As the sun was shining and the skies were blue this morning, a welcome change after the grey skies of late, I had a meander around Radipole to see if there were any flowers still out. The first late flowers I came aross were several Hogweed plants, Their usual flowering time is high summer in July and August and they are normally 5-6 feet high. These Hogweeds are quite short, are flowering and seeding themselves in a hurry before the onset of winter. Another plant still in flower is the Yarrow, another late summer bloomer.
Winter Heliotrope is coming into flower now as its name suggests. Its pink and white flowers and large circular leaves provide some welcome winter colour. It's also a reminder that the winter solstice on 21st December is not far away and the days will start getting longer again. Another plant flowering now is the Ivy which provides our feathered friends with berries to sustain them during the winter. On my walk around the reserve I noticed the Buckthorn is loaded with juicy black berries.
There are signs all around the reserve that spring is quietly on the move. Cow Parlsey leaves are coming up in the hedgerows as are Wild Angelica and Hemlock Water Dropwort. Alexanders is the earliest flowering umbellifer, large plants can be seen near the Visitor Centre car park. Alexanders is in bloom from late February/early March. I also came arcross Sweet Violet leaves.
While I was wandering around the reserve, I saw Chaffinches, Long Tailed Tits, Dunnocks, Goldfinches and Greenfinches in the trees, foraging on the ground and in the hedgerows for food. This Robin was watching me and stayed in one place long enough for me to take a photo.
Nice to read your blog. Today I found a yellow primrose surrounded by fallen leaves obviously not worried too much by the colder weather!
Seize the day!