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Parasitic Wasps
A little late for Halloween, but a sketch of the the parasitic wasp. The sub order Apocrita can be easily identified by the narrow...
Luke Llewellyn
Nov 10, 20221 min read


Scarlet Pimpernel
One of my favourite flowers, The Scarlet Pimpernel. Nestled and discuised in amongst some elegant Peonies. Quite fitting I think,...
Luke Llewellyn
Jun 14, 20221 min read


Pin and Thrum on Primroses
Primula vulgaris (Primroses) are a common rosette forming herbaceous perennial, with solitary flowers which rise in clusters during...
Luke Llewellyn
May 26, 20221 min read


Weed for today, Food of tomorrow
Commonly lurking in many UK ponds is Lemna, better known as Duckweed. A common weed to most. However, this familiar pond dweller is quite...
Luke Llewellyn
May 10, 20221 min read


Aphids and mosaic virus
Aphids feed through their mouth parts, the labium and proboscis. The labium is is a long tubular organ housing the stylets within a...
Luke Llewellyn
May 4, 20222 min read


Hydroponics Aquaponics and Vertical Farming
According to the UN Food and agriculture organisation (UNFAO), by 2050 the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion, but it’s looking...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 19, 20222 min read


The bizarre Wood Wasp
Unlike other wasp species, the Wood Wasp or Giant Horntail has no clear abdominal segmentation and instead has a long circular body. This...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 13, 20221 min read


Xerophytes (Desert plants)
The definition of an xerophyte is a plant adapted to live in desiccated environments, needing very little water. Usually, they grow in...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 12, 20221 min read


Earwigs wings and Biomimicry
A notable and defining characteristic of earwigs, aside from their massive pincers, is their unexpected wings. Their short front wings...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 8, 20222 min read


Sun and shade leaves
There are numerous growth responses within the physiology and morphology of plant leaves when exposed to different levels of light. These...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 7, 20221 min read


Honey Fungus.
Martin Vahl, a Danish mycologist described Armillaria mellea as Agaricus mellea in 1790 , and it is now commonly known as Honey fungus....
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 6, 20221 min read


Rose Black spot
Rose black spot is caused by the fungi Diplocarpon rosae, a pathogen that before the 1960's had very little attention because of high...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 6, 20221 min read


Are Slugs good or bad?
The phylum Mollusca contains around 85,000 species, accounting for 23% of named marine organisms. These animals are made up of a visceral...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 5, 20221 min read


Hedgehogs
Found this little guy underneath an overgrown Anemanthele in a herbaceous border, nestled amongst a nest of Autumn leaves. We created a...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 5, 20221 min read


Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree
Arbutus unedo or Strawberry tree. This unique tree has Strawberry like berries, but is of no relation to Fragaria - to which the name is...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 5, 20221 min read


Paying our respects to the Earths Elders
Pinus aristata. The oldest living tree on Earth. Commonly known as the Bristlecone Pine, and given the individual name Methuselah after...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 5, 20221 min read


Urban Trees
Urban heat island phenomenon, where buildings and pavements absorb and reflect heat is becoming a heightened problem due to urban...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 5, 20221 min read


Green Roofs and living walls
Vertical greening systems are becoming an ever-increasing focus within contemporary architecture due to their ability to decrease run-off...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 5, 20221 min read


Black thorn
Black thorn or Prunus spinosa: The producer of Sloe berries. The long horizontal thorns on Blackthorn are actualy modified stems. These...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 5, 20221 min read


Wollemia nobilis
The 1994 discovery of Wollemi pine, Known as Wollemia nobilis is one of the greatest botanical discoveries in modern day. Finding what is...
Luke Llewellyn
Apr 5, 20222 min read
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