Posted on by sarahjwm

Monday’s bugs in the Rose Garden

The rose gardens at RHS Rosemore near Torrington, Devon are now at their peak. I went to look at what bug life they were supporting and found something I didn’t expect.

When I first saw this I couldn’t make out what I was looking at, it was tiny and I didn’t have my glasses. When I looked at my photos later I realised it was a bright green spider eating a fly.
These hover flies in their striking livery were really enjoying the roses

There were also a large number of tiny flies in amongst the stamens
A patch of Euphorbia attracted a variety of flying insects. The wings are beautifully iridescent

You can just see the wings as it takes flight, its legs heavy with pollen.

Posted on by sarahjwm

Sunday’s Flowers – a time of proboscis and cheating bumble bees #biodiversity #bumblebees #wildflowers

We set off on our bikes down the green Devon lanes, panniers empty, for a visit to our local plant nursery. I saw so many bumble bees on the flowers in the hedges that today they will be the main feature.

Drilling a hole in the Red Campion with its proboscis to get directly to the nectar

Not only bees squeezing up inside the Foxgloves but also avoiding or cheating on the pollination route and drilling a hole directly to the nectar with their proboscis. Our return journey, panniers bulging with green leaves, was faster as the thunder rolled and the rain watered us, plants and all.

Exiting a Foxglove covered in pollen
Sharing a feast on a wide platform
How scary is that. Glad they are so small!
Posted on by sarahjwm

Saturday’s Flowers – a day of stigma and anther!

After a night of heavy rain and strong winds the bugs in my Devon garden are all well hidden. But peering into the flowers I was struck by the variety and beauty of the stigma and anthers.

One of the many Geraniums romping through the wild area in my garden. What an incredible colour.
Isn’t this Lilly just amazing. The stigma is like a heart.
This Geranium looks so different