Thanks, Moira. V. hirta makes sense to me. The species is hardly found in my area, which makes it all the more delightful that my daughter spotted it in Kent, even though she’s not a botanist. 🌿🌼
Thank you Helen!
A golden carpet of daffodils glowing in the sunshine at St Gregory & St Martin Church in Wye, Kent. Not native, but still a glorious #SignsOfSpring 🌼
#WildflowerHour
Violets are my #SignsOfSpring. As a child, I loved the beautiful scent of the yellow and orange violets in my grandparents’ garden. Now, in my own garden, Sweet Violet is in bloom, and this Dog-violet (?) was found by my daughter this week at Wye Down.
#WildflowerHour
Just received some lovely photos from my daughter, who was out walking around Wye Down and Devil’s Kneading Trough today. Stunning views and a delightful preview of the orchid-hunting day I’ll be doing with @mariposanature.bsky.social on 30 May.
Great initiative! A colleague of mine has installed several swift nest boxes on his house and now has a colony of at least ten pairs!
Absolutely thrilled to spot a Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) — my very first one!
What a joy to visit this remarkable Galanthus collection today! Nestled in a public park and cared for with love by one of our volunteers, it features over 40 varieties — from charming single flowers to opulent doubles — each with its own unique color and character.
Also popping up in the verge by my house — not quite in full bloom yet, but same kind of spot!
Such pretty and uplifting colors!
With the mild weather, more and more flowers are popping up — like my first lesser celandine, dandelion, Primrose, Cornelian cherry, Fingered speedwell, and Wall speedwell.
Thanks to #WildflowerHour for this fab #TheWinter10 — I really enjoyed it! 😄
Stunning photo, Fran!! They’re looking great at the moment — mine have popped up in my garden as well.
To mark meteorological spring, I went hunting for 10 shades of crocus for #TheWinter10 in the grass outside my house #WildflowerHour 🌸
Trust my daughter to kick off Canterbury with a Helleborus celebration — perfect timing for her dad’s #WildflowerHour
Had a great conversation with the team behind the KNMI Met Office podcast today, talking all things weather and climate, under perfect spring sunshine.
My old pond is making way for a new one. It’s incredible what is living in just 3 by 2 meters — 70 Smooth Newts and hundreds of dragonfly larvae, all saved and moved to safety.
Many thanks for your wonderful research — I greatly valued your findings in my article
Goodbye frost and snow, hello flowers! At last, a more spring-like #TheWinter10, featuring five plants from my wildlife garden and five from my local area. #WildflowerHour 🌸
The article is published in the winter/spring issue of the Dutch Weather Magazine, titled Flowering Plants as a Signal for Climate Change
Inspired by excellent research from @bsbibotany.bsky.social and @metoffice.gov.uk, I wrote an article on how climate change is impacting plant flowering times.
The British research is also highly relevant for the NL, as we are seeing more flowering species during the Dutch #NewYearPlantHunt 🌱❄️
Huge thanks to our volunteers for their great work improving habitat for the Red-Listed Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus) and other heathland species despite the chilly weather! 🦋
#butterfly #conservation
A wonderful morning soundtrack: trumpet vibes from a flock of Cranes flying over my house. 🎺
Spring here takes patience, but progress is showing. Helleborus, crocuses and the first Chrysosplenium buds are appearing, alongside the familiar
#Thewinter10 plants I’ve been seeing these past weeks #WildflowerHour
My Dover Chalk Down Dwarf Thistle made it through the winter inside and is thriving! Tiny spikes are already showing on the second pair of leaves 🌱
#WildflowerHour
Out in the field today with the BinnensteBuiten TV crew, filming amazing stream valleys where groundwater brings incredible biodiversity to life! 🎬🌿💚
Three new arrivals in my #WildflowerHour week & #TheWinter10: Stinking Hellebore, Common Whitlowgrass, and Chinese Witch Hazel.
Meanwhile, Red dead-nettle continues to bloom, brave and persistent, despite the cold and freezing rain.
Exploring the possibilities of habitat improvement for the Red-Listed Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus) this week. 🦋
Starting this project in a few weeks!
#butterfly #conservation
Congratulations to you all! Looking forward to exploring Kent together on the orchid tour at the end of May!
Freezing rain. Even the dog was struggling to keep its footing..
6:30am. Loud amber warning on my phone ⚠️. Freezing rain.
Not an exaggeration, as it turned out in the daylight.
