The Monthly Flower Walk

The monthly flower walk was carried out today.  By the end of the walk five flowers had been recorded.  Daisy was in its usual place by the seat, along Risedale Beck.  Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage was in flower along the beck sides.  This flowers much later in areas by Risedale Beck. Primroses were flowering on one part of the steep sides of Risedale Beck.  Gorse is in flower across the moor.  There were insects on the wing in and around the Gorse.  This tiny weevil, at least that is what it looks like, was on a Gorse flower.

Hazel catkins are beginning to open to release their pollen.  The tiny red female flowers are also in bloom, although quite hard to find at times.

Male willow catkins are just bursting their buds but this does not pass the 'open flower' test and so were not recorded on the list.

Other species were examined.  A lichen growing almost perfectly in a circle was found on one of the bridge rails.  The dark circles in the centre are the fruiting bodies.

These cup lichens probably belong to the Cladonia family.

Scarlet Elf Cup has been on show for some weeks.  This one lived up to its name as it had collected water in its cup.

Amber Jelly as it is now known, comes and goes on the willow branches.