tufted vetch and flea beetles

the tufted vetch in close up and the flower showing clearly that it is in the pea family. I love the light blue of the lower lip of the petals. And below some flea beetles (species uncertain) procreating on an appropriately named dock leaf.


ps maybe dead nettle leaf beetle chrysolina fastuosa, found thanks to the wonders of Google image

navelwort

navelwort (also know as wall pennywort) is something of an abundant local speciality. It gets its name from the rounded leaves with a central dimple where the stalk is attached. Valerian (below) and hedge woundwort (at the bottom) are also out which means summer has arrived. From now on the hedgerows tend to become overgrown with ferns and grasses, and much of the colour drains away. And of course it starts raining.

star struck

a patch of marsh (probably as this is wet grassland) or lesser stitchwort looking like the stars they are named for (stellaria). With a few blue stars

brown brushstrokes

only (!) a meadow brown, but they are very frisky and getting close when surrounded by inquisitive canines requires patience and dogged determination

green brushstrokes

somewhere in this green dream there is a grey wagtail

keeping one's head above water

a young heron in a sea of grass, and Chairwoman Mao crossing the Devon Yangtse