Spotting flowers growing wild in South East UK
This was the second year I counted wildflowers at Gayles Farm So I’ve tried not to take all the same pictures as this time last year! Although I was out with the same two recorders – Colin and Chris, and the horses were still there! Other fauna included a Wasp spider Argiope bruennichi – a…
Burnt-tip Orchids in Sussex Neotinia ustulata grows in a few places locally The Orchid is on the Red List but locally frequent because it likes the short chalk downland turf. I’ve heard that another local haunt is Mount Caburn near Lewes. Last year I was pleased to be able to catch it in flower in…
Flora of Dorset We took Ethel the van for a weekend away last June. We had booked a boat trip to see the few puffins that can be found on the coast nearby during the summer but unfortunately it was cancelled due to high winds. Instead we spent a lovely day rambling over RSPB Arne. June…
Local Leguminosae The Pea family Fabaceae or Leguminosae includes many flowers including Vetches and Vetchlings, Clovers, Bird’s Foot Trefoil and many more. There seemed to be quite a lot of these legumes when I visited the Last Meadow in Seaford in early June. A blooming meadow But there were flowers of all types blowing in…
Cheddar ecosystems We visited a variety of different habitats in the Cheddar area We stayed at a campsite which was in walking distance of Cheddar village and the limestone gorge itself. It was the end of May and the weather was lovely for the most part. Sheltered footpaths On the way into the village we…
Coastal wildflowers already out We took the campervan a few miles up the South Coast from Sussex coast towards Kent for a one night trip this spring. This is what happens when you share a house with adult children – you get kicked out from time to time! We were so lucky with the lovely…
Out in the Woods in our van Woodland Flora of Sussex in April We took Ethel the campervan for her first outing of the year at the beginning of April to Graffham near Petworth. We were rather later in the year than we’d have liked due to my broken ankle. I broke it at the…
Identifying plants using a computer When I identify a plant I tend to start with the flower. It’s very rare for me to ID a plant that’s not in flower unless it’s very familiar. Personally, being a keen gardener has helped a lot with identifying flowers, because years of mulling over seed catalogues tends to…
Last spring we stayed in a cabin on a farm There was an icy wind but the sun shone and Mike and I went for some lovely walks. Weeds of the fields We were located right on the edge of an arable field and were kindly supplied with a stack of vintage books, my favourite…
Flowering in August, September and October While out walking near my home in Seaford Sussex here are some blooms I came across. These are in addition to my various trips up Seaford Head in August! Wildflowers around the town Field Bindweed – Convolvulus arvensis This small flowered bindweed likes my garden. Wild marjoram – Origanum…