A Botanical Journey mostly from Kent & SE England

From November 2018 to the time of writing (April 2019) I have been unwell with a  heart condition. This has of course curtailed much of my botanising. However, I do have some good days and when they come I try to get out and about, though I have to restrict myself to easy and short walks. This day was one of those good days and my partner and I visited Ightam Mote, a National Trust property near Tonbridge. There wasn't an awful lot to see at this time of the year, so unusually I will include a couple of planted species as well. Here's some Hellebores planted in the garden, a common planted flower to give some colour at this time of the year. Helleborus x hybridus Lenten Rose In past years I have actually found these escaped into the wild, so it's worth getting to know some garden plants for one's recording trips. Another common garden escape are Snowdrops. There are lots of varieties, but most escapees (in my area) tend t...

This blog relates to a short walk around the grounds of the grand old house and castle of  Scotney Castle near Lamberhurst on the Kent/Sussex border. A National Trust owned property. Some more photos of the buildings.   Well that's enough of the architecture, exciting though it was. A Butcher's Broom bush had some flowers open.  Ruscus aculeatus However, it looks planted to me. These are common in the wild on the chalk of North Kent, but uncommon on poorer, acid soils as it was here. One of the planted cherry trees coming into flower.   There were plenty of ancient or mature planted trees to admire as well. One of several very tall Redwoods in the grounds. I've mentioned these before. These plants are Navelwort, a very uncommon plant in Kent or Sussex, yet it found its way into the base of a mature oak tree. Staff confirmed to me ...

There's not much to photograph in the way of wildflowers at this time of the year, but without doubt, any walk will throw up something of interest. Here's what I found on a short walk here this day. Most of last year's wildflowers are now history and the spring plants are beginning now to come into flower such as this Hazel tree. Corylus avellana    The next few photos are the seed heads of last year's wildflowers. Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra agg. Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa Traveller's Joy Clematis vitalba  These multi coiled seeds belong to Lucerne. A very similar seed is the closely related Sand Lucerne but their seeds only have 1 to 1.5 coils. Medicago sativa subspecies sativa  The numerous black berries in a pyramidal clump belong to Wild Privet. In this plant, some have fallen or been eaten by birds, mice etc. Ligustrum vulgare I noticed several fungi too; this was a lar...