HOW TO GROW THE LODDON LILY - Leucojum aestivum

How to grow the spring snowflake - Leucojum aestivum

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So called because it was once commonplace along the valleys of the River Loddon in the English counties of Berkshire and Hampshire, the Loddon lily - Leucojum aestivum, is an ornamental flowering bulbous species widely cultivated as a garden plant. Outside of the UK, Leucojum aestivum is perhaps better known as the spring snowflake, the same common name used for the smaller Leucojum vernum.

Also commonly known as the spring snowflake, it is native to most of Europe including the United kingdom. Although now rarely seen in the UK it can still be found in good numbers along the River Thames at Church Meadow, below the Wittenham Clumps. In its native habitat the Loddon lily is almost wholly associated with rivers, although cultivated plants will establish in poorly drained, consistently damp soils.

How to grow the Loddon lily- Leucojum aestivum

Under favourable condition you can expect the Loddon lily to grow up to 60 cm tall. It has bulbs up to 4 cm across. The arching strap-shaped leaves are long, narrow, up to 70 cm long, and usually collapse as they mature. The white, bell-shaped blooms are approximate 2-3 cm long and appear in March to April. The flowers are nodding, with up to 7 on each umbel. The tepals white with a yellow or green spot near the tip.

Once pollinated fruits develop containing ingenious flotation chambers. In their native riverbank habitat these remain attached to the stem, however in the event of flooding the stems break and the fruits are carried downstream and hopefully become stranded on floodplains further down river. The bulbs can also be uprooted when rivers swell.

Plant fresh bulbs as soon as they are available or lift existing clumps in the autumn for replanting as soon as the leaves begin to die back. Plant bulbs 8-10 cm deep in a moist yet well drained, humus rich soil, preferably in full sun.

For related articles click onto the following links:
HOW TO GROW THE LODDON LILY  - Leucojum aestivum
HOW TO GROW THE SPRING SNOWFLAKE - Leucojum vernum

HOW TO KILL THE RED LILY BEETLE

How to kill the red lily beetle

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The red lily beetle is a scourge of ornamental lilies and even the sight of a single adult beetle is enough to turn the blood of any passionate gardener cold! As beautiful as they the red lily beetle can quickly destroy your collection of prized lilies and so action will need to be immediate! However there is a problem!

The adult red lily beetle has a highly annoying habit of dropping to the ground when subjected to the slightest interference, while the dull orange larvae cover themselves with a slimy, foul-smelling excreta which deters predators and un-gloved fingers alike.

Red lily beetle larvae

While squashing lily beetles can be extremely satisfying it may not be particularly practical so as a far more effective measures go you may need to apply a systemic insecticidal spray, particularly with heavy infestations.

If you can stomach it avoid spraying when the lilies are in flower as beneficial pollinating insects will also be affected by the insecticide.

Adult beetles overwinter in the soil and move up onto the lilies from late March onwards. Over several months each female lays 200-300 eggs on leaves and stems. You will need to keep a close eye on your plants from April onwards and be aware that madonna lilies are particularly susceptible.

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HOW CAN YOU GET RID OF THE RED LILY BEETLE?
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SOPHORA MICROPHYLLA 'SUN KING'

Sophora microphylla 'Sun King'

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If you are looking for an impressive, early flowering shrub then you will be hard-pressed to find something better than Sophora microphylla 'Sun King'. Native to Chile and New Zealand, is a species from the family Fabaceae which makes it a relative of the humble pea!

Sophora microphylla 'Sun King'

Unfortunately there are no records regarding when the species Sophora microphylla was first discovered but it has been in cultivation since 1772. The cultivar 'Sun King' is an extremely hardy and popular form with a small, glossy ornamental leaves and a bushy habit. Depending on it position it will grow between 6-10 feet in height with a spread of 4-7 feet. It produces large, bright yellow flowers which are borne in abundance over a long period from late winter to spring. These are followed by 6-8 inch long slender pods, resembling a string of four-winged beads. However despite its tough, evergreen looks, its early flowers can put it at risk of damage from frosts.

Sophora microphylla 'Sun King' will do best planted in a sheltered position in any well-drained, fertile soil. To reduce the impact of damage from the winter cold keep them protected from north and east winds.

Train larger specimens on sturdy trellis work against walls or fences.

Sophora microphylla 'Sun King' received the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from the Royal Horticultural Society in 2002.

Images credits - Simon Eade gardenofeaden@gmail.com

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Sophora microphylla 'Sun King'

DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS - AMAZING FACTS!

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The Duck-billed Platypus is undoubtedly one of natures great oddities. In fact so strange is its appearance that when a pelt and sketch of a Platypus was sent back to Great Britain in 1798 by Captain John Hunter (the second Governor of New South Wales), British scientists' initially believed it was a hoax! Of course you can't really blame them as taxidermy was a popular trade during this period and exotic oddities could fetch high prices on the open market.

