Flies and things - March

This small hover fly is in the genus Platychierus. That's the nearest I can get to ID.

This was easier. It's a Common Green Shield bug. It was on a leaf in the Bay tree.

Unusual to see in early Spring .

Always good to see the Grape Hyacinths come out, They're a useful nectar source for early Bumblebees

    

Green Alkanet is a bit of a thug in the way it spreads rapidly through deep tuberous roots and takes over the bare earth, But its a very useful source of nectar for early bees. So it makes me loath to clear it, I will chop it down when the main flush of flowers ends.

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On 20th March, I spotted this 7 Spot Ladybird on the Coronilla bush, the Coronilla is doing particularly well this year. Where I thought it may have been declining, it was actually thriving. the location of planting it close to the house in its sheltered spot has been good for it..

I took this photo of the Lungwort on 21st March, I haven't seen the usual sight of hairy-footed flower bees yet. Perhaps it's too soon for them.

Also on 21st March, this is a branch of the Sweet Cherry tree; the clusters of flower buds look set to be a good crop.

The 20th March, the Victoria Plum blossom has begun. This was the first flower to show.

18th March I was pleased to record the Yellow-legged mining Bee

Common Name	Scientific Name	Key Identifying Features
7-Spot Ladybird	Coccinella septempunctata	The classic red ladybird with seven black spots. Very hardy and often the first to emerge.
2-Spot Ladybird	Adalia bipunctata	Smaller and more variable, but typically red with two large black spots. Common in gardens and shrubs.
Pine Ladybird	Exochomus quadripustulatus	Small, black, and domed with four red spots. The front spots are often shaped like commas or kidney      beans

    Here is a table with the Ladybirds I have seen in the past two weeks.

23rd March a Toad was discovered under a plank of wood near the greenhouse rain bucket.

11/03/2026

 

I gave the Buddleia a hard prune almost to the ground. I don't think it will die. New shoots will soon break out.

It's good to see the Lungwort in flower, the early bees, buff-tailed, long-tongued hairy-footed, have begun to find it.

Bumblebee on the Lungwort

The beginning of the garden year.

 

In the border, a few plants are emerging or beginning to flower. This untidy, rather sparse patch of Bergenia cordifolia or 'Elephant's Ears'  provides any early pollinators with some nourishment. 

Nearby and often in the shade part of the border is this Fern, Unknown species but could be a Dryopteris sp.  New fronds will appear through the next few weeks.

Tucked into a little corner is this likely self-sown plant of Heuchera. It has interesting leaf shapes, which add to the bed's foliage effect.

The common Dandelion. Taraxacum. A complex, essential part of the spring border.
A wildflower I don't consider as a weed, this dandelion is given space in the corner, an important nectar/pollen plant for early bees.
It's a multi-subspecies plant that varies genetically, but is almost impossible to tell apart with the naked eye

A small mat of Golden Marjoram. Being in the shade, it loses its yellow tones and is more green than it could be. Intermingled are the runners of a wild Strawberry.

One of the self-sown Aquilegias, the Columbine or 'Grandma's Bonnets' A useful spring addition to the wildlife-friendly border

A new Honeysuckle that I haven't seen flower yet, hope it will this year. Next to a Hollyhock, it's biennial and will flower this summer.

One of two clumps of White Phlox. This flowered well last summer; the original plant came from my sisters garden. 

Alliaria petiolata

"Garlic Mustard, or 'Jack-by-the-hedge'.  A vital self-sown resident in the border; its heart-shaped leaves are the primary food source for the larvae of the Orange Tip butterfly. A small price to pay for the flash of orange spring garden. It also attracts other White butterflies, such as the Cabbage White and the Large White.

Pulmonaria officinalis

The Lungwort, Pulmonaria officinalis, has spread itself around the garden in shady spots. A good pollinator plant, it often attracts the Hairy-footed flower bee. Yet to see any this year, it's early days.

The strong green shoots of the Pale blue Clematis are pulling themselves up the trunk of the Crabapple tree. It will need some extra tying on to prevent it from toppling over.

Forget-me-not Myosotis, has spread from the front garden to the back and formed a few small clumps.

Digitalis purpurea

Foxgloves, Digitalis, have been dotted around in spare gaps, these are hybrids, not the usual mauve ones, and they will flower later this Spring.

Moving to the other side of the garden, the East facing side

Prunus avium.

The buds of the fruiting cherry tree are swelling, soon to burst if the temperature stays mild.

Prunus Domestica Victoria

Here, the Victoria Plum buds are also beginning to break. Tiny steps into spring flowering time.

Ilex aquifolium

The deep green glossy leaves of a non-spiky Holly

.Honesty and Foxglove in juxtaposition, what will flower first?

The serrated leaves of Geranium 'Wargrave Pink'

"The Tete-a-tete Narcissi in containers. A practical way to have spring colour without the mess of fading foliage in the borders later on. We might not be at Monty Don's standards, but the bees don't seem to mind!"

The Crocuses were out, and all finished much too quickly, they're good while they last

The Corkscrew Hazel: A Portrait in Detail

 

The Corkscrew Hazel Corylus avellana 'Contorta' with its Catkins. Also known as 'Harry Lauder's walking stick'  Planted 30 years ago to mark the birth of Katherine.

