Blooms on Kent field and river margins
Mike and I took our campervan to Marden in Kent soon after the first lockdown finished, and went on a lovely walk amongst the orchards and fields.
Flowers of the field margins
We followed footpaths across fields between orchards.
Mayweed
Mayweed was a common presence but I haven’t got to grips with identifying it yet. Firstly I never remember to sniff it in situ! Then when I get home and compare the photos with the pictures in my book, it doesn’t go well. I decide that I have spotted Scentless mayweed, Tripleurospermum inodorum, until I see mention of various similar Anthemis species such as Stinking chamomile and Corn chamomile and I lose confidence.
Chicory – Cichorium intybus
I was more confident about this beautiful blue flower, although it turns out that chicory is quite similar to Common blue-sowthistle, Cicerbita macrophylla, although the overall form is quite different.
Invasive species by the river
The Lesser Teise river offered some welcome shade and we spotted some Indian balsam, Impatiens glandulifera on the right bank.
Indian balsam – Impatiens glandulifera
I have always known this invading species as Himalayan balsam. I know it quite well, as although not photographed, it is visible from the road a few miles away from us in Sussex. There is blooms in a range of shades from white through to dark pink and is often over a metre tall. I can see why people originally imported it to grow in gardens, but it’s a shame it’s such a bully and escaped into nature. These flowers in Marden were only in the palest of pinks.