Duck-billed Platypus

Be that as it may, the fact remains that the Duck-Billed Platypus really does look like some maniacal mind has taken the body of a beaver and cleverly glued otter feet and a birds beak to it. However, its peculiar looks are not the Duck-Billed Platypus's most interesting feature.

I give you my top amazing facts for the Duck-Billed Platypus:

1. Together with just four species of spiny anteaters, it is one of the five species of monotremes alive in the world today. What is a monotreme? It is a mammal that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young - incredible!

2. The Platypus is one of just a handful of venomous mammals, however it is only the male which is capable of producing venom. The male platypus delivers the venom via a spur on the hind foot.

Duck-billed Platypus bill

3. The Platypus is genuinely unique as it is sole living representative of its family Ornithorhynchidae, though a number of related species have been found in the fossil record.

4. Apart from at least one species of dolphin, Monotremes are known to have a sense of electroreception. This is the ability to locate their prey in part by detecting electric fields generated by muscular contractions. The platypus' electroreception is the most sensitive of any monotreme.

5. Recent research has discovered that the eyes of the platypus are more similar to those of Pacific hagfish or Northern Hemisphere lampreys than to those of most land mammals. Also it contains double cones, which most mammals do not have. This hints to an ancestry of highly efficient land predators!

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CEROPEGIA AMPLIATA - the Bushman's pipe

CEROPEGIA AMPLIATA - the Bushman's pipe

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Looking like a cross between an albino pitcher plant and one of wolverine's retractable claws, Ceropegia ampliata is one of nature's great oddities.

Native to the south African regions of the Transvaal, Natal, and the Cape province, it is a relative newcomer to the world of Horticulture having only been discovered in 1830 by J.F. Drège - a German horticulturist, botanical collector and explorer.

CEROPEGIA AMPLIATA - the Bushman's pipe

In its natural habitat, it is found on dry, stony hillsides, twining in amongst the other vegetation. However, when not in flower, Ceropegia ampliata is very difficult to detect among the surrounding plants. This is no bad thing as the flowers emit a fragrance reminiscent of rotting flesh, a necessary adaption required to attract pollinating insects.

Seldom cultivated and grown mainly by collectors, the bizarre looking Ceropegia ampliata has two outstanding features.

The first are its freakish looking flowers, which have evolved for the temporary capture of the previously mentioned pollinating insects.

The second is the apparent lack of visible leaves.

Commonly known as the Bushman's Pipe, Ceropegia ampliata is a perennial twiner or scrambler with a succulent stem that arises from a fleshy, tuberous rootstock.

Given the right conditions it will flower copiously in the autumn, completely covering the plant with large white and green tubular flowers.

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HOW TO GROW CROCUS

How to grow crocus

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One of the undeniable jewels of early spring are the plants of the crocus family. And it is a miracle that they do so well in our northern European gardens as they are in fact a native to central and southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. They can also be found on the islands of the Aegean, and across Central Asia to western China.

Crocus illustration

The crocus first made their way to Europe when corms were brought back from Constantinople in the 1560's by the Holy Roman Emperor's ambassador, Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq.

By 1620, new garden varieties had been developed, such as the cream-colored crocus feathered with bronze at the base of the petals. Varieties similar to this are still available to buy today!

Crocus are surprisingly tough, and they do so well in our cooler, European climates because they have evolved to survive a range of environments from woodland, scrub, and meadows from sea level to alpine tundra.

After the ever-popular snowdrop, crocuses are one of the first flowers to show their happy little faces in the new year. And after several months of cold, wet, and thoroughly miserable winter weather, their bright and cheerful blooms can't help but bring a smile to your frozen head.

Now, crocuses are grown from corms and not bulbs and as such do not do so well when left in pre-packed bags, exposed to the air. Therefore if you want to get the best out of buying pre-packed crocus you will need to get them in the ground as soon as possible.

Cultivation

Crocus are usually purchased a corms in the autumn and can be planted in almost any soil, provided that it is well drained. they are best grown in rock gardens, but can be used as edgings to flower or shrub borders.

They are at their best planted in groups beneath deciduous shrubs or trees, or entirely in the open so that they can benefit from any available warmth and protection from the wind. This will help to encourage the flowers to open as soon and as often as possible

Crocuses are best planted as soon as possible approximately 2-3 inches deep. In lighter soils they can be planted deeper to 6 inches where summer cultivation may disturb dormant corms. Space the corms 3-4 inches apart.

Resist removing the flowers as they die back and do not knot the leaves into bunches as some gardeners do for daffodils. Leave the leaves where they are until they turn yellow at which point they should easily pull away from the base.

