Now I am no photographer, the general quality of my pictures being, by modern standards, rather mediocre, [Yeah, we'd noticed. Ed.] but they do help to brighten otherwise dull blogs. Being unable to visit a camera shop, and not happy with a mobile phone 'camera' I have gone on line and ordered a replacement. It will take three weeks to arrive via an overstretched postal system! Eh bien, c'est la vie, and all that.
I managed a few pictures before losing my old friend. The apple blossom is on the point of opening and its bright carmine-ish flower buds are almost as attractive as the blossom itself.
 |
The apple blossom is about to break. Stefen Hill Pocket Park
10 April, 2020
|
Apples and hawthorn are both members of the Rose Family, Rosaceae, and it was a clump of hawthorn bushes I visited next. The leaves bore pale blister-like spots, caused by a mite, Eriophyes crataegi. It is a very common affliction and seems to do little harm to the host.
 |
These spots, caused by mites, are very common on hawthorn.
Stefen Hill Pocket Park, Daventry. 10 April, 2020
|
These sunny days have brought out ladybirds by the score. The commonest species is the 7-spot Ladybird, Coccinella 7-punctata, but running it a close second is the Harlequin Ladybird, Harmonia axyridis.
 |
Harlequin Ladybird, in the form conspicua.
Stefen Hill Pocket Park, 10 April, 2020
|
This ladybird comes in a bewildering number of forms so that it is not unusual to find two apparently different species mating. The form I photographed today is known as conspicua but even within the form there is variability.
Stop Press
Chris has had a brainwave and, after a bit of rummaging (apparently from the French, arrumage) unearthed a perfectly serviceable camera from somewhere mysterious. I will prevail!
Chris has had a brainwave and, after a bit of rummaging (apparently from the French, arrumage) unearthed a perfectly serviceable camera from somewhere mysterious. I will prevail!
No comments:
Post a Comment