Spotting flowers growing wild in South East UK
A summer of orchids I’m so glad I joined Seaford Natural History Society recently because they really helped me with my orchid spotting this year! Back in May I met Polly who was so helpful showing me the Early purple orchids, Orchis mascula on Seaford Head. She told me about the swathes of Green-winged orchids,…
Abundant spring country lanes The county of Sussex is a warren of country lanes, sunny banks and hedgerows. We visit the Battle area regularly and are often surprised by the profusion of blooms by the wayside. Even away from the wildlife verges, the flowers can be glorious in the spring. I took all these photos…
Out and about in fields with my smartphone I haven’t written a post since April this year. This is not because I’ve lost interest in wildflowers but because, as happens every year, I’ve been too busy spotting them to write about them! Generally I tend to be out and about in spring and summer, then…
Viola riviniana around Sussex in early April In the first five days of April I have spotted Common dog violet, Viola riviniana, in three places in Sussex. This might indicate the relaxing of lockdown as much as anything else! This violet is more delicate looking than the often earlier Sweet violet. It is usually found…
Spring plants in bloom Staying local this March, I have been on lots of short walks in and around Seaford. I looked back on my blog post from this time last year and noticed that a few things I’d spotted then aren’t yet in flower. Plants I thought I might see but haven’t spotted in…
On a visit to New Milton in Hampshire last October, we walked along the coast and inland in the New Forest. Flora of the coast near Hurst Castle Hurst Castle is near New Milton. There was plenty of vegetation growing in amongst the pebbles, although not so many flowers. Sea campion – Silene maritima I…
Wildflowers in the Kingsbridge area It was glorious to get out and about with Mike in the sunshine in the campervan after lockdown! The area we visited was in the South Devon Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). We stayed just outside Kingsbridge so had a walk across a few fields to get into town, and…
Wildflowers of September On my usual half-hour health walk I passed through the Last Meadow (a dog walking field on the outskirts of town) and found a few interesting plants that weren’t in flower when I last visited in June. Possible Tall melilot – Melilotus altissimus I haven’t seen tall melilot before although I was quite confident…
Last August we visited the river Thames We camped by the riverbank and went on nature walks We took our campervan to a campsite by the river in Chertsey in Surrey and found a spot that was great for watching groups of canoers taking on the weir for sport. It’s a lovely area and there…
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…