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THE HISTORY OF THE DAHLIA

History of the Dahlia

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The Dahlia has become so entrenched in popular English and European gardening that you can be forgiven for thinking it must be of European origin, but you would be wrong. It is in fact a relatively new discovery, finding its way to the wealthy estates of Spain in 1791, as an export of South American exotic species. 

Stranger still, the roots are the Dahlia are just about edible as so it was originally brought back to Europe to be considered as a food plant, and not an ornamental flowering plant!

The Dahlia and the Aztecs

The young prince Montezuma

There is more to these plants than being simply discovered by a passing botanist.

Interestingly, the early history of these plants is closely linked to the Aztecs, Montezuma and the period that passed before and shortly after the Spanish conquest! 

When Hernan Cortes and the Spanish conquistadors entered the Aztec city Huaxtepec in 1519, they were the first Europeans to view the most impressive of Emperor Montezuma’s botanical gardens. Plants from all over the empire were propagated there for the pleasure of the Aztec upper classes.

Undoubtedly, one of the most curious sights in the garden at Huaxtepec would have been the incredible Dahlia imperialis, the tree form of out garden dahlia which the Aztecs called acocotli - meaning water pipe in their language.

These plants grew to a spectacular thirty feet tall and had blossoms ten inches in diameter. The stems were hollow, at least three inches in diameter, and used for transporting water or even as a source of water itself.

The young prince Montezuma took the throne in 1502 and ruled for the next 18 years until he was captured by Cortes in 1520.

The history of the Dahlia

During this period there were a number of eyewitness accounts that described the horticultural practices that were engaged by the Aztecs during this time.

It was part of the Aztec culture for the ruling classes to express their wealth and power by constructing a series of specific gardens.

Each garden was designed to fulfill a single purpose, for example medicinal plants, cut flowers, ornamental or food plants. 

The plants found within these gardens were greatly valued by the Aztec nobles, so much so that and every new plant introduction involved a rather 'over-the-top' ceremony.

These ceremonies began with the arrival of the plants gifted by wealth noblemen. The plants were 'balled and burlapped' a process where the roots are enclosed in earth and the whole specimen wrapped with richly decorated mantles.

Now this is where it gets serious. Priests were then summoned to make animal sacrifices for each planting, spilling the blood of the offering, as well as some drawn from their own ears, onto the soil prepared for the plant!

The Aztecs used Dahlias for food and medicine, and Dahlia motifs decorated the helmets of the Aztec warriors.

The petals of the Dahlia were used in ceremonies, including human sacrifice to their sun god.

In 1570, 50 years after the Spanish conquest, King Philip of Spain sent Fransisco Hernandez to Mexico to make a study of the natural resources of the country.

The Dahlia and the Europeans

Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff'

In Europe the dahlia was named by Abbé Cavanilles - Director of Real Madrid Botanical Gardens - in honour of the botanist Anders Dahl, a student to the world famous Carolus Linnaeus. Although due to a slight misunderstanding, the dahlia was named Georgina in Germany after the botanist Johann Gottlieb Georgi, a name it bears even today.

Cavanilles sent seeds that he had collected from three dahlia species to M. Thibaud of France in the year 1802. These initial named species imported into Europe were Dahlia pinnata, Dahlia rosea and Dahlia coccinea.

They were passed on to the botanists of the Paris Museum of Natural History where they were grown and tested, developing the modern procedures for the cultivation of dahlias.

A breakthrough occurred in 1884 when Rivoire of Lyon, France introduced the first all black foliage dahlia under the name of ‘ Lucifer’. 

This dark foliage then went on to figure prominently in the introduction of many of the modern Peony-flowered dahlias, often used as one of the parents in cross breeding further varieties.

In 1927, Stephen Treseder of Cardiff, Wales introduced a dark Red Peony type which also had the 'black' foliage and central disc. It was originally called Dahlia’ Bishop Hughes it went on to be called ‘BISHOP of LLANDAFF’ after Hughes kicked up a fuss.

Conclusion

To bring us up to date there are three dahlias in my garden including the outrageous tree dahlia. So there we have it, myself and King Montezuma are separated by just a single plant!

Main image credit  - Loïc Evanno https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' credit Ramin Nakisa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Scarlet Dahlia illustration - S. Edwards, Sansum - The Botanical Magazine Vol. 20 This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or less.
Montezuma image credit - artist unknown. This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or less.

