Guelder-rose ❄️?? Snowball tree ❄️?? Also called snowball tree, the Guelder-rose (Viburnum opulus) is a shrub 3-4 meters tall and can be recognized by its large white inflorescences. Flowers are arranged to attract the attention of pollinating insects ??. In fact, the fertile flowers are small and arranged in the center, while the larger sterile flowers are found all around. Pollinating insects, attracted by the larger flowers, will thus approach the real, inconspicuous flowers. The fruits turn bright red in September, when they ripen, and are as big as peas; they are poisonous. The guelder-rose lives in clearings and forest [...]

Green infrastructure #Greeninfrastructure, what is it? Green Infrastructure is a network of natural and semi-natural areas designed and managed to deliver a wide range of #ecosystemservices such as water purification, air quality, space for recreation and climate mitigation and adaptation. #LIFEprogramme #LIFEproject #EUPollinators LIFE Programme EU Green Capital EU Environment EU Climate Action Ecosystem Services Partnership Rewilding Europe Ca' Foscari Sostenibile Little Green Space Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network - BES-Net

The dog roseThe queen of the woods The dog rose (Rosa canina, family Rosaceae) is one of several species of wild rose. It can reach 2-3 meters in height and sometimes form impenetrable hedges. It has downward curved branches and sturdy hooked spines. Flowers with delicate corollas appear from May to June; their color varies from pink to white and they have a subtle, barely perceptible scent. Of this species alone there are dozens of different varieties and forms. The fruits (false fruits) ripen in October-November and are rich in vitamin C. Dog rose is the ideal environment for birds [...]

Violet carpenter bee The Violet carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea) is a large solitary bee of the Apidae family. It is up to 3-4 centimeters long and its body is entirely black and hairy, with electric blue highlights on the wings. Its flight is fast and noisy . Carpenter bees do not form colonies but prefer to live alone. Females dig tunnels in soft or rotten wood to build their nests, even in the roof beams of houses. For this characteristic they are called "carpenter". They are found in gardens, meadows and flowering bushes, even on the edge of woods. Both [...]

Yarrow Soldier's weed Yarrow (scientific name Achillea millefolium) is a plant of the Asteraceae family. It is common in meadows along roadsides and in hay meadows. It has a stiff and slender stem that can reach 30-50 cm. The name "millefolium" refers to the leaves repeatedly divided into narrow and very numerous lobes . Its inflorescences are very large and are a blast for the insects who pass from one flower to another without any effort, carrying the pollen grains unaware. Did you know? The legendary Greek hero Achilles would have used this plant to heal his wounds, following the [...]