Seeing the Changes 510

Around Blackpill, Sea holly (Eryngium maritimum), Lucerne (Medicago sativa), Great willowherb (Epilobium hisutum) and the alien Butterfly-bush (Buddleja davidii) were in flower.

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head

The rain has stirred the passions in hermaphrodite Cepaea nemoralis snails in Loughor.

Seeing the Changes 509

Large-flowered evening primrose (Oenothera erythrosepaia) was in bloom in Bynea. Hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) was coming into flower in Penclacwydd. I also spotted a Red admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) being blasted by the winds.

Seeing the Changes 508

In Swansea, Hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) was in bloom. At Blackpill, Dwarf mallow (Malva neglecta) and Sea mayweed (Matricaria maritima) up in an appearance.

The Last Post for George

News that the last Pinta island sub-species of Giant Galapagos tortoise, dubbed 'Lonesome George', has passed away at the age of 100 or more or less -people are not sure how old he was (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jun/25/lonesome-george?INTCMP=SRCH). George, as the last of his kind, was regarded as the rarest of animals but, in essence, the fate of his sub-species was determined long before George's going into his shell for the last time. The miniscule amount of genetic diversity evident, even if he had elected to breed, would have condemned his line and breeding would have involved hybridisation with a related sub-species.

Seeing the Changes 507

In Bynea, noted that White melilot (Melilotus alba) was in bloom. Great mullein (Verbascum thapsis) flowers appeared and were immediately chomped by the, now chunky, Mullein moth larvae.

Seeing the Changes 506

Between Swansea University and Blackpill, noted lots of Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor), Lady's bedstraw (Galium verum) and Crow garlic (Allium veneale).