A 2009 plant-hunter's diary

[Mungo]

<- aside->
Sorry to hear yo have been unwell David, hope you are now on the mend. <-aside->

[davidbr]

Thanks, Mungo; I'm getting stronger all the time and, fingers crossed, it won't have too much effect on the early Spring programme I'll be relying on public transport or the kindness of those offering lifts, though, since I'm currently declared unfit to drive Unnecessarily so, I'm sure - but it's better to be safe than sorry...

Anyway... after managing to escape from Frenchay Hospital, news of a Long-eared Owl roosting at Splatt Bridge, Frampton-on-Severn on February 18th was enough to tempt me into making the 25-mile journey north to have a look. (As I'm sure everyone's realised I've a bit of a backlog to catch up with, which I'll try to post as quickly as possible...) The owl was easy enough to see; although, well-camouflaged against a hawthorn bush, views were hardly brilliant! Plant-wise there wasn't a lot in flower around Frampton itself (no doubt a result of the weather) but not a million miles away, in the village of Oldbury-on-Severn, is an old churchyard (St. Arilda's) well known for its display of naturalised spring flowers

Hence, I was able to add Wild Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus, of the alien ssp. major) & Yellow Crocus (Crocus x stellaris) to the photo catalogue - the latter were in full bloom and made for a magnificent sight, thanks to Tiggrx especially for advising on ID Plenty of Common Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) were also in bloom, as were the very first Lesser Celandines (Ranunculus ficaria on a grassy bank - addition No. 3 for the morning

[davidbr]

A few days later, on February 22nd, walking the five-mile stretch of the River Frome between Pur Down (Horfield; for more detailed locations, Google's map service will oblige...) and Frenchay Common, in north Bristol - it's a marvellous area of riverbank, parkland & woodland within virtual spitting distance of two motorways (M5 & M32), home to a wide range of breeding birds including Dipper, Kingfisher & Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

First new plant of the day was a real surprise; Japanese Mahonia, Mahonia japonica, in flower on an overgrown stretch of riverbank; presumably, as a result of someone being less than fussy where they dumped their garden rubbish From 50-odd yards away, hence on maximum zoom (12x), the pictures won't win any awards, but they'll do - it was one I wasn't expecting to find unless I made the trip to Warley Place (which is still planned...)

Heading on along the river through Eastville Park & Snuff Mills, three species of crocii (Dutch Crocus, C. x hybridus, being a new "tick" alongside more Yellow Crocus, C. x stellaris & a few well naturalised clumps of Early Crocus, C. tommasianus )

The morning's (and, so far, year's) highlight was undoubtedly at Frenchay, though, where the remnants of an old estate that existed before the hospital was built post-WW2 resulted in a fabulous range of naturalised species. Between there and the nearby churchyard, both Spring & Early Crocuses put on a beautiful display, with Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) & what's since been correctly ID'd by Tiggrx as Balkan Anemone (Anemone blanda) in full bloom by the hospital's entrance gate C.

This whole area's been designated as a nature reserve, with plenty of relic shrubs (Spotted-laurel, Aucuba japonica & Portugal Laurel (Prunus lusiticana) are both seeding & well-established in scrubby areas) All in all, a very successful few hours; I was especially pleased to catch up with the Aconites, which I'd made one of my top target species for this Spring

[davidbr]

Anyway, to bring things up to date, I've since been able to add Common Whitlow-grass (Erophila verna), Spurge-laurel (Daphne laureola) and, finally, "genuine" Golden Crocus (C. chrysanthus) on a couple of visits to the Avon Gorge during the first few days of March; unfortunately I also lost one, though, when I had to admit I'd mis-identified some of the large population of Lauristinus (Viburnum tinus) as Shallon (Gaultheria shallon) last summer when they weren't flowering The Gorge, only a couple of miles from Bristol City Centre, must be one of the best-established sites for V. tinus in the UK; you see it quite often as a relic of former planting, but here it's thoroughly naturalised and spreading like wildfire

A return visit to Frenchay on March 2nd, as well as another look at the aconites & anemones, added a few new species; Head-to-head Daffodil (Narcissus x cyclazetta), established in Frenchay Churchyard, and a fine specimen of Coastal Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) as part of the wooded area of the hospital's nature reserve - planted, presumably, but it'd been there a bloody long time

And, not forgetting one of my favourite spring plants; Rue-leaved Saxifrage, Saxifraga tridactylites, its' delicate little white blooms brightening up an abandoned flowerbed within the hospital complex itself. It's good to think that, hopefully, as the month of March progresses more and more species ought to be coming into flower

[davidbr]

7th March 2009

After a generally awful weather forecast of rain & heavy winds moving in, I hadn't had high hopes for today; things started off sunny, though, and stayed that way long enough for a morning wander around the Eastville & Horfield suburbs of Bristol. Royate Hill, with a nature reserve, allotment & cemetery in close proximity, had been a productive hunting ground last summer (largely because the locals seemed in the habit of chucking their garden rubbish over the first wall they could find ); maybe there'd be a few things of interest in early Spring, too?

