Hoping to inspire others to see the beauty of our native wildflowers and wildlife and thus help protect them.
Cornwall Botany Group/BSBI/CornwallWildlifeTrust
I'll be having a routine heart operation tomorrow so I will be out of action for a while. Hopefully afterwards, taking a photo while crouching won't leave me gasping, faint and breathless. I'm looking forward to a brighter Spring.
One of the many stunning Pale Butterworts in flower today at Goss Moor
#Cornwall
, what a beauty.
It eats insects that land on its sticky leaves which fold up and devour it.
Pinguiscula lusitanica
Galanthus nivalis "Flore Pleno", Snowdrop, naturalised for several hundred yards along the River Darent Farningham, Kent 100218 for
#wildflowerhour
(got very muddy knees taking this)
Originally found by
@danryan_nature
the amazing Sea Daffodil is now flowering. 2 plants on sand dunes, near St Austell, Cornwall 140822 late for
#wildflowerhour
Pancratium maritimum - believed to have arrived on its own steam from Brittany, no evidence of any planting.
The star of the week has to be this most stunning Wood Vetch, looks like a smaller Goat's rue but with far nicer flowers. Beautiful! Nr Barham East Kent 210620 for
#wildflowerhour
See thread. 1/3
After my operation - A slow painful walk to the doctors - some new botanical records found along the way (of course), library photos (no way I can take any yet).
#pavementplants
Not a rare plant, but it looked good with the raindrops on it. The last of English Stonecrop in flower, St Mewan Beacon 310722
Sedum anglicum, early for
#wildflowerhour
Imagine stumbling across this unexpectedly nowhere near any reserve, then finding another 10 nearby! Amazing things can happen. It did for me many times over the last 8 years since I took up botany.
Lady Orchid, West Kent.
Orchis purpurea
TQ6159 Wrotham, Kent 200520
@KentWildlife
RNR A20 north verge, several thousand flowers not mown and left for the bees to pollinate as part of the roadside nature reserve network around the county (need a lot more though).
I pushed myself physically today as I'm back at work soon after a long illness and want to make sure I'm fit. Pleased to say I had no medical concerns today - a good day and one that has raised my spirits considerably. How could finding these flowers not do so?
#wildflowerhour
What can one say!
Wildflower heaven - all native species and masses of them including some very rare plants too, late for
#wildflowerhour
TQ7167
@Ranscombe_Farm
Longhoes Field 140719
@Love_plants
I then found a plant far rarer than Bee Orchids and that was Wild Liquorice. I found 2 clumps, new records for this monad. Found in less than 10 areas of West Kent (VC16) this century. Near Shorne CP, Kent 06/06/20
Astragalus glycyphyllos
I've finally found the sub species of Changing forget me not with yellow flowers that turn blue (as opposed to white to blue). Whole plant less than 15cm tall.
Near Treligga
#Cornwall
#wildflowerHour
Myosotis discolor subsp discolor
With Sweet Violets, and a host of its varieties seen and Common Dog Violets, it was nice to see the tiny Viola arvensis today. Field Pansy, just as pretty as its larger cousins. Found it in a field...
Little Petherick
#Cornwall
for
#wildflowerhour
Bee Orchids at Dover. Ophrys apifera.
Another white-sepaled variant that looked superb. All protected by the council from mowing. Well done Dover Council.
Thanks to Kirsty (KBRG member) for the tip.
10/06/18 for
#wildflowerhour
@BSBIbotany
Amazing find of over 150 Man Orchids hidden away on verges & being previously undiscovered yet only yards away from lots of traffic. Orchis anthrpophora, TQ5872 Bean west (Kent) 240520 late for
#wildflowerhour
Thanks to a tip off from a friend, I found these apparently un-named Bee Orchid variants today in North Kent. Perhaps
@ukorchids
would know? North Kent 140620 for
#wildflowerhour
After reports of a weird Fly Orchid
@KentWildlife
Yockletts 250518 I couldn''t resist having a look around, and amazingly actually found it. Ophrys insectifera var. ochroleuca Probably more surprises to be found on NE part of reserve that is rarely explored.
I love these, they are as eye catching as an orchid spike. The parasitic Common Broomrape, these seem attached to Cat’s Ear rosettes.
Orobanche minor subspecies minor var minor at Trevone
#cornwall
The first of 100s of Lizard Orchids now in flower, Himantoglossum hircinum, Sandwich 020618, these on a road verge, others in people's front gardens, most on the beach dunes.
Saw-wort was also abundant on the cliff grassland, but again very small after being grazed by cattle.
Gunver Head,
#Cornwall
this evening for
#wildflowerhour
Serratula tinctoria
This Wild Carrot actually did look like some lacework held up, hence the name, I guess of Queen Anne's Lace.
Daucus carota subsp carota, Shorne CP Kent 240718
The amazing and dazzling Late Spider Orchid - this time with white sepals which I'd not seen before, Ophrys fuciflora, Folkestone, Kent, 10/06/18 for
#wildflowerhour
@BSBIbotany
While I was off the path, I saw these in the gloom under the Yew trees. I was amazed to find a new colony of Lesser Butterfly Orchids (WOW) a very rare plant in Kent, especially West Kent. West Kingsdown area, Kent. VC16. 25/05/20 I found 9 in total (including 4 blind rosettes)
#wildflowersseeninuk
Perhaps my favourite capture of Lamiastrum galeobdolon Ssp montanum, Yellow Archangel, backdropped by Bluebells - composition was a pleasant accident and not by design! Kent.
