Tuesday 18 May 2010

Hanky rescue


Yippee, it's my birthday when I always hope that something good will happen. It usually does - last year, for instance, on my younger son Olly's birthday, the most magnificent Large Emerald came to the trap. I've already had one present: the Pocket Handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata) which we've had for years has flowered for the first time. Here are some of the bracts - the hankies or ghosts which give the tree its other name. We collected a seed at Bristol Zoo with a favourite aunt and uncle, put it in a pot, forgot about it, found a weird spike with a solitary leaf a couple of years later and planted it out. That was ages ago but it's been worth the wait.
More maybug merriment. There were 15 in the eggboxes this morning and this quartet landed upside down when I was sorting rather dozily through. In the callous manner of nature observers, I sat down to see whether they could right themselves and, if so, how long it would take. They did, in this first case in 47 seconds. The method is to waggle the legs methodically to tilt the centre of gravity, maintaining the movement in a disproportionate way (I couldn't quite work out the mechanics at this early hour) to increase the momentum until the tilt allowed an outstretched leg to get a hold. It was then used as a lever, followed in quick succession by others. Bingo! The whole process was methodical and done without panic. I suspect that maybugs fall on their backs quite often.

3 comments:

Phil said...

Birthday greetings Martin! I picked up some hankerchief tree seeds from the garden at Newby Hall and potted them up last year. Nothing yet but you've raised my expectations .......

sarah meredith said...

Happy Birthday, Martin! It sounds like you are off to a good start today and I hope the rest of the day (and year) goes well, too! I have never seen a handkerchief tree. It looks rather more tropical than we get around these parts - but G, T and I are driving down to North Carolina for a week in the Smokies, so maybe we will get lucky in the warmer climate down there! For sure there will be moths, by now (as well as bears, we hear).
So happy day to you! love to Penny as well. xxs

MartinWainwright said...

Thanks very much both! I'm sure your seeds will germinate, Phil, though I think ours took two years, possibly three. The tree itself has had something like 15 years without flowering, so it's a job for the patient (like the restoration of Grass Wood which I've just mentioned in today's post). that's a good approach to the natural world isn't it? I've always felt a fondness for our ancestors who planted saplings which we enjoy as mighty trees.
The Smokies, Sarah! What a lovely name. I shall Google them. Please send me photos of Smoky moths. Actually, if you Google sufficiently thoroughly (no need to, mind), you will find my tiny contribution to the moth recording system of the US - a couple of insects P and I met in New Mexico last year. Si monumentum requiris...

xx

M