Heading through Eastville Parks, a carpet of what I eventually identified as Lesser Daffodil (Narcissus minor), of the bright yellow variety conspicuus made a fine sight under a bank of trees; though no doubt originally planted, the size of the trees means they must have been spreading for at least thirty years There was also what looked to be a self-seeded conifer sapling in amongst this lot which, as of yet, I've failed to name - I've posted it up for ID, so hopefully some suggestions will be forthcoming soon

Meanwhile, the flowerbeds in the park were home to some interesting spring ephemerals; Shepherd's-cress (Teesdalia nudicaulis) was a surprise since I thought it only grew on limestone or dry, sandy ground, and Annual Nettle (Urtica urens) was confirmed in slightly painful fashion by gripping a shoot in both fingers Shepherd's-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) & Sticky Mouse-ear (Cerastium glomeratum), though, probably needed another day of sunshine before they'd be in full bloom.

Unfortunately Royate Hill cemetery was locked up, me having forgotten it was a Saturday (and not being fit enough for wall-hopping duties ); there wasn't a lot around the allotments, either, bar for a bush of Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia) & clump of Caucasian Snowdrop (Galanthus caucasicus); one coming into flower, one going over and both obvious garden throw-outs As was a lovely patch of Garden Arabis (Arabis caucasicus) - but who cares? Not me, anyway...

Later, in mid-afternoon, I headed off for another look at the Frenchay Hospital area, rapidly becoming one of my Spring hot-spots Growing through a thick carpet of ivy in the hospital nature reserve, I was pleaseed to find a Garden Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) in bloom, with dozens more in leaf nearby; obviously well established, it's striking how different they were to the large-flowered types we're used to seeing in spring gardens.

The Balkan Anemones (Anemone blanda) & Spring Crocuses (Crocus vernus) were still out; in the nearby churchyard I managed to find a Ployanthus (Primula x polyantha) amongst the many Primroses, whilst on the daffodil front I managed to identify Pyrenean Daffodil (Narcissus nobilis), Spanish Daffodil ( Narcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. major) & Head-to-Head Daffodil (Narcissus x cyclazetta), as well as a double-flowered thing that's apparently a cultivar called "Double Smiles". So far, ID'ing it hasn't exactly made me smile...

All in all, then, I'd added nine new species to the photo list (ten, if/when I manage to name that mystery conifer ) - not a bad day at all! Especially since, as I write this, the rain's absolutely hammering it down outside...

[davidbr]

Oh, and is there any reason why we can't post images on this forum that've been uploaded to sites like Photobucket?

I've tried to upload pictures of some of these plants to the Image Gallery, but even though I've tried under several different categories all I get is a blank picture and "No thumbnail" message

Most other forums allow outside images - why not this one? It'd be so, so much easier

[davidbr]

I've managed to upload a shot of one of the Alpine Squills, Scilla bifolia, but the other five I was trying for either disappeared altogether or were displayed as the dreaded "No thumbnail" (and no picture, either )

So - apologies, but I give up on posting photos of the plants mentioned in this thread unless/until I'm allowed to link from external sites. I can upload these to Photobucket in ten seconds flat, problem-free

Alpine Squill, Scilla bifolia; well naturalised at Frenchay Churchyard, north Bristol, 7th March 2009

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by davidbr

Alpine Squill, Scilla bifolia; well naturalised at Frenchay Churchyard, north Bristol, 7th March 2009

The stamen shape and positioning plus the partially fused tepals forming a bell-shaped tube at the base of the flower indicate that this is a Chionodoxa. In fact it is Glory of the snow (Chionodoxa forbesii). Here is a pic of Alpine Squill to compare


Looks like you have been having some interesting finds recently.

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi davidbr,

Originally Posted by davidbr

Oh, and is there any reason why we can't post images on this forum that've been uploaded to sites like Photobucket?....

