Got some shots this morning of the seed capsules of the Smooth Hawksbeard Crepis capillaris before it is chopped down. Also a couple of different leaves to complete the record. No doubt about it the Minolta ring flash is a real boon when it comes to taking close shots. This 2x lifesize is lit evenly in spite of the lens with an 8 dioptre addition on the front being so close to the subject. 

 Did a couple of leaf shots too to show how the higher leaves vary from those lower down the plant.                               

Went out  later to clip back tendrils on the Virginia Creeper that encroach on the path. To my surprise I found a Larva of the Harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis on one of the leaves. Got the camera and ring flash and got some 2x life-size pix. 

Martin came across and said there was a large moth in the shed building.

I took the dioptre lens off the camera and got a few shots. It was right up in a corner joint but the Tamron 90mm and ring flash lit it nicely. Now all I have to do is to find out its name etc. Really beautiful shading; nature can perform art work better than man can. Now identified as a Black Underwing Mormo maura. AKA Old Lady by Barbol on Flickr ID Please