Susie

[David M]

Why not go for 45, Susie, to eclipse last year's excellent total?

Because I won't be 45 this year, David

Aah, I understand now.

What are you going to do when you're 60?

[Wurzel]

I reckon that you are certainly up to the challenge, with the Downs and woods in Sussex you should be able to get them all on home turf Best of luck!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Susie]

When I'm 60 I'll take up sky diving instead

Thanks wurzel

[Susie]

Wind. Rain. Storms. Floods. Meh! Had enough of this weather.

Back in October the woods were full of fungi and I had some lovely walks.

[NickMorgan]

What a fantastic array of fungi. 2013 did seem to be particularly good for them.

[Susie]

Those were mainly taken on one day in one patch of woodland. It seems particularly good for fungi and I am looking forward to going back this coming autumn. I don't know a lot about fungi and was surprised that they only last for a very short time and then that's it. Gone for another year. Very much like butterflies really.

I revisited the woods after some rain and cannibalism had set in

[MikeOxon]

Meh! Had enough of this weather.

Indeed! It's been really dark and wet all day today.

I really enjoyed browsing through your fungi photos - a spectacular collection

Mie.

[Wurzel]

Me too, a great array of Fungi The last shot is a cracker - a decomposer being decomposed by another decomposer, waste not want not I suppose is the natural way I read 'The Mushroom Miscellany' recently and it had some fascinating information in there.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Susie]

Me too, a great array of Fungi The last shot is a cracker - a decomposer being decomposed by another decomposer, waste not want not I suppose is the natural way I read 'The Mushroom Miscellany' recently and it had some fascinating information in there.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Sounds like a good book, wurzel

From autumn to spring - there have been snow drops in my garden for about five days now I think they're scared of drowning!

[P.J.Underwood]

Susie,
The grotty weather has come! I have just noticed your pictures of fungi and also that you have not identified them.Without wishing to be presumptuous I will give you my initial observations. It is always difficult without the real thing in front of you as smell,taste,feel and underside are all important.But here goes:
1....Ramaria gracilis
2....ditto
3...Pleurotus dryinus
4...Amanita muscaria
5...Ganoderma australe
6...Amanita excelsa
7...Ditto
8 ....Russula spp (turci?)
9...Lactarius spp
10....Russula spp
11...Piptoporus betulinus
12...Armillaria astroye
13....Bjerkandera adusta
14...Trametes versicolor
15...A mycena
16...Calocera viscosa
17...Hypholoma fasciculare.
Perhaps others might have other opinions! Fungal identification is often open to discussion.
Philip

[Susie]

Thanks Philip.

Today was a beautiful day. Mild and sunny so a great day to get out in the garden before a trip to the seaside I decided to shift one of the log piles (not a small task!) as it was covering up bulbs which are emerging. In the process I found a hibernating peacock and managed to relocate it to a new purpose built log pile so it can over winter safely. I tried not to disturb it too much so it wouldn't waste energy and apart from it's antenna lifting a little it didn't even open it's wings so I think I was successful.

It's great to have my butterfly challenge off to a flying start already, months before I had hoped to see a butterfly! I can't wait for the months to come and hope to be able to get out and see those species I missed last year. Fingers crossed 2014 is going to be a good year!

Butterfly challenge

1. Peacock

[William]

Lovely shot of the Peacock Susie, it's always great when butterflies take advantage of something you've made for them, like a log pile . Good luck with your butterfly challenge for this year !

[Susie]

Thanks William

I do have a log pile for inverts unfortunately butterflies keep turning up in the logs that are fire wood!

[Wurzel]

A cracking start Susie , only a few more to go now

Have a goodun
Wurzel

[Pete Eeles]

Happy Birthday Susie - nearly forgot! You must be at least 24 by now

Cheers,

- Pete

[Mark Colvin]

Likewise ...

Have a super birthday, Susie

[Susie]

Thank you Pete and Mark. You are both lovely to wish me a happy birthday. I'm am old bag now, well into middle age!

It has certainly been a memorable day. I had booked a day off work and planned a lovely walk with my husband and the dog followed by a pub lunch. All last night wind and rain lashed the house and we woke up to severe flooding around the area where we live (fortunately not affecting our house). Checking the weather forecast a couple of hours of dry weather was predicted from 11am so we set off. I drove through three deep areas of flood water to get to Petworth Park, the views were quite spectacular on the way and I wish I'd stopped to take photos with the landscape thrown into sharp relief with the sun shining brightly and a very ominous dark grey sky behind and then the rain began ... we're English so we didn't do the sensible thing and go straight to the pub .... but carried on and went for a walk in a variety of weather (drizzle, rain, heavy rain, torrential rain, stair rods, sleet and hail) before finally going to the pub soaking wet and freezing cold. Still, it was nice to get out (I think! ) Once at the pub I walloped my head on one of the beams and ended up seeing stars but the wine made up for that and the meal was the best veggie meal I've ever had out so, all in all, a lovely day

Flood water on the road (not my pic)

Deer at Petworth Park.

[Vince Massimo]

A very happy birthday Susie

Sorry, I nearly forgot, I've been decorating. I'll paint a door in your honour

Good luck with the quest for 2014. I reckon you should have no problem.

Best wishes,

Vince

[Susie]

Thanks Vince, most kind

[Nick Broomer]

And many happy returns of the day from me too.

All the best, Nick.