Continuing my exploration of lichen on ancient stones. This time at Knowlton Henge in Dorset. A Henge built between 2600BC and 2200BC, with a 12th century church built in the middle. It has a particularly rich lichen flora. #lichen #englishheritage @englishheritage.bsky.social

Three days, three Dorset orchid species - oh lucky me ☺️ #orchid

My first Early-purple Orchid (Orchis mascula) of the year - and my third species in three days ! Lucky me ☺️ Dorset 3/4/26 #orchid #dorset

One of my favourite signs of spring, Cuckooflower, also known as Lady’s-smock (Cardamine pratensis). Looking lovely in yesterday’s sunshine. Dorset 2/4/26 #wildflower

I was surprised how advanced these Green-winged Orchids (Anacamptis morio) were in Dorset today. Looking glorious on a sunny day 2/4/26 #orchid #wildflower #dorset

The wonderful Bristly Millipede (Polyxenus lagurus), only a few millimetres long. On a lichen covered church wall in Dorset 2/4/26

A few more Early Spider Orchids (Ophrys sphegodes) from yesterday’s trip to Purbeck. A dull day brightened by these lovely flowers. #orchid #wildflowers #dorset

Well, I managed to wait until April, but I’m a fool for these things 😊 1st April 2026, Purbeck, Dorset. #orchid #dorset

It’s a Raven day 🖤

I explored the arboretum in Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire, for the first time today (despite having a connection to the area for the last 50 years). An amazing place and highly recommended. See ALT text for a lot of detail ! #tree

I’ve finally found a redeeming feature of the overbearing conifer hedge (possibly Leyland Cypress ‘Gold Rider’) adjoining my parents’ house. These exquisite little yellow and black ‘flowers’ (cones).

Death awaits the unwary pollinator ! A Green Crab Spider (Diaea dorsata) lurking among the Blackthorn flowers. #spider

This is (I think) a common but pretty moss called Juniper Haircap (Polytrichum juniperinum), found on a dry lawn in Surrey. Showing the distinctive male ‘flowers’ or splash cups, that appear in spring. #moss

Still looking out for #treeflowers on my walk this morning. These Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) flowers are particularly lovely. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

An interesting flower (with some gone to seed), a new on on me. A Poplar hybrid of some kind I think. #treeflowers #WildflowerHour

Ash trees are having a hard time at the moment, so it was lovely to see one covered in its strange ‘broccoli like’ flowers this week. My favourite choice for #treeflowers #WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Loads of #treeflowers out there at the moment ! Here are a selection of those I’ve found in flower (and a couple still in bud) over the last week or so. See ALT text for details. #WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

The tiny, but beautiful, flowers of Climbing Corydalis (Ceratocapnos claviculata) Dorset 28/3/26 #wildflower #dorset

My annual pilgrimage to this beautiful Dorset churchyard and its naturalised population of Snake’s Head Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris). #wildflower #dorset

Nice to see this Bush Vetch (Vicia sepium) unexpectedly in flower today. Dorset 26/3/26 #wildflower

The beautiful Bride Valley, Dorset, this morning 26/3/26

It’s a (double) Raven day 🖤

Flora found on Abbotsbury hillfort today. See ALT text #wildflower

Today I decided to focus on one small Oak tree near Abbotsbury hill-fort in Dorset - here are some of the lichens, liverworts, mosses and algae I found growing on its trunk and branches. Amazing. #lichen #liverwort #moss #algae #oak

The tiny yellowish/black female flowers of a Lawson’s Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), alongside the scarlet/black male flowers that I’ve posted previously. #tree #treeflower

My first properly flowering Bluebells of the year. Lovely 💜 #wildflower

The plant of the moment, here in Dorset, is Greater Stitchwort (Rabelera holostea). Flowering in starry profusion. #wildflower

It’s a Raven day 🖤

A beautiful Violet Oil Beetle (Meloe violaceus) on Gorse at Abbotsbury hillfort, Dorset 20/3/26 #beetle #insect #dorset

Yews (with their tiny flowers) are steeped in legends of immortality and regeneration. Many consider them sacred, while folklore suggests they protect the dead and offer resurrection. This ancient example is in Eastling, Kent. #storyplants #WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

An important wild crop, Bilberries were used for food, as a dye and as a love token. Traditionally gathered on Bilberry Sunday, the last Sunday in July. These flowers starting to appear in Surrey this week. #storyplants #WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Few plants can have as many legends and stories attached to them as Mistletoe. However, my favourite is in the Asterix stories - it has to be cut with a golden sickle, by druid Getafix, to be the key ingredient of his magic potion 😉 #storyplants #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

It’s a Raven day 🖤

I struggled to capture last night’s lovely sliver of a waxing moon. But it certainly was beautiful to the naked eye #moon

Lots of lovely things to see on my spring equinox walk today. Dorset 20/3/26 See ALT text #SpringEquinox

Comma sunbathing in the ruins of St. Luke’s Chapel, Dorset 20/3/26. #butterfly

It’s a Raven day 🖤

The beautiful Cucumber spider (Araniella cucurbitina) Surrey 19/3/26 #spider #arachnid

Enjoying a beautiful grove of Coastal Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), and their tiny ‘flowers’ - Alice Holt Forest arboretum on the Hampshire/Surrey #redwood #treeflower

The reproductive structures (synnemata) of Seifertia azaleae, an ascomycete fungus that infects the flower buds of azaleas and (in this case) rhododendrons. Found on naturalised plants in coniferous woodland in Farnham, Surrey. See ALT text for more detail. 17/3/26

Still very much obsessed with tree flowers. These little beauties belong to what I think is a Lawson’s Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), native to North America and introduced to the U.K. The amount of pollen coming off them was incredible ! #treeflower

Lots of #WhiteFlowers out there this week, but the queen is Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Absolutely beautiful and with the promise of that sloe gin to come ! #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Plenty of #WhiteFlowers out there for the #wildflowerhour challenge this week! See ALT text for details of my favourites including that lovely white Violet. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

The tiny weirdness that is the flower of a Yew tree (Taxus baccata). Amazing to think that this little thing could be the progenitor of an organism that can live for millennia. #wildflowerhour

Nectria sp. (I think) on Oak. Dorset 11/3/26 #fungi #FungiFriends

What a lovely sight. Wild Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) growing en masse at Powerstock Common NR today 11/3/26 @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

What a lovely Dorset day 11/3/26

Before and after. Top, the mature sporangia (0.5 - 1mm) of slime mould Badhamia sp. (probably B.utricularis). A couple of days later (below) the sporangia have burst open to expose the spores within. Dorset 10/3/26

Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) found on the floor of the local pub’s gents 😮 I washed my hands after ! #newt #amphibian

One of my favourite #SignsOfSpring , pussy willow. In this case Osier or Basket Willow (Salix viminalis). #WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social