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25/04/2008

my photos

PRIMROSE - I can't live without you, Early youth, Young love
POLYANTHUS - Pride of riches

I like to have some primroses or polyanthus in pots at this time of year, and I am not alone, the woodlice do too!

This year I opted for a mixed tray of white and a pink/orange colour, and I have made an interesting observation. The white flowers have been untouched and the pink/orange have been nibbled to death! Does this mean woodlice are repelled at the sight of white? I need to do more investigation? Has anyone else noticed this?

Great feast for the woodlice community in my garden, hundreds of them! Although extremely annoying in this instance, I really don't think woodlice do too much harm otherwise, so I will continue to invite them into my garden as a friend!

9 comments:

Lesley Todd said...: I love primroses too. They always look cheerful. I never realised that woodlice nibbled flowers! Naughty things! I shall look at them in a whole new light now.; 25 April 2008 at 10:52
Threadspider said...: I often have the coloured flowers nibbled and also didn't realise it might be woodlice-I've always blamed the slugs! I shall go and inspect.; 25 April 2008 at 17:08
Anonymous said...: Hi, Haven't notice this, but I will have a good look in the garden at our primroses. We have so many woodlice.
Margaret and Noreen; 25 April 2008 at 22:19
ginny said...: I love visiting your charming blog Louise with all the side bar pictures and extra snippets about wildlife and plants. So gentle and calming. We call wood louse 'cheesy bops' don't ask me why. I will be interested to see how this scientific study continues.
Happy gardening!
love ginny x; 26 April 2008 at 11:59
carolyn said...: I didn't realise that the woodlice nibbled the petals. Sweet little things I've always found them quite charming.; 26 April 2008 at 17:25
Anonymous said...: Interesting as wood lice are always around. I prefer the look of the white primroses. xx; 27 April 2008 at 09:15
Ms Dragonfly said...: the flowers are just beautiful!; 27 April 2008 at 18:20
Lavinia said...: What a shame that the pink flowers have been nibbled ragged. Both the pink and the white flowers are very pretty; it would be quite something to learn that there are flavour differences between the two colours. I wonder what else could possibly account for the unusual preference...; 28 April 2008 at 04:24
Ms Dragonfly said...: thank you, i'm so glad you liked it :); 28 April 2008 at 23:09

SPARROWHAWK ...

I've seen many a sparrowhawk playing at being remarkably agile in my garden over the years, but not until today had I had the opportunity to view one at such close range. Such a fascinating bird, it had decided to perch on my back fence for at least five minutes, spending the time carefully observing its surroundings. Suddenly it took me by surprise by flying off at a sharp angle low into a lilac tree. I could hear the other birds being taken by surprise too, and whether it got its catch I do not know? That was the last I saw of it.