2020 - Adding New Species to my List

I will certainly be glad to see the back of 2020 - the year of Covid 19. I have not recorded as many plants and creatures as usual as I have not been going out any more than I have to. Even in our own garden, I don't want to hang around or handle things more than necessary. However, I have managed to add 53 new species to my lists. Of these, 25 are species that I have not seen before.  Here are some of them.

 

Field Penny Cress - 1 Jan, Uckfield

The year started normally, with the now traditional BSBI New Year Plant hunt. I found a few plants in flower outside Barney's Play Barn. Not only was the Field Penny Cress (Thlaspi arvense) new to my personal species list but it was new for Uckfield's "square" on the map.  

Winter Heliotrope - 1 Jan, Uckfield

Another new entry was Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans). For the first time, I noticed the great mass of it on the London Road, just South of the Ringles. 

Lecidella elaeochroma - 16 Feb, Uckfield

February winds often blow branches down, bringing lichens to my level. The one shown is Lecidella elaeochroma, with its distinctive black fruiting bodies.

Common Pincushion moss - 7 March, Staplefield

At the beginning of March, I went to the Sussex Botanical Recording Society meeting at Staplefield. For those that don't remember the "before times", a meeting is when loads of people get together to discuss matters of common interest. In this case it also entailed a visit to a "pub" where a group of botanists shared a convivial meal. On a wall at its entrance, I found a species of moss that I had not noticed before, the Common Pincushion (Dicranoweisia cirrata).

Canary Grass - 7 June, Uckfield

A week or two after this, Covid 19 started spreading across the country and the Government directed us to "lockdown". A few weeks later, the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland responded by asking people to do the BSBI Garden Wildflower Hunt. Between April and September, I found over a hundred species including a couple that I have never encountered before. I suspect that the Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis) shown is from some stray bird seed. It even won me a little prize in a photo competition.

Spotted Longhorn beetle - 14 Jun, Uckfield

Summer brought all manor of flying insects to the garden including the Spotted Longhorn beetle (Rutpela maculata).

Tawny Longhorn beetle - 12 July, Uckfield

In the first few months of the pandemic, I wasn't happy about the gardener coming to mow the grass. Although I mowed it myself, I left more of the flowers, including the Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), to bloom. As a reward, I was treated to visits from a Tawny Longhorn beetle (Paracorymbia fulva).

Orange Swift - 15 Aug, our kitchen

As we moved into summer, moths started to appear. Mum found one of our new species, an Orange Swift (Triodia sylvina) in our kitchen. 

Broom Fork-moss - 14 Sept, Ashdown Forest

In September, Mum and I finally managed a proper outing, to Ashdown Forest. After enjoying the views and catching a glimpse of what might have been a Red Kite, I noticed this little Broom Fork-moss (Dicranum scoparium) growing by the path back to the car park.

Upright Corel fungus - 13 Oct, Uckfield

While hanging around waiting for Mum to come out her podiatrist appointment, I found an Upright Corel (Ramaria stricta) fungus at the bottom of a hedge.

Dog's vomit slime mould - 21 Nov, Uckfield

After doing a run, I cut across the Dene to avoid some people on the path and found the revoltingly named Dog's vomit slime mould (Mucilago crustacea).

Witches butter - 26 Dec, Uckfield

In the last few days of the year, I had a look round the garden to see what I could find. The strange yellow blob that appeared on one of our old oak logs is Witches butter (Tremella aurantia), which grows on other fungi.

I am already planning my next New Year Plant Hunt. This time, it's not about timing my arrival at The Station pub to coincide with opening. Instead, it is about how to find some flowers without encountering too many people.

BSBI Garden Wildflower Hunt - 6th (Last) Survey

 On the 13th of September, two and a half months after the 5th survey, I completed the 6th and final survey of our garden wild flowers.  Previously, I had been doing surveys once every few weeks but the rush of growth has slowed right down and I had to wait for the new plants to grow big enough for identification.

This time, there were just four new species to add to the list.

The first of these was Fat-hen (Chenopodium album). According to to Mabey's Flora Britannica, this member of the spinach family, was a popular crop during pre-historic times. 

Another was Junglerice (Echinochloa colona), which was growing near the bird table - maybe this came from the bird seed.  The other two newcomers to the list were Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) and Goat Willow (Salix caprea).

Many of the plants, I recorded as flowers in spring are now fruiting.  

The hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) has fine red berries.

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) berries have a gentle blue bloom.

The Acorns (Quercus robur) have reached their full size.

Meanwhile, some summer flowers such as Catsear (Hypochaeris radicata) have kept on flowering for weeks.

