Flowers in South Beds today

[Pete Collins]

Today I walked from Kensworth to Totternhoe and back, probably about 10 miles, but treated it as a nature walk not just a long walk. I tried to record every species of wildflower that I recognised and thus create a 'snapshot' of what's about in South Beds at the moment. Some of you may remember I made a similar post last year.

Note that I only mention the first occurrence of each species.

From Kensworth down Hollicks Lane to Church End: Nipplewort, Herb Robert, Lord-and-Ladies, Red Clover, White Clover, Wood Avens, Ragwort, Common Field Speedwell, Scentless Mayweed, Field Bindweed, Cow Parsley, Poppy, Dog Rose, Common Knapweed, Agrimony, Wild Basil, Hedge Woundwort, Russian Comfrey, Self-heal

Hedge Woundwort

From Church End, round Kensworth Quarry: Rosebay Willowherb, Bristly Oxtongue, Herb Robert (white form), Field Scabious, Pyramidal Orchid, White Helleborine (long past flowering), Common Broomrape, Greater Birdsfoot Trefoil

Common Broomrape

Dunstable Downs: White Campion, Silverweed, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Lady's Bedstraw, Common Rockrose, Woody Nightshade, Hedge Bedstraw, Wild Mignonette, Yellow Rattle, Meadow Cranesbill, White Dead-nettle

Woody Nightshade

Dunstable to Sewell: Large Bindweed, Great Mullein, Yellow Toadflax, Purple Toadflax, Perforate St John's Wort, Red Campion, Musk Mallow, Nettle-leaved Bellflower

Purple Toadflax

Nettle-leaved Bellflower

Sewell to Totternhoe: White Bryony, Great Willowherb, Wild Carrot, Rest-harrow, Sainfoin, Man Orchid (very faded), Common Spotted Orchid (also very faded), Bladder Campion, Wild Thyme, Squinancywort, Carline Thistle, Cowslip (long past flowering)

Man Orchid

I'd already had a couple of brief showers, and it started raining heavily while I ate my sandwiches at Totternhoe Knolls about 2pm. The rain only lasted about 20 minutes, but I decided to take the quickest route home. I only noticed Common Mallow and Honeysuckle as I made my way back to Kensworth.

[treecreeper]

Worth getting wet for. Sainfoin and man orchid are the two I've never found.

[leifus]

i look forward to the day when I see my first man orchid

I've seen a lot of that today as well - very beautiful flowers!

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by leifus

i look forward to the day when I see my first man orchid

I've seen a lot of that today as well - very beautiful flowers!

You look forward to the first time you see Man Orchid when you have seen loads today?

[Pete Collins]

This is what the same Man Orchid looked like a month ago. It's the only one I found there this year, last year there were another four nearby.