There are around 40 species within the Pulsatilla genus and are members of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, which comes from the Latin for little frog (ranunculus) because a group of plants in this family grow where you also find frogs. All of the species are native to the meadows and prairies of North America, Europe and Asia. They are tundra plants, growing low to the ground in open areas including rocky outcrops and chalk grasslands. The pasque flower is a stunningly beautiful purple,...

Dragonflies and Damselfies have existed on Earth for somewhere in the region of 325 million years, making them some of the most ancient creatures we share the planet with. The oldest fossils belong to the order Protodonata, some of which had wingspans of around a metre! These are the ancestors of modern dragonflies and damselflies and were in evidence during the time of the dinosaurs. The dragonflies and damselflies we see today belong to the order Odonata which comes from the Greek word...

Spiders, some people love them, some people hate them, they invoke deep fears in some and fascination in others. But whatever your thoughts on spiders they are truly amazing creatures with important roles to play in the ecosystem. Spiders are one of many symbols of Halloween, although as to why no one really knows, and people adorn their houses with cobwebs and spiders (not real ones) every year. They join the bat, owl and cat as being believed to be creatures gifted with supernatural...