nature

Roses Story in Nature (Nature Futures)

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My hard science fiction piece “War of the Roses” is in the current issue of Nature (Volume 467 (7316), 7 October 2010). At least, that’s what their website says and I’m going to believe them.

It looks like the story is available online at the moment, but I don’t know how long that’ll last as they’re not primarily an online market: War of the Roses

Back when I was studying for my ecology degree, Nature was one of those places trainee scientists wanted to get published in. Perhaps a paper about some amazing research into the sort of things ecologists research*. I probably wouldn’t have believed time-travelling future me if I said I’d get a piece of fiction published there.

At least fiction doesn’t need citations**.

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* Usually stuff like measuring lichens and wading out into swamps to take insect samples. Ecologists are the hardy branch of biologists.

** Blake, Polenth, A Bunch of Random Stuff about Roses, Polenth’s Brain, 2010

Wild Honey Bee Swarm (Photos)

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Some of the honey bees are swarming in the local woodland. Given the decline of bees, it’s nice to see. It’s also fun watching people fleeing the bees for no reason (it’s not like the bees care about people being there… they’re too busy doing their swarming thing to sting anyone. I was standing right in the middle of the swarm and I wasn’t stung).

They were a little high up. If they come down lower before heading off to their new abode, I’ll try and get some better close-ups.

Unlike my usual photo posts, these are linked… click on them for the bigger version.

(I’ve also put a movie on YouTube: Watch Bees!)

I Like Rain

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The whole day was full of sudden bursts of rain, like the Earth’s gardener tipping out a bucket. It was also very sunny.

There was a rainbow. I had to go out. Yes, I was very soggy.

Rainbow

But it won’t be the first or last time I’ve gone out in the rain for pictures. My camera is very forgiving. And a bit waterproof.

Puddle

As well as bucket pouring, we’ve also had a run of spiders this year. I blame the new wheely bins, as they don’t really keep out the flies. Nature did its thing. More flies = more spiders. They go and hide when the weather is cold, but anytime we have a warm spell they’re out and about. Rain means warmth in the winter.

So I went out to photograph the spiders. Whilst standing on my front path with the camera, a delivery person arrived with a parcel. I got some funny looks. I also got the parcel, but it wasn’t for me.

Spider

Rain is fun and full of spiders.

English Wild Flowers in Spring (Photos)

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These are some photographs of the flowers in bloom in my local woodland (South England). I’ve been practising with my new camera, which allows closeups. So I went and invaded some floral personal spaces.

Wood Anemone

Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) – It was a cold and dimly lit morning, so most of them had their flowers closed. The woods are currently awash with wood anemones. I used to call them ‘Wooden Emilys’ when I was little. It’s a hard word…

Celendine

Lesser Celendine (Ranunculus ficaria) – Celendines can often be found growing among the wood anemones.

Bluebell

Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) – Most of the bluebells haven’t flowered yet, but a few have come through in sheltered areas.

White Flower

Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) – These white flowers grow in a few sheltered spots.

Violet

Wild Violet (Viola riviniana) – A few wild violets are flowering, though there will be more later in the year. They’re small plants, so they’re easily missed. They’re my favourite of the woodland flowers.

Daffodil

Daffodil (Narcissus spp. ) – A cultivated variety of a native wild flower. The graveyard in the woods has many daffodils.