A 2009 plant-hunter's diary

[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