Tag: identification

April 27th – A mystery finally solved. I first noticed this patch of what appear to be yellow dead nettles in Footherly Lane a few years ago. Every spring they return, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen them anywhere else.

This eye-catching yellow display is absolutely gorgeous and fascinated me for the delicate colour and intricacy of the flowers.

After asking online, it turns out the plant is Yellow Archangel or Lamiastrum galeobdolon and indeed is of the same family as the dead nettle, and a staple of our ancient woodlands.

What on earth did we do before being able to use the collective hive mind of the internet for plant identification?

May 28th – I took loads of photos of flowers on the canal bank tonight. They looked super in the rain.

Sadly, the lens had an unnoticed rain smear on it and they were all terrible. Such is life.

I did manage to record more marsh orchids. Not sure if they’re the same kind as the northern marsh orchids of yesterday – these are some way away – but they look similar. I’m fascinated by them, as they seem to be recent arrivals here. I’m sure I’d have noticed such a gorgeous flower before. 

Thanks to Susan, Guest and Indesperateneedofsomeadventures for wildflower identification corrections and advice yesterday. I’ve come to the conclusion I’ll never be any cop with botany. I really am useless with the flowers.

However, I have decided my guide book is cobblers – I’m using the Collins Guide, and the pictures are too small (which explains maybe why I default to mallow!) – what guide would folks recommend? The internet isn’t much use for identifying flora and fauna.

Suggestions gratefully received!

On that gorse/broom thing…

I was always told by my old man that it was gorse. So I called it this for years. Last year, I posted a picture and a somewhat irritable commenter told me it was broom, not gorse. Not checking, I took their word for it.

Linda and others, you are quite right, that’s Gorse and I am now finally clued up. 

Cheers to all who drew my attention to it. I do like to get stuff right, and if ever I’m wrong, feel free to point it out. I want to get stuff right.

Personally, I blame the Welsh.

Cheers
Bob