A Botanical Journey mostly from Kent & SE England

These hills form the eastern side of the north downs that are cut in two by the River Darent and its associated valley. The hills are made of chalk and thus any open areas are species rich and well managed woodland comes alive with flowers at this time of the year. Thankfully, I didn't have to walk up any hills as there is a path off the north downs way that takes you to the area without too much exertion. Here's some of what we found this day. The first part of the walk was through woodland which was ablaze with carpets of Bluebells. These native plants were giving off a heady scent on this warm, sunny spring day and we stopped a few times just to take it all in and to re-charge the soul. Hyacinthoides non-scripta We tend to take these sights for granted, but the UK has more carpets of Bluebells than any other country in the world. Quite why that is doesn't seem to be explained anywhere! All the usual woodland plants were in flower, i

This day out covered some nice but easy walks along the North Foreland cliffs and Samphire Hoe on the east coast of Kent. I'll start off with the short walk along the North Foreland which is just to the north of Broadstairs. The footpath runs along a clifftop through a private estate full of big, posh houses. Unknown to me at that time was that the area is home to lots of Lizard Orchids in June. I have to say though that I didn't see any rosettes, which are usually quite obvious.   First up was an arable field edge by the cliff edge where there were plenty of the humble Pineappleweed.  Matricaria discoidea What made this one unusual was that it was fasciated, as were several others in this field. Fasciated stems are produced due to abnormal activity in the growing tip of the plant. Often, an abnormal number of flowers are produced on affected stems and commonly some look like conjoined twins. Splashes of colour along the cliffs were mad

While I am recovering from my operation, my travels are somewhat limited. As such, my recording trips are less arduous than normal and this one was on a flat country lane. However, it is surprising what can be found on foot, that are all completely missed by those whizzing past in their cars (me included normally). Cuckooflowers are on their way out now for another year, so it was good to find an all white flowered form by the roadside.  Cardamine pratensis f. albus Wood Spurge don't only grow in woods. They are also found on some beaches, field edges and here by the roadside. The flowers look particularly bright and fresh at this time of the year. Euphorbia amygdaloides subspecies amygdaloides Herb Robert will now flower on into the winter months, but it is now when their flowers are the brightest pink. Geranium robertianum Spotted Medick can be found almost anywhere in much of Kent. Their leaves with the joined triangular dark blotches are e

Scotney Castle is right on the Kent border with East Sussex. However, the house and its grounds lie in VC14, botanical Sussex and not Kent so any finds go to that county recorder. It's an interesting place for both planted and wild flowers, though it is the latter I am concentrating on today (as usual). Nearest the car park is the house with its SSSI lawns. Growing here are wild Green-winged Orchids, often hundreds of them. However, it was too early and for them and I couldn't find any up, though I did find several rosettes. I then started talking to one of the gardeners about leaving me some "weeds" to photograph and she mentioned one orchid was actually in flower on the lawns. I went back and looked again, and yes, there was just the one orchid hiding in the grasses.  it was very small and so easily missed, but clearly in flower. By the beginning of May there will be a fine display on this lawn of thes orchids, along with several on the estate walk ass well (bl