There has been some very unseasonable behaviour from some spring flowers. The Marsh Marigold (Caltha Palustris) is having a second flush of flowers.  In the Uckfield area, I have seen both hawthorn and apple in blossom.

For the BSBI Garden Wild Flower Hunt, I have recorded a total of 107 species of wildflowers and plants, of which:

• 79 probably occurred naturally in our garden
• 28 were sown or planted.

I was amazed to get so many - especially finding species that I had not noticed before.  The other surveys were:

• 10th April 2020
• 25th April 2020
• 16th May 2020
• 6th June 2020
• 27th June 2020
• 13th September 2020

BSBI Garden Wildflower Hunt - 5th Survey

Another 3 weeks - and a vist by the man with the lawn mower (sorry) - have sped by and it is time for another survey.

Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) making itself at home in the border.

Last time it was all about grasses and the pea flowers such as Birds-Foot Trefoil and White Clover. As June progressed, the sprinkling of White Clover has been joined by the rich purple of Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris), which has also spread into the borders.

Broad-leaved willowherb (Epilobium montanum)

Willowherbs started appearing a few weeks ago. Last time, I was able to identify one and now Hoary Willowherb (Epilobium parviflorum) and Broad-leaved willowherb (Epilobium montanum) are mature enough to identify.  Their more glamorous relation, Large-Flowered Evening Primrose (Oenothera glazioviana) has self-sown near our front hedge.

Crested Dog's Tail (Cynosurus cristatus) 

Much to my surprise, I found a Crested Dog's Tail (Cynosurus cristatus) grass in a rough area not far from the compost heap.  I can only suppose it is because our first visit from the gardener was much later than usual due to the lockdown.

Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis)

I also found Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis), which may have been from bird seed spillage.

The remaining new entries include Vervain (Valerian officinalis), which first arrived some years ago and has popped up randomly ever since. We introduced Reflexed Stonecrop (Sedum rupestre) and Common Meadow Rue (Thalictrum flavum) ourselves.

Two of my favourite deliberate introductions have started flowering and attracting pollinators.

Wild Carrot (Daucus carota sspn carota)

Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis)

I sprinkled Wild Carrot (Daucus carota sspn carota) seed that I collected in Leatherhead and the Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis) I bought in as tiny plug plants some years ago.


Combining my five counts, I have recorded 103 wildflowers of which:

• 75 probably occurred naturally in our garden
• 28 were sown or planted.

BSBI Garden Wildflower Hunt - 4th Survey

It's just eight weeks since I did the first Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland #GardenWildFlowerHunt.  In that time, we have gone from Wood Anemones (Wood anemone) and the first skinny little bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) to swishing grasses and pea flowers of all sorts.

Swishing grasses on the North slope.

Many of the long grasses on the North-facing slope can now be identified. The Sweet Vernal Grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum) that I saw flowering on the second survey (25th April) has been joined by Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), Tufted Hair Grass (Deschampsia cespitosa), Red Fescue (Festuca rubra agg.), Yorkshire Fog (Holcus lanatus) and Smooth Meadow Grass (Poa pratensis).

White Clover (Trifolium repens)

In the back lawn, the creeping buttercups have been joined by white clovers (Trifolium repens) and the hum of bumblebees feeding on them.

Common Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).

Yellow pea flowers of all sorts have been appearing such as tiny Black Medick (Prunus spinosa) and the much showier Common Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and Meadow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis).

Heath Speedwell (Veronica officinalis)

The early speedwells have given way to the the delicate, lilac Heath Speedwell (Veronica officinalis).

Corncockle (Agrostemma githago) flowers towering over modern wheat.

The flowers and grasses mentioned so far arrived under their own steam. I planted Corncockle (Agrostemma githago) seeds, given to us by a neighbour some years ago. Every year, I shake the big, heavy seeds into the garden and they have kept going ever since. This year, I added some wheat to make more of a cornfield environment for them and was amused when I realised that modern wheat was much shorter than the old varieties and so, the Corncockles just towered above them.

Combining my four counts, I have recorded 93 wildflowers of which:

• 69 probably occurred naturally in our garden
• 24 were sown or planted.

BSBI Garden Wildflower Hunt - 3rd Survey

Another 3 weeks has passed since I did the second BSBI Garden Wildflower Hunt. Although the weather continues dry and warm, the pace seems to have slowed down a little.

Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea)

We are getting to some of the bigger, showier flowers such as Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea). I think that these were introduced.

Red Campion (Silene dioica)

When my parents first arrived, there was a Red Campion (Silene dioica) already growing in the garden. Various creatures ate it and the Fallow Deer that used to visit the garden were the final straw and it expired. On an impulse, I planted replacement ones, along with some Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi) last year.

