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

Thursday 7 July 2016

Wild flowers in a formal garden: "The Pride of Sussex" and Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil with "Queen of Denmark" rose, Wool-carder bees and many more insects.

Inline images 1

The Hampton Court flower show, now open, features one garden with "The County Flower of Sussex" the Round-headed Rampion.  The BBC broadcast of the show available for a week or so at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07k77wt/hampton-court-palace-flower-show-2016-episode-1  shows a couple of my pictures of this flower from my blog at  https://sussexrambler.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/pride-of-sussex-on-65-miles-circular.html

In my own garden, Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil growing under and through a "Queen of Denmark" rose works for me.


 It is buzzing with Wool-carder bees at the moment.

 Elsewhere in the garden, a Longhorn beetle is on a fading Ox-eye daisy.
 A parasitic Nomad bee is seeking out a host bumblebee nest to parasitise.
 A tiny solitary bee balances on a Honeysuckle stamen
And on a honeysuckle leaf an Ichneumon wasp is looking for caterpillars into which she will inject an egg to devour the host alive.

For a diversity of wildlife, allowing wildflowers (weeds!) to grow in a formal garden brings great delight to nature lovers like me.  Click on any picture to expand it.  And if you know anyone looking for interesting public speakers on Natural History please invite them to see www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

No comments:

Blog Archive