For further reading click onto:
DAHLIA 'Bishop of Llandaff'
DAHLIA PESTS AND DISEASES
DAHLIA 'War of the Roses'
HOW TO GROW DAHLIAS
HOW TO GROW DAHLIAS FROM SEED
HOW TO GROW THE TREE DAHLIA - Dahlia imperialis
HOW TO OVERWINTER DAHLIAS
HOW TO PLANT AND GROW DAHLIAS
HOW TO PROPAGATE DAHLIAS
THE HISTORY OF THE DAHLIA
THE PLANT HUNTERS

THE JAPANESE ANEMONE

The Japanese anemone

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With high summer temperatures just around the corner, most people's gardens are starting to run out of steam, and that includes many public and pay-to-enter private gardens. This is of course perfectly natural, after all, northern European plants flower in the spring. That way they have enough time over the summer to produce and ripen their fruit so that it is ready for seed dispersal in the autumn. As we all should know, autumn is nature's time for sowing seed.

Image credit - http://kootation.com/

However, one plant at least seems determined to create its own flowers show and that is the utterly beautiful Japanese anemone - Anemone hupehensis

Although commonly called the 'Japanese anemone', Anemone hupehensis is in fact a native to central China, though it has been naturalised in Japan for hundreds of years.

The species was first named and described in Flora Japonica (1784), by Carl Thunberg who had collected dried specimens while working as a doctor for the Dutch East Indies Company. However it was the great plant hunter Robert Fortune who brought this lovely plant to England from China in 1844. During his explorations he noted that he often found Anemone hupehensis planted about Chinese graves.

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HOW TO GROW LOBELIA CARDINALIS 'QUEEN VICTORIA' FROM SEED

How to grow Lobelia cardinalis from seed

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Native to northern United States, Lobelia cardinalis is an erect, clump-forming herbaceous perennial that can reach an overall height of up to 30 inches.

Lobelia cardinalis

It prefers a deep, fertile soil in full sun or partial shade.

So copious are it water requirements that it is often grown as a marginal pond plant, though it tends not to thrive in overly, waterlogged conditions.

Lobelia cardinalis tends to weaken after a couple of years growth, but it can be revitalised through propagated by division.

This method is best performed in March.

Be aware though that Lobelia cardinalis is a particular favourite of slugs and snails so make a point of putting adequate protection in place - organic protection of course.

Once the plant has died back in late autumn, cover with a heavy mulch to help protect it against the winter cold.

Growing Lobelia cardinalis from seed

Sow lobelia seed from late winter to mid spring on the surface of a good seed compost such as John Innes 'Seed and Cutting' and gently firm down. Place the seed tray in a sealed polythene bag, or a propagator at a temperature of 16-18C (61-64F).

Lobelia cardinalis new growth

Keep the soil damp but not wet. Do not exclude light as this aids germination which will usually take between 14-21 days.

When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant and grow them on in cooler conditions until large enough to plant outdoors.

When the young lobelia plants are well grown and all risk of frost has passed, they can be acclimatised to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days.

Transplant outdoors in a sheltered position in sun or semi-shade on reliably moist, fertile soil. Lobelia cardinalis copes well with boggy soils and can be planted at the edge of ponds and streams. Just not in the pond or stream.

Cut back old lobelia foliage in autumn and apply a dry mulch of bark chips or straw to protect the crown of the plant during winter.

Caution: Contact with the white sap may irritate the skin and eyes.

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WHAT IS LOBELIA?

WHAT IS A STUMPERY?

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When I visited Arundel castle gardens earlier in the year, they were still in the process of designing their brand new stumpery garden. At face value, it looked bleak, somewhat desolate and had a feel of a haunted graveyard rather than a stylised garden.

Of course, other than the upturned tree stumps - impressive as they were - the ground was bare, and only a fool would judge an incomplete design.

Luckily I managed to fit in another visit to Arundel castle gardens over the weekend and the changes were impressive. Foxgloves were the order of the day, a favourite of mine at the moment as they are one of the few native English plants to make the grade in an ornamental garden.

Fully stocked with a range of herbaceous plants, the planting scheme had completely changed the character of the stumpery garden, giving it a peaceful, mystical feel.

The colour palette was kept muted across the display and so the eyes were not distracted away from the overall fantasy. It would have been tempting to add splashes of colour, but this would have drawn away from the overall impact. That being said, rather than being the main attraction, the upturned stumps had now become a wonderful backdrop worthy of a such a fanciful design. Well done to the gardeners.

So, just what is a stumpery?

A stumpery traditionally consists of tree stumps arranged upside-down or on their sides to show the root structure

 The first stumpery was built in 1856 at Biddulph Grange and they remained popular in Victorian Britain.

The pieces are arranged artistically and plants, typically ferns, mosses and lichens are encouraged to grow around or on them.

One of the most famous modern stumpery is found at Highgrove House, Gloucestershire. This is the home of Prince Charles, and is considered to be the largest stumpery in Britain. The Prince built the stumpery from sweet chestnut roots, held in place by steel bars, when he first purchased the estate in 1980, and it now provides a home for organically grown ferns, hellebores and hostas.

