Mini Garden Safari
June 18, 2009 by Bird
Filed under Blog, Fauna, Flora, In The Garden, Summer, Wild London
Often when I go into the garden even for the shortest of times I’ll be amazed at the wildlife that inhabits our tiny patch of London soil. Just this afternoon as I hung out my washing to dry I was surprised by a comma butterfly landing on the laundry pile, briefly sunning itself then with a jaunty flick of its distinctive ragged wings moving on to a neighbours nettle patch. Any time you step outside at this time of year you may be witness to some fleeting wonder. Gardening gets you closer to the small things, and on a sunny day this week, tending our broad bean plants I felt I was on a mini safari.
The striking broad bean flowers are a favourite of bumble bees, and along with the Comfrey flowers they keep our garden buzzing. It was almost hard to work around them there were so many bees, but they are docile creatures and don’t seem to care much what humans are up to.
Miniature dramas revealed themselves one by one as we examined the plants. A large spider had made a loose tent in the leaves to protect herself and the silken egg case which she carried beneath her body.
She had picked a good place – when the spiderlings hatch they will wreak havoc on the many tiny pests our plants are host to, and so she is most welcome here. The tightly packed top leaves of the plants hid an astonishing multitude of earwigs, and ants scurried up and down the long stalks looking harassed. Wherever I looked it seemed something was crawling, flying or trying to hide amongst the leaves and stems. A male Oedemera nobilis, or Thick Legged Flower Beetle waved his antennae vaguely while I admired the brilliant iridescent green of his body. Only the male has those bulbous back legs!
I was probably out in the garden for ten minutes at most, and yet the small task of weeding gave me the chance to learn of a new creature (that beetle and his gorgeous gold/green tailcoat). Most importantly, it impressed upon me the truth that wherever you go there are small wonders thriving and living out their dramas, as extraordinary and worthy of our notice as any creature of the African plains.
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Wow – these are awesome finds – great macros!
I love having the opportunity to take macro shots – I wouldn’t see some of these little creatures otherwise.
A wonderful Nature Notes post.
Thank you Carletta – I agree that having a camera trains you to be on the lookout but I often find my most exciting things when not carrying one – aint that always the way!
Beautiful! I could use a spider like that in my garden- mostly I’ve noticed the spider mites, which are not so welcome. I did see 3 toads when I was tilling, though! I tried to make them some little toad houses out of old flower pots so they would stay, but alas I haven’t seen them in some time. I think I disturbed them too much with all my digging and weeding.
Toads are cunning beasts though Kit, it wouldn’t surprise me if they are still lurking about somewhere. If you have a compost heap, a stick pile or a still untouched weed patch that’s my guess! Also I think they are often nocturnal, so perhaps a night time mission would reveal them?
I really like these macros!
Thank you David C!
Bee-you-tiful post, Bird!
You know, when I’m out with the camera I’m more likely looking for some sort of vegetation, but if I happen to see a small creature crawling/flying about I chase it all over the place trying to get a shot. I’ve found that I have better luck with bumble bees as they’re quite slow. But all of your creatures here are perfect photos! You must have such a steady hand. You’ve inspired me now to look more closely for those other living things…
The thing is Holly, I probably took twice as many photos that didn’t come out! I have a fairly steady hand but I take more than my fair share of lousy shots
I also crop the pictures quite often to get a decent composition, because if I didn’t do that, the critters would look small and far away.
Oh and if you went out to take pictures of mini beasts to share I would sooo love to see them!
I love your spider photo – totally gorgeous – thank you!
Thank you Goo – I was very happy to see my own personal pest control specialist at work
Wow…wonderful macros..I love them. I was just thinking about all the mini-dramas that play out that we aren’t even aware of…Wonderful Nature Notes post. I visited your shoppe and I love the fact that you recycle and re-purpose items. Do you have get in anything froggy as I collect frog things?
Oh and thank you so much for the kind comments regarding my Mother’s illness…
Hi Michelle it’s really lovely to see you over here! And thank you so much for the kind comment. I do love to try and imagine all the strange and wonderful things that go on out there 24/7, under our noses or tucked away. It’s so full of mystery, the more you look, the more you wonder.
And thanks also for checking out the shop – at present I have no frog themed work but that could change… I’ll definitely keep you posted!
Your blog is wonderful! I’ve just discovered it through Michelle’s Nature Notes meme. Your photos are beautiful, and I love your gentle, thoughtful writing. It’s a rare soul who stops to see the wonder in small things.
P.S. – I love the idea of seed bombs.
Hello Vicki – welcome and thank you! I am sorry I haven’t paid you a return visit – I’m a little behind in all things bloggy right now but I plan coming over to see you soon.
Seed bombs are great fun, I have recently seen some flowers blooming from last years efforts which made me smile
Marvelous finds! It’s amazing what lies just out our back door. We loved the spider, and that beetle was fabulous — quite unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Do the bulbous back legs serve some function that you know of, or are they just a little extra added beauty?
Hello Kenton and Rebecca and welcome!
I have no idea what the bulbous legs are for – I had presumed they were for some kind of nuptial display. I haven’t done too much research into this beetle yet but something I read mentioned in passing that they were used “in mating” – sadly it didn’t explain how! Until I find out otherwise I am still going with the idea that they are there to impress the ladies
Thank you for the beautiful photos. That beetle is extraordinary!!! I wonder if we have that critter across the sea here in the US. I agree that our local wildlife is as fascinating as anything shown on exotic animal programs. We just have to stop and pay attention. As you so wonderfully do!
Hello Jackie! He was a beautiful fellow, I have no idea what their range is but given how many creatures we exported to the USA both intentionally and unintentionally who knows, maybe you’ll be seeing one in a garden near you! I think they just eat pollen, so hopefully not too destructive an alien if it does turn up
It’s funny because I would regard much of your native fauna as exotic, you have such a range of habitats, wildernesses and well… BIG fauna! But the backyard or the grass verge along a road contains life just as exciting as the obvious charismatic stuff, doesn’t it? Wherever we live there is something to see that would rival any nature documentary, and seeing it for real is a total thrill. Paying attention as you say is all we need to do!
wow..great macro shots! The spider with egg casing is very cool.
I have just started experimenting with the macro on my camera..hope to get some shots like that!
Hi Dawn! Macro photography is addictive – once you see that picture all blown up on a computer screen you can’t wait to take more! And you see loads more detail in the photo than you did at the time as well, which is really exciting. I hope you have a lot of fun taking pictures
Hi Bird ~ That’s a lovely post. As a fan of gardening, small creatures and macro photography, I really enjoyed and appreciated your post.
I’ve been up to my eyes lately, but things are getting unto perspective, so I’ll visit again and more often and try to catch up on the backlog of your posts I’ve missed.
The spider is fascinating. It’s interesting how human beings are often put off by anything over four legs.
xhenry
Hello Henry – it’s always lovely to see you here, and I know that you often travel for work and are very busy which makes it even better when you visit! I’ve also been finding it hard myself to find time for reading blogs that I enjoy, it’s hard to keep up in a busy life. I just hope people will forgive me and not think I’ve been neglecting them.
I’m glad you enjoyed this post – as a gardener you must also have seen many interesting creatures among the plants. And yes, the legs issue is fascinating. Perhaps the “wrong” number of legs makes things seem more alien? People also dislike snakes and more people than I’d have ever guessed are freaked out by fish, so too many legs or too few does seem to give people the creeps.