New Garden Species – The Moo Moth On the 2nd of May, having taken advantage of the wonderful weather we’ve been having, we inspected the results of the previous night’s moth trap. We immediately noticed this amazing micro moth, which we have decided to call the Moo Moth. We really shouldn’t just make up names,Continue reading “Ethmia quadrillella”
Author Archives: dogsdave
Dock Bug
We do like the weird and wonderful-looking creatures that turn up in the Garden from time to time. On the 28th of April, we were visited for the first time in 2025 by Coreus marginatus, otherwise known as the Dock Bug. Nothing weird-sounding about that. But take a look at this little guy. If youContinue reading “Dock Bug”
A couple of Tortoises
We’ve had a few new species in the Garden during April, and the following two have very little in common, one being a True Bug and the other a Beetle. Apart, that is, from their vernacular name being Tortoise. The Tortoise Beetle, recorded on the 20th April 2025. These odd but very pretty looking beetlesContinue reading “A couple of Tortoises”
First new species of 2025
Introducing Maidenhair Spleenwort, Asplenium trichomanes, the first new species added to our Garden list in 2025. We actually found this fern last Autumn, detached from a wooded bank in a nearby car park and decided to bring it home. We gave it a spot on the concrete steps, where it’s close relative, Hart’s Tongue Fern,Continue reading “First new species of 2025”
It’s time to start another year
Another very wet winter is almost at an end and as mentioned in previous updates, we tend to stay off the Garden during winter to avoid compacting the soil. In fact it’s been such a misserable winter we haven’t done much in the Garden at all. Thankfully spring is almost here, although the weather remainsContinue reading “It’s time to start another year”
Ivy Flowers
Hedera helix In 2006 we planted Ivy next to the top of the large retaining wall in our Garden, and during this time it has spread to the smaller retaining wall below this, as shown in the centre of the image below taken in April 2023. Indeed, if left unchecked, it would have probably spreadContinue reading “Ivy Flowers”
Speedy Newt
Wildlife never ceases to surprise us, and it turns out our resident newts are no exception. Of all the things you could say about a newt, being speedy on land was not something we would have expected. But look at this tiny palmate newt go, we struggled to keep the camera on it. We onlyContinue reading “Speedy Newt”
Wildlife Pond & Southern Hawkers
Well, after almost exactly a year, we have finally completed our wildlife pond. Not that we won’t continue to add to it, but for now, we will let nature take its course and see how it matures. We have added a full account of what we did and some of the challenges/delays we faced onContinue reading “Wildlife Pond & Southern Hawkers”
Poor year for inverts!
It has to be said, this year so far has been very poor for invertebrates. Frequent walks in the Garden on sunny days are simply not finding very much at all. The image below was taken on the 29th of June, in perfect conditions: gentle breeze, warm, and bright. Yet very little was on theContinue reading “Poor year for inverts!”
Two new wildflowers!
We have this funny rule in the Garden, that a wildflower cannot be added to our Garden species list unless it has flowered at least once somewhere in the Garden. Last summer we noted two wildflowers for the first time, one being Hedge Bedstraw – Galium album, the other Salad Burnet – Sanguisorba minor. HedgeContinue reading “Two new wildflowers!”
Wildlife Garden 