#bythesea Carrot, Bugloss just, Sea Mayweed and Yellow-horned Poppy from Seasalter Kent for @wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Just managed to catch the Violet Helleborines (Epipactis purpurata) in Savernake before they go over completely. Mysterious and absolutely beautiful still. @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Looking through photos of several Epipactis seen 2/7/26 at Sandscale Haws Cumbria, when looking for E. dunensis and consulting Cole & Waller p.138, I am now happy these are E. phyllanthes, Green-flowered Helleborine. @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

A record shot of one minute's rain, so we can remember what it looked like. And a bouquet of Purple Loosestrife and Common Fleabane for #wildflowerhour @kentfieldclub.bsky.social

The sky-blue flowers of Chicory (Cichorium intybus) are a most welcome sight in our sere roadside verges. As with many familiar plants it is usually worth a closer look every now and again. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

We never used to see Jersey Tigers here in our bit of North Wilts but the last year or two there have been quite a few. Here’s one obligingly showing off its striped camouflage on flowering Traveller’s Joy (Clematis vitalba). Pleased with the body shot. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Also from Roundway Hill nr Devizes two days ago a remarkably pale Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis). Admittedly not as pretty as bluish-lilac but very eye catching nonetheless. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Plenty of wonderful Round-headed Rampion (Phyteuma orbiculare) in the scorched grass on Roundway Hill near Devizes yesterday. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Pale Butterwort (Pinguicula lusitanica) in a Dartmoor bog @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Three collages of just some of the plants #StillFlowering in N. Wilts. for this week's #wildflowerhour challenge. IDs provided in ALT Text. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Three collages of Bellflowers #StillFlowering in N. Wilts. for this week's #wildflowerhour challenge. IDs provided in ALT Text. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata) our now for a week at least here in North Wilts. Always a joy to see as summer progresses. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Excellent numbers of Gatekeepers or Hedge Browns (Pyronia tithonus), this male sunning on bramble but most were nectaring on Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) laneside in North Wilts this morning. They flew up in quite a respectable cloud as I approached. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

As the climate changes, so flowering times are changing. To help you keep track of these changes in phenology, any time you look up 1 of c3.5K plants on the Plant Atlas website, there's a useful phenology tab you can click on. Try it for Narrow-lipped Helleborine: plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9...

Dr Richard Bate@thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 3w ago

10/7/26 #Gloucestershire - The Narrow-Lipped Helleborine (Epipactis leptochila) is a Southern speciality in Britain. This lovely plant was the only one still in flower at the sites I visited. 25 years ago I'd have waited until August to look for these #orchids #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Two gorgeous plants from Lakeland bogs and mires, Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) and Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum). 30th June, Wrynose Pass. @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

A rather late Early Marsh Orchid, (Dactylorhiza incarnata) 3rd July Sandscale Haws, Cumbria. Just this one. @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Astonishing hybrid vigour with these classic Northern Marsh X Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza x venuster) at Sandscale Haws Cumbria, hundreds like this but mostly now over. @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

One of the many joys of Sandscale Cumbria, is the profusion of the delightfully pretty Wild Pansy (Viola tricolour Ssp curtisii) and their endlessly varied colours. For #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Sandscale Haws was amazing but the best find there on the rarity scale was Dune Helleborine (Epipactis dunensis) of which six plants found. @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Also from Sandscale Haws the lovely Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) just beginning to flower. @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

A visit today to the superb Sandscale Haws nature reserve, Cumbria, produced some lovely finds including several Round-leaved Wintergreen plants (Pyrola rotundifolia) just coming into flower. @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

A few plants seen along the River Parrett in Langport today - Blue-water Speedwell (Veronica anagallis-aquatica), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) & Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia) 🪷🌿🌾 @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Correction to the last…of course. (Epipactis atrorubens)

Very happy to find three Dark Red Helleborines (Epipactis palustris) including one peachy one at Gait Barrows NNR, nr Arneside today. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social

Sea Milkwort (Glaux maritime) from the lovely Solway, Cumbria. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

An obliging Flower Crab Spider with prey on Field Scabious in our ‘wild garden’. #nomow

Always a handy tip if in any doubt as to Small or Field Scabious, Small has the dark bristle tipped bracts underneath the flower head and Field does not, as can be clearly seen here. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Please consider signing this petition to save the Botanic Gardens in Dundee, my home town. The gardens are a place of learning, solace and inspiration, and are cherished by both Dundonians and visitors to the city. Its closure would be a terrible loss. c.org/syGLMR2NQL

Sign the Petition

Save Dundee Botanic Gardens and cafe

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A clump of Zig Zag Clover from a road verge at Widemouth Bay, Cornwall today for #wildflowerhour Trifolium medium

6 Red veined darter in Kingsgate Park Yate this morning @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @bristolbirding.bsky.social