Tag Archives: dandelion

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #146: Focusing on the Details

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This week’s lens artist photo challenge is all about focusing on details. There is nothing like seeing the close up detail of flowers to really appreciate their beauty.

The photo below was taken by a lovely old stone building. But what caught my eye was the dandelion catching the sun.

And the intricate details of a dandelion clock or seed-head always fascinates me.

  • Dandelion seeds

Six on Saturday – Pollinators return

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It is always a special moment when we see the bees and other pollinators returning to the garden in the spring. So for this week’s Six on Saturday, I am going to just share six pollinator images.

  • White tailed bumblebee queen on dandelion
  • bumblebee leaving willow catkins
  • Hoverfly enjoying the same willow catkins
  • Insect on coltsfoot
  • Small tortoiseshell on willow
  • A pollen covered hoverfly

Plants after rain

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After an exceptionally wet winter here in Ireland, we have had a really dry spring. But we did have some rain overnight and this morning. This allowed me to take some photographs of some wet plants for the lens-artist challenge this week – all wet. In order to increase the impact of the raindrops, I did a bit of adjusting of the shadows afterwards.

  • Autumn olive leaf
  • Buttercup
  • Dandelion clocks
  • Dandelion

Dazzling Dandelions

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This month’s Monthly Meet-up Photo Challenge hosted by Wild Daffodil asks us to consider flower as our theme. You may have already noticed that I am a fan of spring flowers. And the humble dandelion is no exception. In fact, you may have noticed that the same flower already featured in last month’s challenge “yellow“.

Well since then, the dandelions around us have really come into their own. They adorn my “lawn”, the road verges and many fields. They are like a milky way of yellow and green. Often seen only as a “weed”, the dandelion has so much to offer. You can make salad from the young leaves, wine from it flowers, and a coffee substitute from its roots.

Dandelions

Dandelions

As some of you will have heard me say before, dandelions are also great for bees, butterflies and hoverflies. These pollinators were all using the flowers when I completed my bee and butterfly transect last Saturday. Pollinators can collect both pollen and nectar from the flowers.

 

Hoverfly on dandelion
Cuckoo bumblebee
Green veined white butterfly and hoverfly on dandelion

If you let your dandelions go to seed, you will also provide a valued food source for birds such as chaffinches, bullfinches and goldfinch.

Bullfinch eating dandelion seeds

Bullfinch eating dandelion seeds (not best photo as taken from inside)

Yellow – Monthly Meet Up Photo Challenge

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Yellow is this month’s photo challenge from Wild Daffodil. At this time of year dandelions should be everywhere, but the cold spring means they are only just coming. Dandelions are a great source of pollen for bumblebees. So if your lawn is awash with yellow, think twice before you cut it.

Dandelions

Dandelions

Allow the dandelions to flower and you will be providing bees with an important food source.

Bumblebee on dandelion