The very small, inconspicuous red flowers are primed to catch pollen drifting in the air. That would have to come from another Hazel tree; they don't self-pollinate. The Hazel nut will form from here. Once formed, they don't last for long. The local Squirrel grabs them.
In this close-up you can also see the fine hairs on the stems.

This bunch of partly opened catkins are the last to develop.

Here the Catkins which bear the pollen, sway in the breeze and spread the fine powdery pollen to the wind

I do have to keep a watchful eye, though. Nature is always keen to return to its own way, and every so often, the hazel tries to grow a straight, vigorous shoot. I make sure to snip those out to keep the tree’s signature, twisted character intact—it’s a small, recurring task, but one that’s part of the rhythm of looking after Katherine’s tree."

"While the Hazel is the structure, it isn't alone. In the height of summer, a Clematis winds its way through the twisted branches, eventually draping the canopy in a blanket of deep purple flowers. It’s a rewarding transformation—the tree provides the support, and the Clematis provides the seasonal display."

First Sight of a Bee in 2026

 4th March 2026

This Yellow-legged Mining bee frequently returned to gather nectar from our Coronilla glauca citrina bush

A Lancing Perspective—Then and Now

 

Title: Changing Seasons, Changing Shores

While the rain has kept me indoors this week, I’ve been digging through my digital archives. It is fascinating how a single folder of photographs can act as a bridge between who we were then and who we are now.

The Shifting Shore I came across some older photos of our coastline, back when the beach was defined by those sculptural, salt-worn timber groynes [see images of eroded groynes]. They were beautiful, heavily weathered pieces of history that served as perches for coastal birds like the Shag—the smaller, more refined cousin of the Cormorant. Seeing these today reminds me of how much the "atmosphere" of our beach has changed since the major engineering works of 2005 replaced the timber with granite rock armour.

A Memory in the Snow It isn't just the coastline that shifts; our seasons have a way of catching us by surprise, too. While this March has been mild enough to get me thinking about "infill" plants like Violas for the garden, I found this reminder from March 2nd, 2018 [see image of dog in snow]. Amber certainly remembers that day! It’s a stark contrast to the green, budding life in my garden panorama from this morning.

Reflecting on the Record Looking back at these files—some from my years with the Adur Nature Notes and the Lancing Nature Gallery—I realise that recording these small, daily observations is more important than ever. Whether it’s a rare Dotted Bee-fly on the Ring or a simple moment in the garden, these snippets are the "living history" of our town.

Does anyone else have photos of the "old" beach, or perhaps a favourite memory of a Lancing snowfall that took us all by surprise? I’d love to hear your stories—let’s keep the "Round Up" growing!

Garden Panorama - 6 March 2026

Welcome to my garden record.

After keeping a dormant blog for some time, I have decided to repurpose this space as a dedicated photographic record for the year ahead. Rather than just a general wildlife blog, this space will serve as a visual diary—documenting the subtle shifts, growth, and visitors within my Lancing garden as the seasons turn throughout 2026.

I am particularly interested in the intersection of careful cultivation and the natural wildlife that finds its way here. Whether it is documenting the progress of the beds, the health of the plants, or the occasional creature that calls this space home, the goal is to create a consistent, year-long chronicle of this small piece of land.

This is a personal archive, a place to step back and observe the details that are so easily missed in the rush of daily life. I hope you enjoy following along as I document the year, one frame at a time.

Taken Freehanded

 

Taken with a Tripod

Bed Inventory: The East Boundary (Twisted Hazel Corner)

This area acts as a key anchor for the garden, featuring a mix of structural shrubs, climbing roses, and wildlife-friendly perennials.

Shrubs & Trees

• Contorted Hazel (Corylus avellana 'Contorta'): The focal point. Currently displaying bare, intricate branches and shedding pollen from drooping catkins.

• Viburnum 'Onondaga': Sprouting new, characteristic deep purple-bronze leaves.

• Winter-flowering Viburnum: Finishing its display.

• Holly: Managed at a height of 2 metres.

• Dogwood: Currently spreading via ground suckers.

Climbers

• Clematis: A summer-flowering mauve variety, currently climbing through the Hazel.

• Honeysuckle: A recent addition near the fence, currently establishing itself.

• Old Fashioned Rose: Left to grow tall to screen the fence.

• Rambling Rose: Struggling with annual mildew; currently under observation.

Perennials & Ground Cover

• Bergenia: Clumped beneath the Hazel.

• Solomon’s Seal: Doing well and providing a valuable nectar source for long-tongued bees.

• London Pride: A staple in the bed.

• Phlox: Various varieties.

• Marjoram: Coping with the shady spot.

• Garlic Mustard: Cultivated as a host plant for the Orange-tip butterfly.

• Clover: A small, purposeful patch maintained for the bees.

• Fern: Positioned within the bed.

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This shot of the Hazel was taken on March 30th 2012. Some current views will be added here.

Here is the west-facing border; there is a variety of herbs and perennials in this bed. Including Phlox and Marjoram. There's a clump of Garlic Mustard, to appeal to Orange Tip butterflies. There's a small clump of White Clover, for the bees. There's a Dandelion, for small bees. 

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This is the east-facing border. Sunny in the morning, once the sun gets above the house's shadow, it goes into the shade in the afternoon.  A Plum tree, there are Foxgloves here, Campanula, Sweet Rocket and Geranium. In the green container is Erysium 'Bowles Mauve'