Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Plants Page 27

Image Taken on 22 Apr 2020 at 08:57 Image of day on 05 May 2020

Here is a Dandelion that has finished flowering but not yet turned to seed. The withering leaves are at the top and the recessive green seed capsule is below. The seeds develop in the capsule for what seems to be 2 or 3 days.

Ref: 20200505_df3_20200422_0857_037 dandelion seed capsule with wilted petals(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 23 Apr 2020 at 10:58 Image of day on 05 May 2020

With little warning the seed capsule starts to open from the base to turn the wind-dispersed seeds into the well known sphere. Images 1 to 10 are cropped from 90 minutes of 4K video at 10 minute intervals. All but 05 to 06 (that's top right to bottom left) skip 1 image, so most of the intervals are 20 minutes. If you look for these events in progress it is hard to find - the unopened seed capsules are difficult to find among the bright yellow and white, and the partly open globe looks like a partially wind blown finished head.

Ref: 20200505_pc2_20200423_1058_001-1228_010 dandelion seed head (clock) opening 01+03+05+06+08+10 of 10 (montage @10mins per frame)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 18 Apr 2020 at 16:16 Image of day on 04 May 2020

Photographs always seeming to mislead about size, so here is a direct comparison of Dandelion and Groundsel 'clocks' 'in the hand'..

Ref: 20200504_d73_20200418_1616_001 dandelion seed head and groundsel seed head size comparison(r+mb id@432).jpg

Image Taken on 13 Sep 2022 at 10:34 Image of day on 21 Oct 2022

In a sheltered spot by the side of the Conservatory door we find this perfect Dandelion seed head.

Ref: 20221021_df3_20220913_1034_013 dandelion seed head by conservatory door (crop 1)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 13 Sep 2022 at 10:34 Image of day on 21 Oct 2022

Details from the centre. All that intricacy just to hold about 200 seed 'parachutes'.

Ref: 20221021_df3_20220913_1034_013 dandelion seed head by conservatory door (crop 2)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 13 May 2010 at 07:06 Image of day on 19 Jun 2010

Detail of a frost encrusted dandelion seed head.

Ref: 20100619_p34_20100513_0706_123 dandelion seed head in frost(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 16 Apr 2020 at 12:34 Image of day on 04 May 2020

On the south side of the house the Dandelions are sheltered from the wind from the east so these head are still intact.
Two days later heavy rain smashed the seed heads to bits.

Ref: 20200504_d73_20200416_1234_013 dandelion seed heads(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 07 Apr 2020 at 12:29 Image of day on 23 Apr 2020

We avoid chemicals where we can, so 'weeds' have a field day in cracks between paving slabs. We think this yellow & blue mix is just beautiful.

Ref: 20200423_d73_20200407_1229_124 dandelions and grape hyacinth growing at corner of paving slab outside study(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 08 Apr 2024 at 15:57 Image of day on 05 May 2024

Dandelion flowers have suddenly appeared in glorious profusion, and we think of generally larger size than on an average year. they must like the sodden soil!

Ref: 20240505_df3_20240408_1557_021 dandelions clump in flower on east side of road(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 24 Apr 2021 at 08:18 Image of day on 23 May 2021

Here a patch of Dandelions just outside the back door shows Dandelion opening and closing in sympathy with the sunlight, with gaps of about 1 hour then two half-hours as the sun starts to shine past the side of a conifer.
Many flowers It seems like quite an 'expensive' strategy to have evolved to have the ability to close your flowers, but if it didn't pay-off they wouldn't have evolved it.

Ref: 20210523_d73_20210424_0818_016+0923+0955+1026_028 dandelions opening in sunshine by back door 2+4-6 of 6 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 14 Mar 2019 at 14:57 Image of day on 09 Apr 2019

Here a Grey Squirrel has chosen the protecting slate on top of one of our outside camera boxes to rip to shreds a Norway Spruce fir cone to eat the seeds. This seems to have been a particularly thorough destruction.

Ref: 20190409_df3_20190314_1457_023 debris from grey squirrel ripping apart fir cone (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 05 Jun 2024 at 08:47 Image of day on 03 Jul 2024

Many leaves have quite different top and bottoms. This caught leaf flipped over holds the water crops far better than the normally oriented leaves. Water drops make interesting if imperfect 'lenses' as shown in the x3 insert.

Ref: 20240703_df3_20240605_0847_038 dewdrops smothering underside of flipped leaf (crop + insert)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 22 Feb 2025 at 14:53 Image of day on 29 Mar 2025

Willow trees come in a good many species and we bought several types for the initial planting. We just haven't kept track of what went where. Here the resulting mix show how the colours and flowering times are wildly different.

Ref: 20250329_df3_20250222_1453_047 different species of willow east of duck pond (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 08 Jul 2014 at 09:18 Image of day on 12 Sep 2014

One patch of Great Willow Herb plants gets speckled by dozens of these little jewels in the sunshine. They are tiny - about 5mm long (fifth of an inch) excluding antennae.

Ref: 20140912_df2_20140708_0918_072 dock leaf beetle (gastrophysa viridula) (q) about 5mm long on great willow herb leaf(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 08 Jun 2006 at 17:57 Image of day on 19 Jun 2006

An unexpectedly artistic result of insects feeding.

Ref: 20060619_p32_20060608_1757_417 dock leaf turned to tracery by insects(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 09 May 2025 at 16:31 Image of day on 22 Jun 2025

First Dog Rose of the season that we have spotted.

Ref: 20250622_df3_20250509_1631_080 dog rose (1st of 2025) (orig & final)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 01 Jun 2021 at 15:16 Image of day on 24 Jun 2021

2 days later we spot the first Dog Rose. A much lighter but still pleasing perfume.

Ref: 20210624_d73_20210601_1516_134 dog rose (first of 2021)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 16 May 2022 at 15:48 Image of day on 23 Jun 2022

A Dog Rose delicately spangled with raindrops.
This classic 'first rose of spring' has only a hint of perfume.

Ref: 20220623_d72_20220516_1548_009 dog rose after rain(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 12 May 2025 at 15:17 Image of day on 05 Jul 2025

Wild Roses are one of the delights of Spring.

Ref: 20250705_r70_20250512_1517_064 dog rose flower(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 28 May 2023 at 10:59 Image of day on 28 Jun 2023

A Dog-Rose flower - the classic 'Spring wild Rose'.

Ref: 20230628_df3_20230528_1059_396 dog rose flower(r+mb id@576).jpg

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