Procumbent Yellow Sorrel (Oxalis corniculata)

There are still plenty of weeds popping up. The Procumbent Yellow Sorrel (Oxalis corniculata). This was actually introduced by gardeners by 1656 and has been spreading ever since.

Hairy Sedge (Carex hirta)

More grasses and sedges are beginning to show and become identifiable.  There were plenty that I recognised from previous years such as Barren Brome (Anisantha sterilis), Grey Sedge (Carex divlsa ss divulsa) etc.  However, there was one that was new to me, Hairy Sedge (Carex hirta).

Combining my three counts, I have recorded 77 wildflowers of which:

• 57 probably occurred naturally in our garden
• 20 were sown or planted.

BSBI Garden Wildflower Hunt - 2nd Survey

It's two weeks since I did the first BSBI Garden Wildflower Hunt. Then I found 48 wild flowers (including trees, grasses and ferns).  Since then, the weather has been fine and dry, causing the Spring to race forward.

English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

In my first survey, the Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) were just beginning to come out. Now they are fully out and some are beginning to fade before we have even reached May.

Bugle (Ajuga repans) and Thyme leaved speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia)

I haven't been mowing the grass on the slope so the previously inconspicuous wisps of Thyme leaved speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia) have filled the grass with tiny white flowers.

Hairy-footed flower bee on Bugle (Ajuga repans) 

After some indecision, I decided that our Bugle (Ajuga repans) was a wild plant rather than the darker-leaved garden variety that we introduced. As you can see from the photo is popular with bees.

Cuckoo flowers (Cardamine pratensis)

A number of spring flowers such as Cuckoo flowers (Cardamine pratensis) and Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) had gone from tight buds to full flower.

Field Forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis)

The Field Forget-me-nots (Myosotis arvensis) had progressed even faster, going from insignificant bunches of leaves to full flower in just a fortnight.

Welsh Poppy (Meconopsis cambrica)

Other plants that had made dramatic progress in the two weeks included Welsh Poppies (Meconopsis cambrica), whose ancestors came from seeds given to us by a neighbour.

Grasses and Sedges

I also found a number of grasses including Sweet Vernal Grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum) and Meadow Foxtail (Meadow foxtail).

Combining my two counts, I found 65 wildflowers of which:

• 50 probably occurred naturally in our garden
• 15 were sown or planted.

BSBI Garden Wildflower Hunt

It is just a few short weeks since my last post. When we were trimming the old trees in Lime Tree Avenue, the COVID19 crisis was casting shadows across the spring. Over the last few weeks, the situation escalated. I'm very lucky that I can work at home. Even so, I am very scared of bringing the virus home with the shopping and worn out with juggling work, learning how to be effective as part of a scattered team and getting the essentials into the house. On the other hand, I have been heartened by the community response and that of our incredible "key workers" from too many roles to mention.

Setting up for the hunt

The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland has responded to the situation by launching the #GardenWildFlowerHunt - so on Good Friday, I searched our garden for both the classic spring wild flowers and the weeds that I keep meaning to pull up. It was lovely to switch off the anxiety and focus on finding and identifying wildflowers.

Good Friday Grass (Luzula campestris)

I started by looking at the rather mossy patch of grass at the front of the house.  I found Dandelions and Catsear, as well as Field Wood Rush (Luzula campestris), otherwise known as Good Friday Grass.

Silver Birch ((Betula pendula)

I suffer from hayfever and so can't help noticing that the Silver Birch trees (Betula pendula) are flowering and shedding golden pollen.

Wood Anemones (Anemone nemorosa)

At the Birch's feet, there are lovely dainty Wood Anemones (Anemone nemorosa). Most of them are pure white but there was just one plant with pink backs to its petals and a very delicate pink flush on its face.

Primroses (Primula vulgaris) and Dog Violets (Viola riviniana)

Primroses (Primula vulgaris) occur naturally in our garden but I have added to them to get a decent "ribbon" flowing down the slope. The photo shows them mixed up with naturally occurring Dog Violets (Viola riviniana).

Cowslips (Primula veris)

Over the years, we have introduced some of the showier wild flowers. Mum scattered cowslip (Primula veris) seeds about 30 years ago and they have been romping round the garden ever since. The BSBI form allows introduced wildflowers to be marked as such.

Honesty (Lunaria annua)

Last year I made a contribution of my own by scattering Honesty (Lunaria annua) near Dad's old leaf bin.

Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia)

I found various "weeds" too such as the Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia) pictured, dandelions and many more.

English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

Even though we are less than two weeks into April, the Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) are already beginning to flower.  I have to check carefully for hybrids with the Spanish bluebell but I think that I have eliminated the few interlopers.

In total, I found 48 species of wildflower of which:

• 38 almost certainly got to our garden under their own steam
• 10 were sown or planted.