Wildflower lawn flowers and insects

 

My wildflower lawn is full of buttercups now.  And feeding on the pollen is Malachius bipustulatus, a beetle, which feeds mainly on grass pollen but here on a buttercup.  The larvae hunt other insects under loose bark.  Ref: Collins complete guide to British insects. 

A dozen Common-spotted orchids are pushing up their flower stems.

And a Southern Marsh orchid flower is further advanced.

No mow May: Linnet feeding on Dandelion seeds on a garden lawn

 Just lock up your lawnmower on May 1st and let the wild flowers in your lawn bloom, providing a feast of nectar for our hungry pollinators.  Ref: https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/no-mow-may

However, an unmown lawn can also become the largest bird feeder in your garden.  This morning a female Linnet was feasting on dandelion seeds, which had been allowed to flower in an unmown section of lawn.

Here is a host of photo's of this one delightful bird.

The Linnet was in the middle of this lawn.  Green and Goldfinches also regularly visit to eat the leaves of Cat's-ear, which at https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/cats-ear-plants/using-cats-ear-plants.htm is claimed to be edible.  I'll try it for lunch today.  Anything can be eaten once.

Fairmile Bottom and Rewell Wood: Fritillaries, Grizzled skipper and other insects.

Over almost seven Km and for three and a half hours, William and I meandered around this glorious meadow and wood in near perfect weather.  It is a magical area, rich with diverse habitats and wildlife.

Click on pictures to expand them.

Treble-bar moth

Fritillary (pearl-bordered?)

Broom

Male Brimstone on dog poo bag. 

Peacock

Painted Lady

Early-purples orchids

A rare Grizzled skipper

For the route, please see this link, https://out.ac/IOzgxE  The pictures are in reverse order of the walk except for one anomaly.