Hoverfly larvae are about as pretty as any other maggot, but grow into important pollinators and members of our ecosystems, as well as accomplished mimics of bees and wasps.
botany
Sphagnum Moss… Builder of the Bog
Sphagnum mosses are plants that you might easily overlook as you squelch through our bogs. They are star players in the creation and persistence of these wetland though, thanks to their ability to retain water. They provide habitats and soil conditions for a wide variety of wildlife and are part of the vital carbon storage system that Irish bogs provide.
Yellow Rattle… a Meadow Builder
Yellow rattle is a pretty but otherwise inconspicuous flower that grows in grasslands. Beneath the soil, it harbours a dark secret however – it is a plant vampire
How to deal with Japanese Knotweed while protecting nature
Japanese knotweed is a tall ornamental shrub with bamboo-like stems and pretty white flowers.
The Flora of Inner-city Cork
As many plant enthusiasts have observed over the past few weeks, flowering season is finally upon us. Across County Cork, the odd bright splash of spring colour is already in evidence for the sharp-eyed naturalist, as multitude species of flowering plants shrug off their wintery slumber.
