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

Paris in Denbighshire

Having seen this late in the season last year, I was keen to see when it would come up this year. And the answer - very quickly in the last 3 weeks! Not a sign in the last weekend in March, and then last weekend (19th April) here it is, looking almost ready to flower. Always a special plant to see. This patch is unusual because it is in beech plantation with sycamore - planted about 1960 - and apparently not in an area of ancient woodland.

Paris quadrifolia - Herb Paris

BSBI meeting on 19th March at the National Museum of Wales

Members having a go at mounting specimens at the open day to the Welsh National Herbarium. They are mounting specimens collected by T.B. Ryves from around the world. Ryves is the BSBI referee for alien grasses.