At a secret road verge in mid Kent (that everyone knows about) are found Lizard Orchids. From a peak a few years back of approaching 100 spikes we're down now to around 20 (quick count), all stunted from drought and being over-run by scrub. 1/3
Ranunculus auricomus, Goldilocks Buttercups, surprisingly some had all their petals attached. This is a scruffy flower and some of the petals usually drop within a day of opening, nr Ightam, Kent today for
#wildflowerhour
Just found out today I have Lyme's Disease. I've had it for at least 15 years and its now caused damage to my joints. Misdiagnosed twice as fibromyalgia no one thought to test for it.
Other people in the group were recording insects of all types and birds too. One of the highlights was a final instar large caterpillar of the Emperor Hawk Moth, Saturnia pavonia, at Creney Farm,
#Cornwall
today.
@CwallWildlife
Still tiny, these are flowering Sea Sandworts. Coming up in their thousands now at Par Sands dunes and elsewhere no doubt. 12/04/22
Honckenya peploides.
My finale tonight was a surprise Goatsbeard, not supposed to flower past October or before May (Harrap's). It was late afternoon as well, so lucky to find it open. Tragopogon pratensis, Swanscombe, Kent, 280118 for
#wildflowerhour
The rather lovely Echium vulgare, Viper's Bugloss is back in flower. I don't know why gardeners don't grow this native plant. Doesn't need any watering of fertilisers and gives colour for months on end. Rye Harbour NR 010619
A striking red variant of Kidney Vetch. I've found all sorts of colour forms on the North Cornwall coast, not just the usual yellow ones.
Anthyllis vulneraria, var coccinea, near Constantine Bay this evening.
Sneezewort by the car park Cornwall Botanical Group field trip to Goss Moor. Supposedly common throughout England, but hard to find sometimes. Achillea ptarmica
My star find this evening was an unexpected patch of the rare and endemic Cornish Ramping Fumitory, Gunver Head,
#Cornwall
this evening for
#wildflowerhour
Not previously recorded here, but it can pop up anywhere in West Cornwall if the ground is disturbed.
Fumaria occidentalis
Some wildflowers I've spotted this last week from the car around Kent. Danish Scurvygrass, Sweet Violet, Common Whitlowgrass and Groundsel. I've been unable to get out much lately due to chronic back pain. (Library photos)
@BSBIbotany
@wildflower_hour
I think this is Juniper Haircap Moss, Polytrichum juniperinum, male plants "flowers" found on St Breock Downs
#Cornwall
in fog this evening.
hs a species account.
I was very pleaed to unexpectedly come across several Bastard Balm plants in flower today, gorgeous flowers. East Cornwall.
#wildflowerhour
Mellitis melissophyllum
No idea what my
#favouritefind
plant is, there are so many this year. Here's a few, all from Wales! Spiked Speedwell, Starry Saxifrage, Dune Pansy, Dune Helleborine
@wildflower_hour
@BSBIbotany
By far the best find today was a single flowering spike of Man Orchid, Orchis anthropophora, in a new site for them. An endangered species, so very nice to see them form a new colony not on a reserve. Longfield, Kent 10/05/18
It's always a WOW moment when you come across Cornish Ramping Fumitory. It's big and went on for 20 metres or so along a field edge. 4th photo shows top petal colour change after pollination.
Fumaria occidentalis
#Cornwall
Botany Group field, Gunwalloe today.
#wildflowerhour
A big surprise were around 100 flowering Heath Spotted Orchids on the cliffs near St Agnes
#Cornwall
, a couple of weeks earlier than I anticipated. Lots more in bud to come.
Dactylorhiza maculata subsp ericetorum
for
#wildflowerhour
Less than 3 months away for these lovely ladies, so not currently flowering, but I thought, why not post something cheerful?
Post one of your favourite species in reply
#cheermeupwithplants
The 1st flowering orchid of the season goes to the Early Purple Orchid this year, Westfield, Sussex, road verge 21/04/18. Mind you if I had gone to other venues it could easily have been Green Winged or Early Spiders!
Despite seeing many amazing Thai orchids today at Kew Gardens, I still think our own native wild orchids are even more amazing and varied, we should look after them!
Native Lizard Orchid - Non native Orchid
As I haven't been able to get out and photograph anything recently due to ill health, I thought I'd post some wildflower combos of months passed by. Hope you enjoy them. You could have some fun naming the species?
I haven't been out botanising since November due to poor health, but I still notice plants around me. These inhabit a pavement crack near my local post office, escaped from a hanging basket several years ago. Persicaria capitata and Lobelia erinus in 2 colour forms.
More plants flowering earlier this week were Sea and Portland Spurges, Tall Ramping Fumitory and a white form of Common Storksbill, North Cornwall coast for
#wildflowerhour
Ophrys sphegodes var flavescens, Early Spider Orchid,
@SamphireHoe1997
Kent 29/04/18 this variant lacks most of the purple pigments of the usual flower form
There's a special form of Common Spotted Orchid only found in a few western areas, such as here in Cornwall, near Tintagel. This is Dactylorhiza fuchsii var hebredensis from last June. It's always small and always this colour. I hope to revisit later this year.