Sunday, 16 October 2011

The peppered moth caterpillar camouflaged as a green rose bush twig.

The clever peppered moth caterpillar (biston betularia) disguises himself as a green twig on a rose bush!       Predators, ( mainly birds) would find it hard to find him, so he can eat rose leaves in peace and security. 
(Could of course be a her)?

Wednesday, 12 October 2011

The green door that now leads to the 'Dental Lab' in Berwick-upon-Tweed.


Wonderful 19th century stained glass window at the head of the stairway to the 'Dental Lab'!
Green door on the street that takes you into the world of the 'Dental Lab'. Original mid 19th century front door.


Attractive typical 19th century Berwick-upon-Tweed staircase that leads - now - to a 'Dental Lab'.

Tuesday, 11 October 2011

Galvanised pails and tubs with painted numbers and words.

Old French pails and tubs with painted numbers and words arranged on an antique stand in an antique centre in perthshire, Scotland. 

Friday, 30 September 2011

The horse-chestnut tree and its conkers.

Conkers is a traditional English children's game,  players using the seeds of the horse-chestnut tree.  The tree was introduced to England from the Balkans in the late 16th century, and the first recorded game of conkers was on the Isle of Wight in 1848. There are now yearly conker championships in Oundle Northhamptonshire in October, also in Ireland in Kilkenny.  

Tuesday, 27 September 2011

Pentatomodoidea, the shield bug ... the stink bug.

Pentatomodoidea. Under this super family there are 7000 species divided into 14 to 15 families. The shield bug is  sometimes called the stink bug because it uses a foul smelling liquid to deter potential predators.

Saturday, 24 September 2011

Autumn flowers, pale mauve asters.

A sign  of Autumn. The star like flowers of the aster in shades of pale mauve to purple and deep pink appear in the garden in Autumn just as the flowers of Summer are beginning to wane. Bees and butterflies enjoy them and they are truly joyous to behold.

Friday, 23 September 2011

French windfall apples.

A variety of windfall apples, some for eating and some for cooking. These apples would be unacceptable in a super market, just too varied in shape, and with various blemishes that wouldn't suit the 'perfect' specimens they insist on selling.  In fact,  these misshapen marked apples taste best.