Spotting flowers growing wild in South East UK
Watching nature – birds and bees in my garden, or larger animals further afield.
Wildflowers spotted in Zakynthos Greece on holiday I was on a family holiday, so not botanising religiously, but I did come across a few things of interest. Sea Squill – Drimia maritima As an amateur gardener, when I saw this substantial plant I assumed it was Foxtail Lily. But I looked it up when I…
Still some plants in flower Despite being a dry month there were still some species flowering Rosebay Willowherb – Chamaenerion angustifolium Wild Carrot – Daucus carota gall – Keifferia pericarpiicola This was the first time I’d found these little pink balls on Wild Carrot, and I had to look up what they were. Old mans…
I was up on Seaford Head in August again for the Moon Carrot survey. There were about ten of us and the numbers of Seseli libanotis were good. I haven’t included photos of them here because I did that last year! In 2022 we had a very dry late summer and the Moon carrots were…
In August we took Ethel the campervan for a long weekend to Hayfield in High Peak, Derbyshire which is directly west of Sheffield and not far from Kinder Scout. The pic above was taken from out of the van window only ten minutes from Sheffield – glorious! It was beautifully lush compared with the arid…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Spotting wildflowers on our weekends away In September and October Mike and I went on various trips in Ethel the campervan and were lucky with the weather! Early Sept – by the Great Ouse river in St Neots Cambridgeshire We took the van to a peaceful riverside location and went for walks along the banks….