Toothed Medick at Cardiff Bay

I found lots of Toothed Medick at Cardiff Bay while trying out my BSBI walk I am leading there tomorrow.

Spring in the woods in Flintshire

This was my first local group outing of the year - the Flintshire group visited a beautiful wood, where the owner has been clearing bramble along the paths, and it seems to have had good results with the ground flora. It was a beautiful day to be out in the woods.
This was the first early purple orchid of the year for me.

Orchis mascula - Early-purple orchid

Goldilocks buttercup was found in large patches.

Ranunculus auricomus -  Goldilocks buttercup

Lunchtime saw keying out of tricky specimens...

Photo: Mike Klymko

Dandelions - a bit late!

Several people have already blogged about the dandelions workshop a few weeks ago. But I thought I'd add a few photos to show I was there at least on the first day. So here is John Richards in action, measuring a bract on a dandelion, and here are two of our North Wales Vice-county recorders writing notes (especially Wendy McCarthy from Caernarvonshire as she had to keep track of all the new records for the county. And finally, a collection of dandelions in the lab, carefully labelled and waiting for examination by members of the course.

Fumaria purpurea at Gileston, Glamorgan

Purple Ramping-fumitory was last recorded from Gilestown in 1975, I came across the record on the DDb, went and had a look today 5th May, there were scattered plants around the car park - the flowers turn purple with age.

Adder's-tongue - Ophioglossum vulgatum

I was driving down to the coast today a little west of Barry and saw a field covered in cowslips. Stopped to take a look and found lots of Adder's-tongue.

Wilson' Filmy-fern on South Stack, Anglesey

 Wilson's Filmy-fern

Site of Wilson's Filmy-fern on South Stack