Celestron LCD Digital Microscope II

 For some time we have been hankering for a half-decent microscope - ideally one with a screen with the capability for taking photos and videos. We had an ancient school microscope, kindly donated by one of our citizen science friends, but the optical lenses were badly scratched and we could not...

Flower Power

I picked this up from our Ring doorbell. Two passers-by enjoying our garden wall display using three of the five senses: sight, smell and touch. (the touchy, feelie plant in the video is a red-flowered thyme). See Stop and Smell the Flowers for more plant appreciation.Video 1: Passers-by Enjoying...

The Life Cycle of a Wood Pigeon?!

 At the bottom of the garden, there is a wisteria-laden archway (marked) leading to the kitchen garden ...Photo 1: Wisteria Arch marking the entrance to the Kitchen GardenFor a few weeks I have heard a gentle cooing coming from the wisteria with the occasional rapid exit of a wood pigeon when passing...

Common Brimstone Butterfly

 A couple of days ago, I mentioned an unexpected garden visitor in the form of the common brimstone butterfly. Whilst not an uncommon butterfly, especially in the south and east of England (Figure 1), its preferred habitat is scrubby grassland and woodland including roadside verges and hedgerows.Figure...

Big Butterfly Count 2024

This important Citizen Science project started on the 12th July and finishes on the 4th August. Further details can be found on the Butterfly Conservation website. From conversations with people in different parts of the UK, butterfly sightings have been very low this year. We have seen remarkably few...

Felicitaciones a España

 Photo 1: Belle Ignores the Football on TVCongratulations to Spain on winning Euro 2024, beating England in tonight's Final. Spain were the better team on the night and, indeed, the best team in the whole tourname...

Fruit/Vegetable Anomalies #5 Courgettes

 Photo 1: Keeping strange companyCourgettes (aka zucchinis) are the subject of this post. Garlic, potatoes, carrots, and strawberries have featured in previous articles.In Photo 1, we have a double (or twin) courgette. A clearer picture is shown in Photo 2 along with some fellow courgette oddities...