Understandably, stumperies can sometimes be mistaken for garden rubbish. When Prince Philip first saw his son's stumpery, he remarked: "When are you going to set fire to this lot?".

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THE GIANT HORSETAIL - Equisetum giganteum

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Looking more like an emerging, ground dwelling snake than an actual plant, the giant horsetail - Equisetum giganteum, is (despite its looks) a true plant species, and furthermore, a member of the world's oldest surviving plant family!

The genus Equisetum is now the only living genus of the entire class - Equisetopsida, which has managed to survive on this planet for over one hundred million years! Go back into prehistory, and this genus was far more diverse and dominated the under-story of late Paleozoic forests. In fact, some members of Equisetopsida grew into large trees which were able to reach an impressive height of up to 30 meters tall.

Equisetum giganteum is native to South and Central America, ranging from central Chile east to Brazil and north to southern Mexico.

In our modern era it is one of the largest horsetail species, growing between 2 and 5 metres tall.

The stems are the stoutest of any horsetail, 1–2 cm diameter (up to 3.5 cm diameter in some populations), and bear numerous whorls of very slender branches.

The giant horsetail prefers wet sandy soils, in full sun to semi-shade. Like bamboo, the stalks arise from rhizomes that are deep underground and almost impossible to dig out. Once established, these deep root systems will travel so it is wise to try to put in place some form of subterranean physical constraint otherwise your garden may become over-run with it.

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THE GIANT HORSETAIL - Equisetum giganteum

HOW TO PRUNE AN APPLE TREE

How to prune an apple tree

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The main reason why apple trees are pruned is to help form your desired tree shape in its early years. As your apple tree ages, pruning is used to maintain the trees open habit and to the balance between growth and fruiting.

Apple trees should be pruned annually when young, to form and maintain the tree's shape. They should also be pruned to remove badly placed shoots before they grow into branches.

How to prune an apple tree

Winter pruning directs energy to the growth buds at the expense of fruit-forming buds, and should be kept to a minimum in the early years in order to regulate growth without delaying cropping unduly.

Early fruiting can be encouraged by bending outwards, and tying down shoots in order to open up the tree. This is because horizontal or pendulous branches produce more fruit buds.

Generally, pruning to encourage growth of apple trees is carried out in frost-free weather during the winter - between leaf-fall and bud-burst.

Summer pruning is confined to apple trees grown in a restricted form such as step, espalier or cordon. It is less stimulating to further growth and also removes unwanted shoots.

How to prune an apple tree

All cuts should be made cleanly and just above the selected bud in order to aid healing. Cut any young shoots just above a growth bud facing in the direction in which growth is required. Large and unwanted branches should be cut out flush to the trunk. Small cuts usually heal easily, but large cuts should be paired with a knife and painted with a suitable wound healer.

Growth buds - which predominate on young trees - can be recognised as being pointed and closely pressed against the shoot. Unless they are at or near the ends of the growths of the previous year, or a pruning cut is made above them, they tend to stay dormant.

Notching, by removing a small wedge of bark and wood just above a bud can cause an otherwise dormant bud to grow. On the other hand, growth can be retarded by bud-nicking, which consists of making a deep incision just below a bud.

Growth buds may change into fruit buds during the following summer or die out in time. Fruit buds on the shoots increase as trees mature. they are often rounded and usually stand away from the shoot. In the following season, leaves and flowers are produced and short stems form which become spurs. Certain apple varieties produce growths with fruit buds at their tips, for example 'Tydeman's Early, and 'Worcester Pearmain'. These varieties are known as tip bearing, and growth is erratic unless the buds are removed. Pruning cuts made above fruit buds often result in unsatisfactory growth, but this treatment should be carried out on weak growing trees..

How to prune an apple tree

Annual apple tree pruning involves the shortening of lateral and leading shoots. A leader is the shoot at the end of each branch. If the tree is growing strongly - 18 inches of more growth in the previous year - the leading shoots require no pruning, this is because up-right leaders make more growth than horizontal ones. If a leading shoot is badly placed and not continuing the general line of of the branch, it should be cut out in favour of a better placed lateral.

The best laterals or side shoots on young trees will later form the main branches. if left unpruned, fruit buds often form along part of the laterals, while pruning induces further growth.

Dead and diseased shoots and branches should be removed as soon as they are noticed. As should all crossing and congested stems in order to allow light into all parts of the tree.

As mature trees make annual growth, the number of fruit buds increases. Some of these may need to be reduced or you will receive a heavy crop of only small fruit. As apple trees grow larger, less attention may be given to leaders and laterals , and pruning can be confined to the removal of complete branches in November. Pruning should always be done before a winter wash is applied.

