Wildflower List, Home Patch, 2021-2024

 

Painted Lady on Red Valerian, Home patch, 2022

 My fledgling list of wildflowers seen in the garden ...

I have decided to build on a previous list of wildflowers found in our suburban Suffolk garden. Having begun by date of sighting, it seems sense to continue to record in this way. 

If you would like to see my garden list of creatures, you will find it here. And these are the flowers:

 

1. Daisy (20  February 2021)

2. Violet (18 March 2021)

3. Chickweed (19 March 2021)

4. Dandelion (19 March 2021)

5. Herb Robert (9 April 2021)

6. Red valerian (29 March 2021)

7. Goosegrass (with white flowers) (21 May 2021)

8. Buttercup (21 May 2021)

9. Red dead nettle (21 May 2021)

10. Common storksbill (24 May 2021)

11. Red clover (25 May 2021)

12. Poppy (9 June 2023)

13. Small Flowered Cranesbill (9 June 2023)

14. Lesser trefoil (9 June 2023)

15. Wood forget-me-not (9 June 2023)

16. Wood avens (9 June 2023)

17. Purple oxalis (9 May 2023)

18. Aquilegia (?vulgaris) (9 May 2023)

19. Common ragwort (25 May 2024)

20. Pink valerian (25 May 2024)

21. Ribwort plantain (25 May 2024)

22. Bramble/Blackberry flower (25 May 2024)

23. Common cat's ear (25 May 2024)

24. Harebell (25 May 2024)

25. Sow thistle (25 May 2024)

26. Ivy (25 May 2024)

#30DaysWild, Day 8, Wild or Not-So-Wild Flowers in the Garden

 

For the last ten years I have wondered what this small plant might be. I have made a quick search every so often but have failed to trace the species. I don't think I am entirely there now, but I feel I am heading in the right direction for this evening I finally discovered that it is a variety of Oxalis, a plant related to Wood Sorrel. As soon as I saw the word, something felt right. 

The plant in the photo above, with its distinctive five-petalled flowers and burgundy, almost shamrock-shaped leaves, grows outside our patio door between paving slabs. I have no idea how it came to take root in this spot, but it is always a joy to see. 

I am not entirely sure that it qualifies for a #30DaysWild post as it seems it can be bought in garden centres, but since I have found it described as 'weedy ground-cover', I think it can just squeak into my garden wildflower list ...

1. Daisy (20  February)

2. Violet (18 March)

3. Chickweed (19 March)

4. Dandelion (19 March)

5. Herb Robert (9 April)

6. Red Valerian (29 March)

7. Goosegrass (with tiny white flowers) (21 May)

8. Buttercup (21 May)

9. Red Dead Nettle (21 May)

10. Common Storksbill (24 May)

11. Red Clover (25 May)

12. Oxalis (8 June)

13. Cut-leaved Cranesbill (8 June)

14. Cat's Ear (8 June)

15. Ox-eye Daisy (8 June)

16. Meadow Salsify (16 June)

17. Smooth Sow-thistle (16 June)

 

 

 

 I wonder what will emerge next ...

Wildflowers in our Wild Garden

 

Two more flowers for the list ...

 

 My fledgling list of wildflowers seen in the garden ...

1. Daisy (20  February)

2. Violet (18 March)

3. Chickweed (19 March)

4. Dandelion (19 March)

5. Herb Robert (9 April)

6. Red Valerian (29 March)

7. Goosegrass (with tiny white flowers) (21 May)

8. Buttercup (21 May)

9. Red Dead Nettle (21 May)

10. Common Storksbill (24 May)

11. Red Clover (25 May)

 

I am finding it a bit of a challenge to distinguish between the wild 'weeds' and the wild 'flowers'. We have nettles and goosegrass growing at the moment; but since these do not have obvious flowers, I have not counted them. We also have a stalk of Aquilegia, and having read this page, I am wondering whether it ought to be included since it seems it is not the 'garden escape' I asssumed it to be, but rather a British wildflower that has become domesticated!

 

The Garden Today

 

My fledgling list of wildflowers seen in the garden in 2021 has doubled today.

1. Daisy (20  February)

2. Violet (18 March)

3. Chickweed (19 March)

4. Dandelion (19 March)

The Chickweed was tiny and was almost hidden in between paving slabs, but the Dandelion was positively shining in the sunlight, our first decent sunlight for days.

There were quite a few 7-spot Ladybirds and even more Pine ones, including a mating pair. You can see the distinctive rim in the photo below. These ladybirds are very small.

 

The photo below shows the difference in size between the two varieties.

 

 I noticed one snail in between some old planks of decking.  

Unfortunately I could not really see the lip of its shell to see if it was brown. I gather we are likely to return to dark cloud tomorrow so I expect I will have to wait a bit longer for my first butterfly. My earliest Bee-fly sighting here in Suffolk was on 24th March, so perhaps I will see one of these this year before a Peacock, Red Admiral or Brimstone graces our garden.