Biodiversity at the Bibliotheque

Mating balls of Ivy Bees in the nature strip by the library.

I thought readers might like to know that I found some uncommon wild flowers in the park at the end of our street and in the nature strip at the library across the road from the park. The wild flowers are not strictly speaking rare, but uncommon and localized, meaning that they are only found where the soil or conditions are suitable for them, in this case, dry and sandy.

Wall Germander on the bank on the western edge of the park.

 

The two species of interest, that I was a bit surprised to see are Cut-leaved Selfheal Prunella laciniata (Fr. la Brunelle laciniée)  and Wall Germander Teucrium chamaedrys (Fr. la Germandrée petit-chêne).

The flowering Wild Thyme by the library is gorgeous.

 

The area near the library is beautiful at the moment, covered with wild thyme, dotted with birdsfoot trefoil, yarrow and hawkweed. As soon as we get some rain, the rare and protected Autumn Lady's Tresses will come up and bloom, always the last orchid of the season.

A Honey Bee nectaring on the Wild Thyme.

 

In the dry, sandy soil are the nest holes of two beautiful and uncommon species of Hymenoptera: Bembix oculata and Ivy Bee.

Cut-leaved Selfheal.

It is truly a treasure trove of biodiversity.

 

Bembix oculata.