A to Z challenge - H is for . . .

 

A to Z challenge 2023 – H is for . . .

My theme for this challenge is Nature in all much of her wonderful diversity. My posts will reflect the fact that I am resident in the south of England.

All photographs in this post are the property of the writer.

H is for Hazel (Corylus avellana) . . .

. . . or more specifically, Corylus avellana contorta

The corkscrew hazel is a deciduous small tree with twisted stems. The green catkins turn yellow in the late winter, preceding the soft green leaves.

                                     Immature green catkins

The long catkins are affectionately called lambs’tails, which they somewhat resemble as they dance in the breeze. Although they are a rich source of pollen for pollinators, bees can only collect the pollen in small quantities because the individual grains are not sticky and actually repel each other.

                                            Lambs' tails

The nuts ripen in late summer or early autumn and are enjoyed by a variety of creatures, including squirrels, jays, titmice and nuthatches.

Developing nut encased in green leafy husk

The hazel is reputed to be a magical tree and in Ireland it is revered as the ‘Tree of Knowledge’. Hazel wands are used for water-divining and repelling evil spirits. In mediaeval times hazel was a symbol of fertility while in some parts of England hazelnuts were carried as charms against rheumatism. Using a hazel twig to stir jam when it’s cooking prevents the fairies stealing it!

                                Nuts grow in clusters of two to four

A well-known name for the corkscrew hazel is Harry Lauder’s walking stick.

Harry Lauder (1870-1950) was born in the coastal suburb of Portobello in Scotland. He spent ten years as a coal miner and often sang to the miners to entertain them. They persuaded him to perform publicly and eventually he was able to become a professional singer and achieved great success, singing Scottish songs and becoming the highest-paid entertainer in the world in 1911.

He performed on stage in full Highland regalia – kilt, sporran, tam o’shanter and cromach or walking stick, in his case a twisted cane. One of his biggest hits was a song he wrote himself, called ‘I love a lassie.’

His son died on the Western Front in 1916 and Harry Lauder devoted himself to fund-raising for the war effort. He raised vast amounts and was knighted in 1919.

Churchill called him ‘Scotland’s greatest ever ambassador’ and when Lauder met him as the House of Commons, he pleaded the case for better treatment for pit ponies.

 

My second H is also a tree, Hakuro Nishiki, more properly Salix integra ‘Hakuro-nishiki’. 

It is often known as the flamingo tree or shrimp willow. 

It is a small deciduous tree with very pretty foliage of variegated green, cream and white with pink leaf tips, turning to green and white in summer. When the leaves fall in autumn, the stems shine orange.  

Leaves beginning to develop their pink tips in spring

Small yellow catkins appear in early spring before the tree comes into leaf.

It is very easy to propagate from cuttings and although it is very attractive, it has no known value to British wildlife. It also needs to be pruned two or three times a year.

 

Finally, H is for the Holly Blue butterfly (Celastrina argiolus)

Holly blue on holly leaf

This is a very small butterfly, easily identified as it emerges long before other blue butterflies. It has a darting, restless flight, flying high around bushes and trees. In spring, from March to May it is usually seen around holly bushes, the food plants of the caterpillars.

Holly blue on ivy leaf

 In the second generation in the summer, between July and September, it is found near ivy, which is the food plant for caterpillars of that generation.

It is often difficult to spot . . .

 . . . until the photograph is cropped . . .

. . . and cropped again!

Holly blue numbers fluctuate greatly because the ichneumon wasp kills the larval stage. Then, when the wasp’s food supply has been affected, the holly blue population recovers.

It is a common butterfly, primarily found in the southern half of the British Isles, and widespread in England and Wales. If in doubt about the correct identification, as I frequently am, it is helpful to remember that the Holly blue has black spots on the undersides of its wings, while all other blue butterflies have orange spots (but will I? Remember, that is)

The first day of Autumn 2009

Yesterday, August 31st, was the last Bank Holiday the UK will enjoy until December 25th, Christmas Day. (Scotland's last one was on August 3rd.) Though many people consider that Autumn has arrived, naturally enough when the Autumn school term is about to start or has already commenced, in my mind at least it is still Summer. Yesterday was a warm, sunny, beautiful day and this morning dawned bright and breezy.
Spiders are usually an indication that the season is changing as they come inside in droves but they have been in residence all this year. I know they keep the bugs down and they also amuse the cats and dogs, occasionally nipping their inquisitive noses. This does not dissuade the cats from consuming them - in fact, it probably makes them more determined. The dogs merely flatten them.
I am not a fan of spiders - a fact I repeat ad nauseam - though I appreciate their role in the greater order of things, but an increasing interest in photography has encouraged me to look more closely at them. I admire the efficiency of their design and the intricacy of their webs though too long spent studying them makes me itch.
On my way into the garden this morning I noticed a reddish-brown spider on the galvanised wire mesh panel that slots into the patio door groove (we have this so that small people, dogs and cats are safely contained while fresh air is free to enter) The mesh is 2" x 2" (50mm x 50mm) and the spider was about 0.6" (10mm) and actually rather pretty though the close-ups made me reconsider that opinion. Such a tiny creature, so beautifully constructed, so busy! It seemed to be attempting to build a web, though the constant opening and closing of the patio door must have disturbed it somewhat. He looks as though he's about to pounce - or perhaps he's practising his conducting gestures for the Proms


This is his underside - he looks a little embarrassed or is he simply 'hanging loose'?

I later identified it as a male Garden spider, Araneus quadratus, which is only slightly less common than its extremely common and widespread near relation Araneus diadematus. Males are smaller than females. There are some stunning photographs here. In our front garden we have two Kentish cob trees, brought to Berkshire when my parents moved here from Kent thirty years ago. They produce many cobnuts which are particularly relished by the squirrels - they have expensive tastes as cobs bought from Waitrose are currently £3.99 per kg. As squirrels are inveterate gardeners we have many saplings from the cobs and also from our corkscrew hazel, Corylus avellanus 'Contorta' - this used to be known as 'Harry Lauder's walking stick' as the singer and entertainer Harry Lauder (1870 - 1950) carried a crooked stick for every performance.

While photographing the cobs I noticed, as I do every year, and marvelled at the tight little catkins that will herald Spring in a few months' time, dancing in the breeze before the leaves unfurl. To paraphrase Shelley, 'If Autumn comes, can Spring be far behind?

Meanwhile the day that started so promisingly has commenced its downturn - the wind is strengthening, the temperature is dropping, splendid clouds have massed and are now emptying their contents vigorously on our sodden ground.