

by JDO | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

By this morning the storm of last night had played itself out, and the day began very promisingly. Sadly, by late morning the cloud had rolled back in and the temperature was dropping, but at least we were spared any … Continued

9 Mar 2026

Mrs

by JDO | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

The temperature went back up by a couple of degrees this morning, and the sun even emerged, albeit briefly, and suddenly the garden was full of Plumpies. I managed to count six competing males zooming around the pulmonaria in the … Continued

25 Feb 2026

Pluuumpie!!!

by JDO | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

The emergence of the first Hairy-footed Flower Bees of the year is always a really big deal for me, because they’re the perfect harbingers of spring: bright, beautiful, and lively, they never fail to fill me with optimism. That said, … Continued

14 Mar 2025

Sitting pretty

by JDO | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

Sitting pretty among the sweet violets in the sunshine this morning, this Hairy-footed Flower Bee stopped me heading off to Slimbridge for the second time in ten days. At breakfast time all four of my weather apps had suggested that … Continued

3 Mar 2024

Refreshment break

by JDO | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

It was an unexpectedly bright day today, though still cold. At intervals through the day I thought about going up to the owl field, but I really wanted to get Lightroom working on the new Mac, and all my files … Continued

24 Feb 2024

Plump

by JDO | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

Part way through a rather mad morning – an early trip to Stratford to top up on shopping, followed by a couple of hours in the kitchen, making a batch of slow-cooker Stifado and next week’s breakfast yoghurt – I … Continued

24 Mar 2023

Guardian

by JDO | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

I did far too much gardening today, tidying one of the long borders in the back garden and the soft fruit bed in the secret garden. I then snapped and snarled at R when he got home from running errands, … Continued

15 Mar 2022

Resting

by JDO | posted in: Bees, Beetles, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

It was a slightly warmer day today, but there was a thin layer of high cloud for much of it, which kept the light hazy. Good for photography, but not so good for getting the inverts flying. Nonetheless, I increased … Continued

4 Mar 2022

It begins

by JDO | posted in: Bees, Flowers and plants, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

I did pretty well over the winter in terms of finding invertebrates to keep me motivated through the dark months, but nothing – nothing – beats the feeling of seeing the first solitary bee of the season in my garden. … Continued

27 Feb 2021

Plump

by JDO | posted in: Bees, Flowers and plants, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

R and I spent almost the whole day in the garden, and though I’m tired now I’m very happy with our achievements. We cut back and tidied the whole of the long front border – possibly the first time this … Continued