StuartDH has given the reasons a few times, and they are displayed within the FAQ section. - The main reason is to prevent WAB from becoming "infected" with dead links, should any of these external site pages disappear.

Originally Posted by davidbr

....apologies, but I give up on posting photos of the plants mentioned in this thread unless/until I'm allowed to link from external sites. I can upload these to Photobucket in ten seconds flat, problem-free....

If you submit your pics. in the format required by WAB, I'm certain that you won't have any problems. I've uploaded more than a hundred, and haven't had a problem yet.

OK, so you might have to resize your pic, etc. but is that really such a no-no? My "out of camera" .jpeg's are usually about 5Mp. so I always have to resize any that I'm uploading to WAB. The process takes no more than a minute for each pic. (I use Photoshop Elements). I don't consider it too much hassle considering the small numbers of pics involved at any one time.

I put a thread up recently, which gives full step by step details of how to successfully upload to WAB. Why don't you give it a try and see how things go. Surely it doesn't make sense just to give up and lose out on potential future help (both for and from other contributors).

Here's the link to the thread: - http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...otos-info.html

Regards
Mike.

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

The stamen shape and positioning plus the partially fused tepals forming a bell-shaped tube at the base of the flower indicate that this is a Chionodoxa. In fact it is Glory of the snow (Chionodoxa forbesii). Here is a pic of Alpine Squill to compare


Looks like you have been having some interesting finds recently.

Thanks, Tiggrx - C. forbesii never even occurred to me; I'd never seen it naturalised before, but in a garden setting it'd always seemed to form recognisable clumps. I guess when it's competing with the grass of a churchyard, adaptations have to be made It's just as well I'm delaying reporting any of these until the end of spring, really

I had Glory-of-the-Snow down as one of my main spring targets, too, so I can cross that one off - now all I've got to do is track down a genuine Scilla bifolia I ought to be able to add Greek Squill, S. messeniaca, this week at least; it should be in flower by now at Smallcombe Wood, near Bath.

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Hi davidbr,

StuartDH has given the reasons a few times, and they are displayed within the FAQ section. - The main reason is to prevent WAB from becoming "infected" with dead links, should any of these external site pages disappear.

Ah, fair enough. It's just that I use photobucket for other forums and have never had any problem with it, so it'd have been a lot easier to be able to do the same on here. Rules are rules, though, I guess...

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

If you submit your pics. in the format required by WAB, I'm certain that you won't have any problems. I've uploaded more than a hundred, and haven't had a problem yet.

OK, so you might have to resize your pic, etc. but is that really such a no-no? My "out of camera" .jpeg's are usually about 5Mp. so I always have to resize any that I'm uploading to WAB. The process takes no more than a minute for each pic. (I use Photoshop Elements). I don't consider it too much hassle considering the small numbers of pics involved at any one time.

I put a thread up recently, which gives full step by step details of how to successfully upload to WAB. Why don't you give it a try and see how things go. Surely it doesn't make sense just to give up and lose out on potential future help (both for and from other contributors).

Here's the link to the thread: - http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...otos-info.html

Regards
Mike.

It's not really a matter of giving up, Mike - it makes a mess of the galleries and I'm sure other members would find it annoying for me to continually post "images" with no viewable picture, even if it was a genuine mistake.

I'm aware of the size considerations and always make sure to resize them before trying the upload; no, it doesn't take very long, like you my files are usually around 5MB when I download them off-camera, and I usually reduce that to somewhere in the region of 750KB before attempting to put anything on this site.

It's after having done all that, though, that I'm getting the problems; not every time, I do manage to get some to go through OK, but that just makes it even more baffling because I can't understand why some work and others don't? They're all pretty much the same, after all

[davidbr]

Mid to late March

Although the weather hasn't always been brilliant (apart from that fine spell a week or so ago...) and my travelling abilities are still restricted, March has actually been a pretty satisfying month as far as my plant-hunting exploits are concerned; with April due in tomorrow, I've now added 81 species to last year's totals since January 1st, making a round total of exactly 900 in the photo folder

Quite a few of the month's finds came from the [b]Avon Gorge[/i], where although I struggled to find some native rarities, a whole series of unexpected aliens more than made up for the disappointment! Bristol Rock-cress (Arabis scabra) was flowering well on limestone along the River Avon towpath, together with Spurge-laurel (Daphne laureola) & Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria) in nearby Leigh Woods nature reserve; all three were new, as was the Round-leaved Cranesbill (Geranium rotundifolium) growing by the entrance to Leigh Woods church, but as I said it was the introduced species providing most of the interest...