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GOLDEN EAGLE FACTS

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The Golden Eagle is Britain's largest bird of prey, and is in fact one of the best-known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Furthermore, it is also the most widely distributed of all eagle species.

Sadly, it has long been persecuted in the mistaken belief that it kills lambs and game birds. Inhabiting only the remotest regions of the north of England and most of Scotland and numbering less than 500 pairs, the golden eagle is not the easiest of British birds to find and see. Encountering this majestic bird is therefore very much a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

Where to find the Golden eagle

For those of you who are prepared to make the effort, the right places include the Scottish Isles of Skye, Mull and Islay, as well as any remote, undisturbed highland glens such as those found amongst the Cairngorms. In mainland England, sightings of the golden eagle are going to be restricted to the vicinity of Haweswater in the lake district.

The golden eagle once bred throughout  Great Britain, but only one pair breeds outside of Scotland. In the 19^th century, persecution from farmers, gamekeepers and egg collectors were responsible for many eagle deaths.

Pesticides such as DDT and dieldrin caused the breeding success of the eagle to suffer. Although such pesticides have now been banned, today poisoning is still perhaps the biggest threat to the golden eagle.

Habitat destruction from ever increasing forestry plantations is also reducing and fragmenting the open areas which the golden eagle need to hunt over.

The best time to spot a golden eagle are during the spring and summer when the sun-baked ground produced warm air currents on which the bird can soar as it hunts for food to feed its  young.

Despite is great size, the golden eagle can easily be mistaken for a common buzzard. However, a golden eagle is far darker, while its larger more parallel-sided wings give the impression of it having  shorter tail. When soaring, the golden eagle holds it wings in  a characteristic V-shaped , and only flattens them when gliding.

What does a golden eagle eat?

The golden eagle preys mainly on small mammals, especially the mountain hare. Larger mammals such as the deer are usually eaten as carrion. Other prey can include young foxes, stoat and mink, but on rare occasions it may try its hand at something bigger!

It will kill some game birds – such as red grouse and ptarmigan, but smaller passerines (songbirds) are also taken and snakes and lizards may also be caught.

Most prey is caught on the ground, but some birds may be struck in flight. The golden eagle hunts by quartering along a slope or ridge, frightening its prey into the open. Its keen eyesight enables it to see small prey from some distance away.

After a successful hunt, a golden eagle will tear up its prey into manageable pieces. If there are chicks to be fed, the golden eagle will carry part of its kill back to the nest - known as an eyrie.

Golden eagle breeding

Golden eagles usually build their eyries on rocky ledges, cliffs and in trees. In a few places, golden eagles may have used the same rocky ledge for hundreds of years. Nests in trees are often added to each year and can become huge. Within a territory a pair may have several different nests and use different ones in successive years.

The mating display between male and female golden eagles involves an undulating flight in which the male will repeatably dive down and soar up again. Mating takes place on the ground and the first egg is usually laid in mid to late March.

Incubation begins before the second egg is laid which results in the first chick hatching out three or four days before the second one. As a result, the second chick rarely survives as it usually starves or is killed by its older sibling.

Golden Eagle facts

1. A Golden eagles nest can be 3.5 metres high and 1.5 metres in diameter.

2. When two Golden eagle hatch, the older of the two will often kill the younger one soon after it has hatched.

3. Golden eagles probably live for 15-20 years in the wild  although captive birds have been known to live for 40-45 years.

4. In the forested areas of North America, a golden eagles home can cover 520 sq km.

5. Golden eagles swoop down on their prey at speeds of up to 150 km/hour

6. Only kings were once allowed to hunt with golden eagles - hence the birds royal association.

7. Some Golden Eagles eat tortoises. They fly with the tortoise held in their talons and then drop the tortoise on a rock outcrop to break the shell open. 

8. Golden Eagles are more closely related to hawks, like the Red-tailed Hawk, than to Bald Eagles. Bald Eagles are more closely related to kites. 

9. The Golden rarely makes calls, although a thin whistle is occasionally produced in flight.

10. The golden eagle is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. It is protected in the UK by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 and listed as a UK Species of Conservation Importance. Sadly, the Golden Eagle is now extinct in Ireland. It is listed under Annex I of the EC Birds Directive and is classified as a Species of European Conservation Concern (SPEC 3- rare).

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THE WORLD'S GREATEST ADVERT

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Created by the Leo Burnett' advertising agency in London, this advert has tapped into Hollywood sci-fi thrills for Kellogg's breakfast cereal - Crunchy Nut. This latest advert in the revitalised 'The trouble is they taste too good' campaign called 'Dinosaur', launches a new variant of the celebrated breakfast cereal- Kellogg's Crunchy Nut with Cranberries, Almonds and Yogurt Flakes.

