For illustrated talks on natural history and history see www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

For illustrated talks on natural history and history click here for www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

Sunday 30 September 2012

Sweet chestnuts

Sweet chestnuts are just starting to burst open in Sussex woods now.
The few that I have sampled are disappointing.  They are too shrivelled to be worth collecting and cooking.  Let's hope that later ones will be better.

Monday 17 September 2012

Chicken of the Woods

A bright yellow beacon spot-lit in sunshine shines out through the woods.
It is a chicken...

... a Chicken of the Woods,  Laetiporus sulphurious, the Sulphur Polypore.











Thursday 13 September 2012

Wine tasting butterflies

This Red admiral was enjoying a tipple of concentrated grape juice today...
...and so was this Comma.
Grapes are loved by wasps and birds - and also butterflies, it seems.
The red colour of these leaves is not an effect of the Autumn. 
According to viticulture expert, Dr. Georg K. Hill, it is due to magnesium deficiency in the soil.

Monday 3 September 2012

Autumn-flowering Wood Anemone...???

Moles were very active in this part of this West Sussex wood. 
Where they had thrown up mole hills, two wood anemones were in full flower... in September!
How very strange!

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