Pear rust and baby snail

This little snail was hiding among the reproductive structures of pear rust Gymnosporangium sabinae, a familiar pathogen whose characteristic orange spots are abundant on both pear trees in our garden. As summer progresses brown, gall-like outgrowths develop on the corresponding lower leaf surface. Fruit may be affected, but this is much less common. The fungus attacks both pears and junipers. In fact it needs both plants in order to complete its life cycle.

As the weather was considerably better today, dry and mild, I pondered whether to go and do some recording, or tackle a bit more gardening. In the end wanderlust trumped duty and I went out to a part of the Grimsthorpe Estate that I haven't visited previously. It wasn't the most exciting walk botanically, but I still managed to find several uncommon species including small toadflax and wild liquorice.