So, why is it (in my opinion) the 'World's Greatest Advert'? Well, it has the best dinosaurs of any advert that I have seen which makes it alright with me.

 Although clearly based on the kitchen scene in the first Jurassic Park film, these are not velociraptors.

In my uneducated opinion they look like allosaurus, but I am happy to accept a more definitive identification.

'Dinosaur' facts

Dinosaur was directed by MJZ Rocky Morton, who also worked recently on Hanes Kittens, with creatives Ed Morris and Andy Drugan also lending their expertise. Rocky’s vision and use of cinematic lighting set a really terrifying atmosphere even before Framestore created the dinosaur.

CG Supervisor Alex Doyle designed the star of the piece in-house, saying “I designed a unique dinosaur from an amalgamation of real species in the form of concept art to present to our clients. Once we had an approved version Mary Swinnerton our Lead Modeller created the CG Asset using Maya, ZBrush and Mari. The result was an extremely realistic and intimidating dinosaur.”

The biggest challenge for Lead Animator Nigel Rafter was fitting the 10-foot creature into the pretty cramped kitchen. The animation also had to fit around the physical effects that had been achieved in camera to make it smash through the room realistically. To add further realism, Anelia Asparuhova created a muscle system to help add weight to the dinosaur.

The CG was then comped by Lead Compositor Simon Stoney using Nuke, with dust, debris, sparks, saliva and lighting effects being used to help sit the dinosaurs into the backplates. The spot was graded at Framestore by Simon Bourne, who worked with Rocky to achieve a dark and moody feel while keeping all the subtle colours and picking out all the lights and reflections around the kitchen.

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WHAT IS A BLACK WIDOW SPIDER?

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Black widows are notorious spiders identified by the coloured, hourglass-shaped mark on their abdomens.

Black widow spiders are found within the family Theridiidae, which contains 32 recognized species.

The common name, widow spiders is due to the rather morbid behaviour seen in some of the species where the female eats the male after mating.

Several species answer to the name, and they are found in temperate regions around the world. This spider's bite is much feared because its venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake's.

Black widows are solitary year-round except during this violent mating ritual. These spiders spin large webs in which females suspend a cocoon with hundreds of eggs. Spiderlings disperse soon after they leave their eggs, but the web remains.

Black widow spiders also use their webs to ensnare their prey, which consists of flies, mosquitoes, grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars.

Black widows are comb-footed spiders, which means they have bristles on their hind legs that they use to cover their prey with silk once it has been trapped.

 To feed, black widows puncture their insect prey with their fangs and administer digestive enzymes to the corpses. By using these enzymes, and their gnashing fangs, the spiders liquefy their prey's bodies and suck up the resulting fluid.

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THE HIPPOPOTAMUS

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The great African Hippopotamus is one of the most iconic of all the African land animals and second in weight only to the elephant.

They are found in western, central, eastern and southern Africa with the highest concentration in the Rift Valley of east and central Africa.

They are ideally adapted to the deep rivers and grassy feeding grounds that form its habitat, spending up to eighteen hours a day in water to keep its body temperature constant and to support its huge frame.

What do hippos do?

The hippo lives in groups of 15 to 20 animals, although these groups can be much bigger under certain circumstances. The hub of the group is a band of females with their young. This nursery group lives on a territory patrolled by a dominant, solitary male – usually at least 20 years old.

Younger males stay in small bachelor groups, and woe betide them is they dare to approach the nursing females. The dominant male uses its greater bulk and long teeth to deter any impudent intruders.

A dominant male is able to defend his territory in this way for up to ten years until finally, a fierce fight with a rival eventually ends his rule. These fights for dominance can even result in death!

Having proved that he is the dominant challenger, the rival then takes his place as the new dominant male in that territory.

Should dominant males meet at the edges of their boundaries, they will turn back to back and defecate, spreading their dung far and wide using their short, flat tails like cricket bats.

Hippo breeding

When a female is ready to mate she will seek out an adult male. About 34 weeks after mating the female leaves the group, and a single calf is born among reeds trampled down by the mother at the edge of the lake. Sometimes the young is born underwater, under these circumstances the baby has to surface quickly in order to draw its first breath.

Within five minutes of giving birth the calf is able to swim and walk. The mother will suckle her young for about 8 months, although the baby will stay with her for several years.

A female is often seen with several young behind her, the youngest will be closest to her while the oldest will be at the end of the line.

Hippopotamus facts

1. Hippos jaws can open to 150 degrees wide.

2. Up to 45% of hippos die in their first year.

3. The term ‘sweating blood’ come from the hippo’s ability to secret a pink fluid from glands beneath the skin.

4. A hippo is not able to survive for long on dry land as it loses water through its skin much faster than other land animals.

