Caldecote Open Garden

The weather was sunny with a gentle breeze yesterday for the first of two Open Garden days at Caldecote Old Rectory - a bit bright for photography but great to enjoy the wildflower and more formal parts of these wonderful garden.

New and Returning Garden Species

The cooler but still sunny weather yesterday was ideal for insect spotting in the garden. Here are photos of some of the more interesting species (plus ID sheets with rest). The Figwort Weevil is about 4mm and just looked like an insect dropping. Good to ID another bee species that is using the Hotels - the Orange-vented Mason Bee, and always happy when the first Speckled Bush Crickets appear with their striped socks. The spider has a very metallic sheen which appeared green or bluish depending on its position. Only small patches of Spindle Ermine caterpillar webs at the moment.

May 3rd Garden Insects

Some insects from the garden yesterday when the temperatures were still high - very different feel today with a cold breeze!! There were several Red Damselflies prospecting around the pond but I didn't see any paired up yet. The Hornet Queen was a very impressive insect - although I am happy for her to nest ion my log pile, it is a bit close to the bungalow and right next to where I park the car so hopefully she will have found a quieter spot. The Spotted Lacewing (no.3), Tachycixius pilosus, is a new one for the garden list and good to see most of the Bee hotels being used.

Garden Project May 2025

 With this last week's warm temperatures, a  lot of flowers have come into bloom while others are dying away. It is definitely Red Campion time making wonderful splashes of colour everywhere contrasting with the blue Alkanet and Centaurea. Buttercups have largely taken over from Cowslips in the meadow, the Bogbean is in bloom in the pond, the Perennial Alyssum is attracting lots of insects along with the three species of Spurge  etc!!

Toft Garden Spiders

 I am a bit behind identifying the various mini-wildlife in the garden, so these spiders were from a warm day last week. No certainty on species as very difficult without capturing and dissecting various parts but hopefully the genus in each case is ok