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Friday, February 17, 2006

New technology

Time to update the kit - the new Nikon close up flash kit (R1) looked a better bet than a ring flash so I have taken the plunge. Initial results are encouraging and the kit has enough flexibility to guarantee it will take a while to optimise technique !

I revisited Spurge Laurel to try it out and encountered some interesting old spore-cases on Polypody to try out at 1:1 ratio. Then on the way back I found Butcher's Broom nearer home than before...

Friday, February 03, 2006

A few flowers in the cold

Two natives that grow locally (if rarely) AND flower at this time of year are Butcher's Broom and Spurge Laurel.

I have found both but the
Butcher's Broom I have found so far seem to be all the same sex (or the other sex - I think male isn't flowering at present). No berries either makes me suspicious (as others have found them alongside flowers. Could easily be a single-sex clone as it is a component of a hedge. (And hence not truly native...)

The
Spurge Laurel was abundant at the edge of Cheddar Wood - but only a few flowers open. So I mst go back in a few weeks for better pictures...