5. A hippo can stay underwater for up to 5 minutes and will often walk along the bottom of lakes.

6. Terrapins, birds, and even young crocodiles are often seen to be basking on the backs of hippos.

7. The name 'hippopotamus' comes from the ancient Greek for 'river horse'.

8. The hippo can easily outrun a human, and have been clocked at 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances. 

9. The skin of the hippopotamus is 6 in (15 cm) thick.

10. When in combat, male hippos use their incisors to block each others attacks, and their lower canines to inflict damage. Luckily, hippos rarely kill each other, even in territorial challenges. 

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THE GARDEN OF EDEN

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Throughout the pages of history the words ‘Paradis and ‘Eden’ have long been intertwined and often associated with each other. The origins of the word Eden is of no surprise forming part of the creation story within the Old Testament Genesis texts and the theodicy of the Abrahamic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The word ‘Paradise’ however is Persian in origin meaning ‘walled enclosure’ or ‘hunting grounds’.

Although it's often used as a synonym for the Garden of Eden the word paradise also appears in the Old Testament but always in contexts other than a connection with this iconic place.

In the New Testament, the word 'paradise' refers to a heavenly kingdom restored on Earth - Matthew 5: 5 –‘the meek shall inherit the earth’, similar to what the Garden of Eden was meant to be.

Where is the Garden of Eden?

There have been a number of claims as to the actual geographic location of the Garden of Eden, though many of these have little or no connection to the text of Genesis. Most now put the Garden somewhere in the Middle East reinforcing the Persian connection.

Satellite photos have revealed two dry riverbeds flowing toward the Persian Gulf near where the Tigris and Euphrates also terminate. This would account for the four easterly flowing rivers as described in the Old Testaments location for the Garden in Genesis 2:10-14.

“A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold…The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.”

The exact identities of the Pishon and Havilah rivers are unknown, but the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are still with us today. In this theory, the Bible’s Gihon River would correspond with the Al-Qurnah in Iraq, and the Pishon River would correspond to the Wadi Al-Batin river system (also now called the Kuwait River). Now if we looked back to between 2,500 and 3000 years ago this dry and arid area would have once been the fertile central part of the Arabian Peninsula.

There is other evidence that points to this area being the place once known as the Garden of Eden and you will find it deep underground. If, as most scientists believe, oil is primarily the result of decomposing vegetation and animal matter, then would it be reasonable to believe that the area above it would once have been awash with plants and wildlife. Since the Garden was the epitome of perfection, it's reasonable to suggest that the decomposition of its lush organic materials would produce these vast stores of some of the earth’s highest grade oil.

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LONDON: The Tower of London

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If you are unfortunate enough to have not been born in the green and pleasant land that is known to all as England, then your first thoughts of Her Royal Highnesses' kingdom is likely to be the City of London. More specifically, Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral, and the Tower of London!

The Tower of London 

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and is separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill.

It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The castle was used as a prison since at least 1100, although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence.

As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. There were several phases of expansion, mainly under Kings Richard the Lionheart, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries. The general layout established by the late 13th century remains despite later activity on the site.

The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. It was besieged several times and controlling it has been important to controlling the country. The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public records office, and currently as the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. From the early 14th century and up until the reign of Charles II, a procession would be led from the Tower to Westminster Abbey on the coronation of a monarch.

In the absence of the monarch, the Constable of the Tower is in charge of the castle. This was a powerful and trusted position in the medieval period. In the late 15th century the castle was the prison of the Princes in the Tower. Under the Tudors, the Tower became used less as a royal residence, and despite attempts to refortify and repair the castle, its defences lagged behind developments to deal with artillery.

The peak period of the castle's use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries, when many figures who had fallen into disgrace, such as Elizabeth I before she became queen, were held within its walls.

This use has led to the phrase '...sent to the Tower'. Despite its enduring reputation as a place of torture and death which was popularised by 16th-century religious propagandists and 19th-century writers, only seven people were executed within the Tower before the World Wars of the 20th century. Executions were more commonly held on the notorious Tower Hill to the north of the castle, with 112 occurring there over a 400-year period.

In the latter half of the 19th century, institutions such as the Royal Mint moved out of the castle to other locations, leaving many of the buildings within the tower's walls empty. Anthony Salvin and John Taylor took the opportunity to restore the Tower to what was felt to be its medieval appearance, clearing out many of the vacant post-medieval structures.

In the First and Second World Wars, the Tower was again used as a prison, and witnessed the executions of 12 men for espionage. After the Second World War, damage caused during the Blitz was repaired and the castle reopened to the public. Today the Tower of London is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. It is cared for by the charity Historic Royal Palaces and is protected as a World Heritage Site.

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