The Robins's Pincushion

“The Robin’s Pincushion (also known as the ‘Bedeguar Gall’) is a gall caused by the larvae of a tiny gall wasp, Dipoloepis rosae. It is widespread and common, and can be found developing on the stems of wild roses during late summer, acquiring its reddish colour as it matures in autumn. The grubs inside the gall feed on the host plant throughout the winter and emerge in spring as adults.”

I saw these waving in the strong breeze through the window of the pub I was in having lunch with two special friends as it's B's Birthday tomorrow and the sight of it brought back fond memories of one of my favourite Beatrix Potter books,  The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin  and for those who don’t know this story it's about an impertinent squirrel, who messes around in the woods whilst his more industrious cousins gather nuts to see them through the winter. He gets up to various antics, including annoying an owl called Old Brown, playing marbles with oak-apples, and ninepins with a crab apple and pine cones. He also gathers robin’s pin cushions, and sticks them full of pine-needle pins.  He is a very naughty squirrel!