Words: Brimstone yellow and sulphur

Yellow moth on Mahonia berries, April 21, 2015

I made a rare observation (for me) of a yellow moth the other day and one thought led to another, as it usually does…

But first the moth. I was arriving home when I saw

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Herb Robert and other street plants in April

Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) on a city wall in April

The little wildflowers along the edge of the suburban streets here in Cardiff have flourished since I last photographed them in February (see the post here). We had plenty of rain, which helped, although we have now gone into a dry spell, so I expect this weedy greenery will wither and shrivel.

As usual, the prettiest plants

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2015 tree following 3: Nothing to see here…

No flowers yet on the empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa)

I was really hoping this time that the empress tree in Bute Park, Cardiff, would be showing off her purple foxglove-like blooms. But nothing.

On my third 2015 visit for Lucy Corrander’s Loose and Leafy tree following project I went to the park on the afternoon of March 26.

As the magnolias and cherry trees were now more or less in bloom, I thought the Paulownia tomentosa would also be one of those early spring flowerers, but no, so instead I had to make do with wandering around beneath the tree to see what I could find.

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A new plant and a ‘new’ insect…

Fly-like insect on Pericallis flower

Just a quick post to ask if anyone can identify an insect I saw today on this pretty plant I bought yesterday at a garden centre. It’s a Pericallis x hybrida, sold under the trade name of Senetti. The Pericallis is a member of the Aster (daisy) family and I love the bright colours.

But back to the insect.

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A look at some Ludlow landmarks

A colourful pub sign in Ludlow – the Church Inn

It’s spring cleaning time and a chance to declutter. Which also means clearing out the 2014 summer holiday pictures I took that I haven’t “processed” and blogged about yet. So this is a collection of images of Ludlow, in Shropshire on the Welsh border, taken last August. I dare say

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Spring colour in Bute Park

Primulas and hyacinths in a Bute Park flower bed, late March 2015

Although I mainly go to Bute Park in Cardiff to see the trees, at this time of year there are also lots of flowers. Some are spring flowers, such as daffodils and primroses. Some are late winter shrubs like Camellias, still in bloom. And then there are the wonderful magnolias, just starting to flower.

Here are

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