Macro photograph of an Ashy Mining Bee in a Staffordshire garden.

First Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria) of the year, in our #Staffs garden yesterday. One of my favourites; this female warming-up on my finger. #bees #SolitaryBees #garden #pollinators

Macro photograph of a Humming-bird Hawkmoth visiting a Staffordshire garden.

A Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) visiting our Staffordshire garden this morning. Even managed to get a reasonably-uncluttered (and in-focus) shot! Don't see many of these in our garden ...

Just putting the finishing touches together, I hope some of you can make it. Open 11.00 - 16.00 hrs daily; free admission, free parking.

Totally agree Chris, particularly as I have Stelis phaeoptera utilising mine every year!

Indeed Chris. I've seen some Ancistrocerus wasps emerging from the bee-hotels this week, their hosts presumably.

Macro photograph of a colourful Rub-tailed Wasp in a Staffordshire garden.

Always a treat to see; a lovely Ruby-tailed Wasp in our #Staffs garden yesterday. #wasp #CuckooWasp #SolitaryWasp

Macro photograph of a Bee-fly in our Staffordshire garden.

First Bee-fly of the year in our #Staffs garden today; Bombylius major. #bees #SolitaryBees #pollination #biodiversity

Well-done to you both!

I had one of those (or one very similar) and ended-up as a microbiologist!

Photograph on a bone found on the beach in Anglesey. Might be from a seabird of some sort.

Found on the beach in Anglesey at the weekend. A seabird sternum perhaps?

Macro photograph of an Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) queen on a garden flower.

A lovely fresh-looking queen Bombus pratorum (Early Bumblebee) in our #Staffs garden this morning. I think that what it is anyway! #bees #SocialBees

I had a Bombus pratorum queen in our #Staffs garden today; first I've seen this year.

Macro photograph of a Western Honey Bee in our Staffordshire garden.

First Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) that I've photographed this year. Lots active in our #Staffs garden today. #bees #SocialBees

Macro photograph of a Barkfly in garden leaf-litter.

Psocid (Barkfly) in garden leaf-litter this morning. #Staffs #garden #Psocid #Barkfly

Macro photograph of an elongate springtail in garden leaf-litter.

An "elongate" springtail in garden leaf-litter this morning, just a few millimetres long. #staffs #collembola #mesofauna

We bought a pair of Felco secateurs several year ago Lucy. They are expensive but (in my mind), an excellent investment. You can get a special sharpening stone too. They do a range of weights and sizes, so check if you have smaller hands. Whatever you buy, good luck and safe pruning!

Announcing an exhibition of my still-life photography at the Rose Paterson Art Gallery at Weston Park. Will run from 27 March to 29 April. Parking and admission free. The Art Gallery is open daily from 11.00 to 16.00 hrs. Weston Park situated on the A5 near Shifnal, Shropshire.

Macro photograph of a globular springtail and an elongate springtail in garden leaf-litter.

I was photographing a globular springtail (Dicyrtomina saundersi) in the garden, when a juvenile "elongate" springtail came scurrying into view. Remarkably, they're both reasonably in focus with this single shot. Two for the price of one! #collembola #mesofauna #macro #photograph

Composite photograph of globular springtails found in a Staffordshire garden.

A selection of globular springtails found under fallen leaves on our garden lawn this morning. A Dicyrtomina species at the bottom and Sminthurinus aureus (dark form) and S. elegans at the top. #collembola #mesofauna #Staffs #macro #photography

Macro photograph of the globular springtail Dicyrtomina saundersi.

The globular springtail Dicyrtomina saundersi in our #Staffs garden this morning. Between 1-2 mm long. #collembola #mesofauna #macro #photography

A Fly Agaric mushroom photograph, with added Photoshop adjustments.

We're fortunate in having a few Fly Agaric mushrooms growing in our #Staffs garden. Being a photographer, I couldn't resist a bit of additional Photoshopery on this shot! #macro #photography #shallowDoF

Close-up image of fungi growing on a Staffordshire garden lawn, possibly one of the Laccaria species.

More fungi from our front lawn today. I know very little about mushroom identification, but wondered whether this could be one of the Laccaria species (Deceivers)? #Staffs #fungi #macro #photography

Macro photograph of Fly Agaric mushrooms growing in a Staffordshire garden.

We have a nice selection of fungi on our front lawn, including Fly Agaric. #Staffs #macro #photography #fungi #mushrooms

I had to look-up "macrolabic", but I'd guessed from the photograph what it meant! Always more things to learn ...

Macro photograph of a barkfly in a Staffordshire garden.

My morning leaf-litter hunt didn't result in any springtail photographs today, but I did snap this little psocid (barkfly) that was under a Laurel leaf. #psocoptera #Staffs #garden #macro #photography

Macro photograph of a globular springtail in a Staffordshire garden.

The globular springtail Sminthurinus aureus (dark form) in the garden this morning. Very small (< 1 mm). #Staffs #collembola #springtail #LeafLitter #mesofauna #macro #photography

Yes; I struggle with wasps, even the social species! I'm a photographer though, not an entomologist, but I do like wasps and photograph them whenever they oblige (I don't generally take specimens).

Thank you Karl; I'll have a read-up!

Macro photograph of a tiny wasp found under a wet leaf in a Staffordshire garden.

I found a tiny little wasp (~2-3 mm) under a wet leaf on the lawn this morning (was looking for springtails actually). #WaspLove #Staffs #macro #photography

A social wasp worker collecting nesting material from a wooden post.

Still lots of social wasp workers collecting nesting material in our #Staffs garden. #WaspLove #macro #photography