I'm not sure where they all come from, but both Turkish Squill (Scilla bithynica) & Greek Squill (S. messeniaca) were naturalised in grassy verges of the quiet residential (posh!) streets of Leigh Woods, plus Creeping Comfrey (Symphytum grandiflorum), Garden Tulip (Tulipa gesneriana), Garden Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), Two-spined Acaena (Acaena ovalifolium) & Nonesuch Daffodil (Narcissus x incomparabilis). Over the other side of the Gorge, it took a couple of trips but I eventually managed to find the Perennial Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) that's supposedly been established here for over twenty years!

The star find, though, was undoubtedly a beautiful red specimen of Lenten-rose, (Helleborus orientalis), at the top of the Leigh Woods nature reserve, right next to the main North Road! Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus) is also established in this area, but I've had no success (as yet...) in finding the Green Hellebore (H.viridis) for which the reserve's well known!

As you cross the Bristol Suspension Bridge the council have made attempts at planting flowerbeds on either side; whilst the shrubs here are obviously planted, there are a few interesting naturalised species to be picked out. Chinese Bramble (Rubus tricolor) is taking over on the Leigh Woods side of the bridge, where there's also a well-established clump of Star-of-the-Veldt (Osteospermum hyoseroides); Bulbous Comfrey (Symphytum bulbosum) & Purple Rock-cress (Aubretia deltoidea) were also found here, and I re-visited the Waterer's Cotoneaster (C. x watereri) & Sweet Bay (Laurus nobilis) bushes I found last summer naturalised near the Observatory.

Since I started photographing plants last June, I've found the suburban lanes of Bristol to be home to an often fascinating variety of escapes - Spring's proved to be no different, with Corsican Hellebore (Helleborus argutifolius) being the real shock find (enabling me to abandon plans for a difficult-looking trip to the well-known locality at Stow-on-the-Wold ) I've also managed to come across another couple of plants of Lenten-rose (Helleborus orientalis), of the green-flowered form this time, plus Grape-hyacinth (Muscari neglectum) making a nice & distinctive change from the Garden Grape-hyacinths (Muscari armeniacum) that seem to add a splash of blue to just about every patch of waste ground!

The site of a former estate at Pur Down, near the M5 motorway, allowed me to add [b]Wellingtonia[/b[ (Sequoiadendron giganteum) & Atlas Cedar ([i]Cedrus atlantica[/i[), both ancient plantings, plus Wrinkled Viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum), though I'd also come across a couple of seedlings of the latter species in flowerbeds around the city. The woods around here make a fine sight at this time of year, with drifts of Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) mingling with the yellow of Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria); there'll also be masses of Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) in a few weeks time!

In the centre of town, amongst plenty of naturalised daffodils along the banks of the River Avon were a couple of "rarities", Paperwhite Daffodil, Narcissus papyraceus, & Poet's Narcissus (Narcissus poeticus), with American Winter-cress (Barbarea verna) coming into flower. Plus the Peach tree, Prunus persica, I posted in the "Flower of the Day" thread yesterday and a couple of plants of New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax), presumably garden throw-outs.

Finally, the St. Werburgh's area of Bristol is an unlikely haunt for unusual plants (being more famed for drugs & muggings...!) but it proved profitable last summer, and a spring exploration turned up a few garden & allotment escapes - in the form of Garden Rocket (Eruca vesicaria), Creeping Speedwell (Veronica peduncularis) & Hidcote Comfrey ([i]Symphytum "Hidcote Blue"); I wish I could find a proper scientific name for the latter species!

[davidbr]

A few pictures of my March finds that I've managed to upload...



Bristol Rock-cress (Arabis scabra); Avon Gorge, 19th March



Balkan Anemones (Anemone blanda); Mells Manor, Somerset, March 20th



Common Whitlowgrass, Erophila verna; New Avon Cut, Bristol City Centre, 25th March



Corsican Hellebore, (Helleborus argutifolius); Muller Road, Filton, 19th March

[davidbr]

Creeping Speedwell (Veronica peduncularis); St Werburgh's, 27th March



Lenten-rose (Helleborus orientalis); Leigh Woods, Avon Gorge, 19th March



Lenten-rose (Helleborus orientalis; Filton Avenue, Filton, 27th March



Garden Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis); Frenchay Hospital nature reserve, 21st March

[davidbr]

Netted Iris (Iris reticulata); Clifton Down, 14th March



Siberian Squill (Scilla sibirica); Mells Manor, 20th March



Rosemary (Rosmarina officinalis); Frenchay, 25th March



Turkish Squill (Scilla bithynica); Leigh Woods, Avon Gorge, 19th March

[davidbr]

Snake's-head Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris); Frenchay Hospital nature reserve, 21st March



Winter Savory (Satureja montana); Mells Manor, Somerset, 20th March (This is supposedly the only site in the UK for this species, where they've been established for over a hundred years, but that spell of freezing weather looks to have hit this Mediterranean introduction hard - a few new shoots was all that was on offer!)



Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans); Bristol Suspension Bridge, March 14th



Wrinkled Viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum); Stoke Park woods, Pur Down, 25th March



Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa); Stoke Park woods, Pur Down, 25th March

And, lastly...



Peach (Prunus persica); New Avon Cut, Bristol city centre, 30th March!!

[KeenTeen17]

have you seen the plant Cornus mas?

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

have you seen the plant Cornus mas?

No, unfortunately that's one I've missed this spring - in flower, at least

I did have a site staked out for it, but unfortunately over the winter the local council, in the guise of "tidying up", have dug the bloody thing up

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by davidbr

No, unfortunately that's one I've missed this spring - in flower, at least

I did have a site staked out for it, but unfortunately over the winter the local council, in the guise of "tidying up", have dug the bloody thing up

I have some info for you if you want - its in flower!!

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

I have some info for you if you want - its in flower!!

Many thanks, KT

[davidbr]

1st April 2009 (Wednesday)

Due to other commitments I didn't have a whole lot of spare time today, but with it being a fine, warmish (if overcast) morning I was determined to get out and about at least for a bit! In the end I settled on a return visit to Arnos Vale Cemetery, not too far from Bristol city centre and the main Temple Meads railway station; this very old cemetery's become largely disused (although some kind of trust has been formed to tidy it up a bit and restore access to the graves), so I was hoping to come across a few naturalised goodies!

By far the most noticeable plant was the Primrose (Primula vulgaris) - they were literally everywhere, I've never seen so many Primroses in one place even around the country lanes of Devon & Cornwall! Just the one Cowslip (Primula veris) was also in flower and, as you'd expect for a cemetery, I came across a few naturalised Polyanthuses (P. x polyantha) in a kind of reddish-pink!

Also extremely well established here, more so than I've ever seen elsewhere, are Spotted-laurel (Aucuba japonica), Wilson's Honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida) & Japanese Spindle (Euonymus japonica) - they've pretty much taken over, and now form the majority of the shrub layer between them! The wild form of A. japonica looks quite different from the ones you see in parks & gardens, less variegation on the leaves for starters, and just to prove its' naturalised status some even had flowers!

(Spotted-laurel in flower)

Bulbs also featured strongly, with the highlight being a colony of Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum); a plant I'd so far missed this spring and that was hence on my most-wanted list! Quite a few clumps of Garden Tulips (Tulipa gesneriana) were also dotted around, plus the ubiquitous daffodils (Narcissus sp.), although disappointingly I couldn't find any different species or hybrids amongst the latter.

(Summer Snowflake, Leucojum aestivum)

(Garden Tulips, Tulipa gesneriana)

The reason I love exploring places like this is that around every corner you just never know what you're going to find - a point proved when a small track through the brambles turned up a fine Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus) (though I really wish someone would come up with a better name for it...!!), a colony of Hidcote Comfrey (Symphytum "Hidcote Blue") & a non-flowering patch of Garden Mossy-saxifrage (Saxifraga x arendse) covering a gravestone.



Despite all the daffodils, tulips, grape-hyacinths and suchlike, probably the brightest colour of the morning was provided by the speedwells! Slender Speedwell (Veronica filiformis) formed a beautiful patch in a couple of places, and I was pleased to come across some Creeping Speedwell (Veronica peduncularis) just a few days after I'd found the species for the first time - these ones were more convincingly naturalised, rather than garden chuck-outs!

(Slender Speedwell, Veronica filiformis)

And, lastly, was a spurge of the type we just don't get native in this country - Mediterranean Spurge (Euphorbia characias), a fine sight in all its' glory!

(Mediterranean Spurge, Euphorbia characias)

All in all a decent start to April; three new species for the photo database (Summer Snowflake, Garden Mossy-saxifrage and Garden Peony, also in leaf only...)

[davidbr]

2nd April 2009 (Thursday)

Venturing a bit further afield today, I headed north to the Oxfordshire border in search of a couple of rarities which, for once, I found with no problems whatsoever!

