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.