The German Diaries: North Rhine-Westphalia

Jan 24, 2022

2 min read

Updated: Jan 1, 2023

After more than 29 hrs travelling, we reached Frankfurt where we were picked up by my Tim's parents and driven home. One of the first things I noticed when we got home is that his parents had a fabulous garden with a little artificial pond full of frogs and newts as well as lots of fruit and flowering trees with bees and other insects buzzing through the vibrant garden. I had quickly found my place of peace in this overwhelming environment. I spent numerous days lounging in the sun and trying to identify (and google) all the little critters I saw.

In addition, close to where they live is the Urdenbacher Kämpe nature reserve, a wetland area near the river Rhine which provides natural flood protection to the town. Regular flooding makes the wetlands unique and allows for rare specialised plants to grow and support local and migratory birds and animals. We encountered many new species of birds and insects and a couple of mammals too. I actually saw a stoat and was too shocked to take a photo! Just opposite the nature reserve is Schloss Benrath, a pretty French style palace built in the late 1700s.

I think my most amazing take from this was the male Banded Demoiselle which is the brilliant metallic blue damselfly with a distinct 'fingerprint' like mark on its wings. I knew damselflies are colourful but I definitely was not expecting these striking colours!

Female banded demoiselles lay their eggs by injecting them into plant stems under the surface of the water. The eggs take about two weeks to hatch and the larvae take two years to develop, overwintering in the mud at the bottom of the river or pond.