Fungus

Cramp balls fungus, Daldinia concentrica, growing on the end of a decaying beech log (Fagus sp).

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-02-15.

Snowdrop

A snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis.  No snow so far this winter though.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-02-22.

Muscid Fly

A male Edasyphora cyanella (Diptera: Muscidae) sunning itself on a tree trunk.  This species tends to be one of the first flies to appear in the spring.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-02-22.

Galls on Willow

From last September: red bean galls on the leaves of a willow bush (Salix sp) .  These are caused by larvae of the sawfly Pontania proxima (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae).  The underside of the leaves look like this:

Photos taken beside the top lake, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2013-09-21.

Butterbur

From last April: butterbur, Petasites hybridus.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 203-04-14.