Posted on November 4, 2022
This is a close look at the buds of a borage plant. It’s a herb with bright blue flowers that – apparently – taste like honey and are occasionally used as garnishes for salads and drinks. The stems and buds have a distinctly bristly appearance, are also edible and – also apparently – have a distinctive cucumber-like flavour. I’ll take their word for it.

Posted on September 8, 2022
(with apologies to Cee for the creepy-crawly)
One morning last week, I opened our barn door and this blew out in a gust of wind. At first I thought it was a dried leaf, but when I stirred it with my foot, its wings opened. The wingspan is about three inches so it’s certainly bigger than your average moth.

Posted on August 5, 2022
Posted on July 7, 2022
Posted on June 4, 2022
Some tiny creature obviously took a fancy to this clematis bud before it got the chance to flower.

Posted on May 4, 2022
This is a close-up view of the intricate flower of a Mediterranean Spurge, a plant I had never seen – or even heard of – before, but which is growing strongly in my son’s garden.
To give an idea of scale, the green ovoid disc of which the flower is at the heart is no more than a centimetre (about a third of an inch) in diameter.

CMMC 4 May 2022
Posted on April 7, 2022
Posted on March 3, 2022
Who knew? Even cabbages can be interesting when you get up close to them – especially when they are as good and fresh as these, seen on a stall at the excellent Saturday market in Perigueux.

Posted on November 3, 2021
It’s macro week in Cee’s ongoing midweek challenge.
This is another image captured on my iPhone using the Halide photo app, which features what I think is a pretty impressive macro capability.

Posted on October 7, 2021
Apologies to Cee, who I know doesn’t really like creepy-crawlies, but just this once I wanted to plead her indulgence.
This evil-looking b*****d is a hornet (‘frelon’ in French) and you don’t mess with them. Their sting is extremely painful and toxic and they are psychopathic about using it.
Swat one and they release a pheromone that summons the swarm. Do that outdoors and you’d better get inside and close the doors and windows pretty sharpish, because their mates will be round looking for revenge. Swat one indoors – well, just stay there.
At this time of year they are dying off (how sad; never mind) and this specimen was crawling on our doorframe one morning, barely alive and about to breathe its last. I wouldn’t have got so close with my smartphone otherwise.
Sorry again, Cee.