St Giles' Church, in the attractive little village of Great Coxwell, looked to be a great place for a whole range of unusual plants; several specimens of Spurge-laurel (Daphne laureola) grew next to the main path, False Oxlip (Primula x polyantha) was mixed in with the many Primroses (Primula vulgaris) & Cowslips (Primula veris) and there was a fine clump of Spotted Dead-nettle (Lamium maculatum) by the entrance gate to the churchyard, plus a few [b]Grape Hyacinths (Muscari neglectum) and a clump of Reflexed Daffodils (Narcissus x monochromus).

What I was really looking for, though, were a couple of anemones; the beautiful Scarlet Anemone (A. x fulgens) & perhaps equally attractive Yellow Anemone (A. ranunculoides)... and wandering around the churchyard, there they both were!!



#

I'd never seen either of them before, and apparently this could well be the only site in Britain for A. x fulgens - they're only just coming out, so anyone who gets a chance to maybe visit Great Coxwell over the next few weeks, it's well worth the effort!!

I didn't do so well nearby at Sparsholt, where after getting totally lost I only managed a patch of Creeping Comfrey (Symphytum grandiflorum) and some lovely clumps of Giant Kingcup (Caltha palustris ssp. polypetala), whilst photographing the latter I was attacked by a very aggressive white goose and almost fell into the village duckpond, to the great amusement of a mother & toddler out for a walk!

(Creeping Comfrey, Symphytum grandiflorum)

There was no sign of any of the Wild Tulips that I'd really been hoping to see here - but never mind; those Scarlet Anemones more than made up for it!

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by davidbr

2nd April 2009 (Thursday)

Venturing a bit further afield today, I headed north to the Oxfordshire border in search of a couple of rarities which, for once, I found with no problems whatsoever!

St Giles' Church, in the attractive little village of Great Coxwell, looked to be a great place for a whole range of unusual plants; several specimens of Spurge-laurel (Daphne laureola) grew next to the main path, False Oxlip (Primula x polyantha) was mixed in with the many Primroses (Primula vulgaris) & Cowslips (Primula veris) and there was a fine clump of Spotted Dead-nettle (Lamium maculatum) by the entrance gate to the churchyard, plus a few [b]Grape Hyacinths (Muscari neglectum) and a clump of Reflexed Daffodils (Narcissus x monochromus).

What I was really looking for, though, were a couple of anemones; the beautiful Scarlet Anemone (A. x fulgens) & perhaps equally attractive Yellow Anemone (A. ranunculoides)... and wandering around the churchyard, there they both were!!



#

I'd never seen either of them before, and apparently this could well be the only site in Britain for A. x fulgens - they're only just coming out, so anyone who gets a chance to maybe visit Great Coxwell over the next few weeks, it's well worth the effort!!

I didn't do so well nearby at Sparsholt, where after getting totally lost I only managed a patch of Creeping Comfrey (Symphytum grandiflorum) and some lovely clumps of Giant Kingcup (Caltha palustris ssp. polypetala), whilst photographing the latter I was attacked by a very aggressive white goose and almost fell into the village duckpond, to the great amusement of a mother & toddler out for a walk!

(Creeping Comfrey, Symphytum grandiflorum)

There was no sign of any of the Wild Tulips that I'd really been hoping to see here - but never mind; those Scarlet Anemones more than made up for it!

Blimey Dave you do find some nice plants when your out and about. that scarlet anemone is beautiful. I think I should make a visit to a garden centre because its not up here (can't find a smiley for suspicious looking)

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by davidbr

There was no sign of any of the Wild Tulips that I'd really been hoping to see here

I'm intending to go to a Wild Tulip site tomorrow - so I hope I have better luck

Am jealous of the Anemone - looks gorgeous. Think I have been to Great Coxwell in the past but remember nothing about it.

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

I'm intending to go to a Wild Tulip site tomorrow - so I hope I have better luck

Am jealous of the Anemone - looks gorgeous. Think I have been to Great Coxwell in the past but remember nothing about it.

It's only a small village, pretty typical for the area, but the church is easy to find and the plants were too. As you enter the churchyard, the A. ranunculoides are about 30 yards away on your left, and the A. x fulgens are at the back of the graveyard. They were only just coming into flower when I visited, so I'd guess mid-April would be the peak time to visit

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

I'm intending to go to a Wild Tulip site tomorrow - so I hope I have better luck

Did find the Tulip today - but only leaves