“Quite violent purgative” #plant

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 21, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, February, Flowers, Plants, Spurge Laurel, Winter | 0 comments

Neither a spurge nor a laurel, Spurge Laurel, Daphne laureola, was once used medicinally, according to Stevens in “Discovering Wild Plant Names.”

Picture taken February 9.

#wildflowers #plants #nature #naturephotography #woods #wildflower #spurge

Bark beetles #insect

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 17, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, Bark Beetles, February, Insects, Winter | 2 comments

Thanks to neighbours Ken and Linda for explaining what’s happened to this Ash. “Bark beetles lay their eggs under the bark of dead trees. When the eggs hatch the larvae feed … under the bark and leave characteristic galleries as they move forward … Once they are full size they pupate and emerge as adult beetles to start it all off again. Woodpeckers find this secret food supply by pecking away the dead bark, then feed on the larvae, pupae and adult beetles.

This is probably the work of Hylesinus crenatu, the Large Ash Bark Beetle.

Picture taken February 9.

#nature #naturephotography #woods #insects #insectphotography #bird #birds #woodpecker #tree #trees #Ash

Stinking Hellebore #plant

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 14, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, February, Flowers, Plants, Stinking Hellebore, Winter | 0 comments

Helleborus foetidus, a Christmas rose about to flower. First time I’ve noticed this on the way into the wood.

Picture taken on February 9.

#wildflowers #plants #nature #naturephotography #woods #hellebore #wildflower

Turkeytail #fungus

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 10, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, February, Fungi, Turkeytail, Winter | 0 comments

Trametes versicolor.

Picture taken February 9.

#fungus #nature #naturephotography #woods #mushroom #turkeytail #mushrooms

Drunkard’s aid #plant

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 7, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, Flowers, Ivy, January, Plants, Winter | 0 comments

Spreading the leaves of Ivy, Hedera helix, across the path of those worse for wear could bring them to their senses, according to Baker in “Discovering the Folklore of Plants.”

Picture taken January 22.

#wildflowers #plants #nature #naturephotography #woods #ivy #wildflower

Ancient woodland indicator #plant

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 4, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, Dog's Mercury, Flowers, January, Plants, Uncategorized, Winter | 0 comments

Dog’s Mercury, the very toxic Mercurialis perennis.

Picture taken January 22.

#wildflowers #plants #nature #naturephotography #woods #wildflower

First of many #wildflower

Posted by Wildwood on Jan 31, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, Flowers, January, Month, Plants, Primrose, Winter | 0 comments

Always nice to spot a Primrose, Primula vulgaris.

Picture taken January 22.

#wildflowers #plants #nature #naturephotography #woods #plant #primrose

Wet, wet, wet #tree

Posted by Wildwood on Jan 27, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, Hawthorn, January, Month, Plants, Trees, Winter | 0 comments

Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna.

Picture taken January 22.

#trees #plants #plant #nature #naturephotography #woods #hawthorn

In a hurry #wildlife

Posted by Wildwood on Jan 22, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, Deer, Fauna, January, Mammals, Roe, Winter | 0 comments

Roe deer, Capreolus capreolus.

Picture taken January 14 by remote camera.

#deer #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #fauna

Signs of Spring #wildflowers

Posted by Wildwood on Jan 17, 2025 in 2024, An English Wood Blog, December, Flowers, Plants, Primrose, Winter | 0 comments

Primrose, Primula vulgaris.

Picture taken December 16.

#primrose #plants #nature #naturephotography #woods #plant #wildflower

Work to be done #trees

Posted by Wildwood on Jan 10, 2025 in 2024, December, Winter | 0 comments

Storm damage on the north ride.

Picture taken December 16.

#plants #plant #nature #naturephotography #woods #tree

Oak #tree

Posted by Wildwood on Jan 6, 2025 in 2024, An English Wood Blog, December, Oak, Plants, Trees, Winter | 0 comments

Quercus robur.

Picture taken December 10.

#trees #plants #plant #nature #naturephotography #woods #oak