July started of good for me. I went out with my dog Jack along a large wild flower area planted about 8 years ago for wildlife along the edge of two barley fields near my house which are bordering woodland. 18C and sunny. The first area was along the bottom of the field that has a large area of wild...

Your orchid is a Bee Orchid ( Ophrys apifera ) Where was it? They tend to thrive on rough waste grassland on chalk soils, often at the side of paths where the ground gets compressed. What a great evolutionary strategy: I'm a delicate flower and I'm only going to grow in heavily-trampled areas :D We...

I can start by confidently stating: definitely not a dragonfly. This insect has only two wings, which places it firmly in the Diptera. I think I can see one of the halteres, which are the little balance weights that hind-wings evolved into in the diptera (true flies). The abdomen shape indicates a ...

Thanks, yes the yellow flower is Bog Asphodel, found out a few days ago. I guess. Haven't you ever heard that old saying "look before you lean" Guess not, but sure wish I had! :lol: Never knew this until I got back home and read it online, but bog myrtle (sweet gale) repels flies! There wa...

Butterflies like Meadow Brown and Large/Small White will not be affected since they fly in dull weather, even seen them in slightly wet weather, others will probably get their chance given a good day here and there.

Here in NI it seems rain has averaged out with normal amounts, plants have came back, had quite a downpour on Friday night, everything was very wet on Saturday, we still get lots of sun too in between showers.

Yes, that would be it, thanks David.

Thanks Iain, have a full report here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5356 I have taken a few videos of the large heath and the habitat which I'll edit tomorrow and upload when I can. Good luck with finding the large heath yourself Iain.

Decided I'd post this now when its fresh in my memory. Today I went on a BCNI trip to Peatlands Park, Dungannon, Co Armagh. This is a 600 acre site that raises awareness of peat bog conservation. There is different areas including an apple orchard of about 20 bramley apple trees, the car park that h...

Thanks Guy and Pete, your right, just three on my list of NI butterflies left to see, four if you include brimstone that is a rare vagrent to NI and five if you include rare monarch migrants but for true breeding natives just have to see Purple Hairstreak, Silver-Washed Fritillary and Dingy Skipper ...

I was in a large fen/bog today and saw loads of these yellow flowers all over the wetter areas of the bog but can't figure what it is, anyone know?

I'll post a full report tomorrow as I am bit sore and quite tired after my long trek through bogs and fens, but my trip today to Peatlands Park, Co Armagh, to see my target species, large heath was a success with seeing over 20 (never saw it before now). I only managed several photos with tripod and...

Thanks, I will do that, hopefully with some TLC I can stop anything bad happening to them when and after moving.

I have a 7 year old sessile oak, bird cherry, a blackthorn, x2 grey sallow and 1 goat willow. I would like to move these to my new house garden in August but I got these a few months ago, all bare rooted. I was told if I moved them before they go dormant for the winter, the stress on moving them cou...

Nice, both look interesting. Never seen such a dark Marsh fritillary before. If yours Dave was photographed in Europe, I may have mistaken that for some other fritillary.

Sure thing Piers. Forgot, the cherry tree I am taking with me is a bird cherry, not a common tree around here, think there is only 2 known in the 50 mile area. There was one grown from the 1700's some time, but it died a few years ago. Going to take videos of the garden over the year as it progresse...

Thanks Piers, I can grow them in a glasshouse for the moment. The house I am moving into in August has a long garden which I am planning to split into 3 sections since I have three seed mixes. First is a coastal plant area with coastal native wildplants that include sea-milkwort, sea campion, thrift...

Not quite sure how it is here in NI, but rain was up by 11% average in May and April we only got 1mm, the driest April I have seen (or was that March, can't remember). I feel the weather has been backward this year, hot and dry spring, cool and wet summer. We get the right weather, at the wrong time...

I was given some bilberry seeds and would like to grow the bushes in a large container when they get that far. Since I am moving house in a few months, I would like to get them started now in a pot(s) but not sure how to grow them. Anyone know how I would grow them?

Thanks Paul, lovely image