Andy Rogers

Ophrys iricolor, Orchids of Cyprus © Dr Richard Bate

Ophrys alasiatica, Orchids of Cyprus © Dr Richard Bate

Postcard just received from tour leader @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social in Cyprus:

Our #OrchidsOfCyprus group have seen two spectacular Asian species on the edge of their world range today. These two (Ophrys iricolor & endemic Ophrys alasiatica) aren't them - but what utter beauties they are!

Only 1 or 2 EPO's when I moved here. The deer kept muching them. After a storm I put some fallen branches across deer track and changed their route. Population has gone up to around 30 plants.

A pity that, I have yet to see a bee orchid. Was delighted to see Orchis mascula popping up in the woods at the house. Near Angus Glens. Early for here.

Will it get mown?

This recently bought book agrees.

A Small tortoiseshell. A fresh beauty.

Crossbills at Dundee Law this morning. At least 8 birds. #BirdingScotland

Green Hellebore Helleborus viridis in a beautiful strip of Hazel coppice at Walderton, West Sussex today. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Woo hoo frog spawn in the pond.

This glorious book arrived. Was reading about the Wedderburn family and discovered Jemima and this reprinted book. A snip at £10 from world of books.

First butterfly of the year. Peacock butterfly- Aglais io.

Blue Forget-me-nots in flower in the shape of a heart.

Heart shaped foget-me-nots for the romantics out there.

Thank you, hours of waiting.

Curious young Red squirrel visiting the garden.
#GardensHour

Dragonfly😔. Thanks.

Six spot burnet moth, Comma, Fritillary and Common blue butterflies from summer in the garden.
#gardenshour

Drzgonfly emerging from garden pond.
#gardenshour

Garden earlier and hall earlier this week.
#gardenshour

Male bullfinch snap fright.
#gardenshour

Big frog, little frog in the garden.
#gardenshour

A spot of flooding here again. At least it didn't reach beyond outer hall and saved me watering garden or filling the pond.

An Ear-pick Fungus on a pine cone covered in feathery green moss. There is out of focus moss in the foreground

An Ear-pick Fungus growing at 45 degrees out of a moss-covered pine cone. The underside of the mushroom’s cap is made up of many white spines. The stem is brown

Looking closely at nature always reveals something wonderful - Like this mini-ecosystem on a pine cone!

It’s always exciting to find the wonderfully-named Ear-pick Fungus 🍄‍🟫

#FungiFriends #FungiFriday
#Mycology #Fungi

reading about organisms that aren’t your specialty is like

margins of the quorbus eplungulate, ploobular processes bent posteriorly towards the foobulum

define term “eplungulate”
- lacking plungae. synonym: thubulous

That's alot of 'spoots'.

The Radnor Lily or Early Star of Bethlehem (Gagea Bohemica) is a fabulous little plant. The leaves are small and grass-like and easily go unnoticed. But in mid winter a few of these plants pop up beautiful yellow flowers at their only known British site. #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

As they would say in our old home town of Dundee. "Eh she's for the watching."😅

Snowdrop photo, then noticed puffball.

The first of the snowdrops, near Angus Glens, Scotland.

Xylaria carpophila - Beechmast Candlesnuff. #FungiFriends

Watch out it could go wrong.