February 2025

end of February lots and lots of rosettes I've seen in the last few days

I'm not sure on this one

Crepis capillaris (I think)

hairy bittercress

claytonia

claytonia

I'm not sure on this one

shepherds purse, a very variable plant

shepherds purse

Crepis vesicaria left, shepherds purse right

Crepis vesicaria

Crepis vesicaria?

Crepis vesicaria?

Crepis vesicaria?

Crepis vesicaria?

Crepis vesicaria?

Crepis vesicaria?

I'm not sure on this one

smooth sow thistle

wood avens

nipplewort

possibly sheep sorrel

another similar plant nearby

21-2-2025 common whitlowgrass (Draba verna) first flowers I've seen this spring

Pleased to see the Drimia maritima (was Urginea maritima) has survived the winter and is growing. I had them before but had to leave them behind when I moved and had not seen them bloom.

I also have a 3rd Drimia bulb but no sign of life yet.

Another bulb which I brought with me and planted them in the ground. I think these two photos are Scilla peruviana but hope they will flower this spring / summer. I have not had good luck with them so far.

The Sainsbury's lupins are doing well.

I have had variable results with ranunculus. I'm never sure when to plant them, in the autumn or early spring. This year, I did start some in the autumn and then bought more recently at Sainsburys which say to start March to May and with the warm weather this week, I decided to start them end of February.

white asphodel seedlings - the long grey-ish green seedlings in the centre of the each pot (except the top left) which have been invaded by a lot of other seedlings

13-2-2025

lots of hoary mustard rosettes

lots of Eastern rocket (Sisymbrium orientale)

Eastern rocket on the left hedge mustard on the right

bristly oxtongue (Helminthotheca echioides)

9-2-2025

beaked hawk's-beard (Crepis vesicaria) looking rather dandelion-ish, challenging shot - had to put my phone through the gaps in the metal barrier of the building site

what I call a Frankenstein plant, two growing together, in this case hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale) growing through beaked hawk's-beard (Crepis vesicaria)

an unusual Crepis vesicaria rosette, initially I thought it looked like a shepherd's purse

three smooth sow thistle rosettes

prickly sow thistle

 

a huge horseweed rosette growing in a wall

two thale cress left, prickly sow thistle right

hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale) really likes this area

update on the Eastern rocket (left) and hedge mustard (right) I saw the other day

Eastern rocket (Sisymbrium orientale) seedlings

smooth hawk's-beard (Crepis capillaris) - easy to identify as it's on my driveway and I've seen it in flower

 

8-2-2025

I saw these yesterday at Sainsburys and thought they were so cute. I love buying garden stuff at Sainsburys as it's easy and affordable. Of course, some products are better than others. Anything about wildflowers and pollinators is my favourite.

Blue and White Wildflowers

back of the can

Pink and White Wildflowers

Beneficial Insect Wildflowers

In addition to the tins, I got a pack of lupins and ranunculus.

I thought I should pot these up as soon as possible.

I love lupins but they are generally destroyed by slugs and snails. I am putting these in pots and putting them on shelves off the ground.

back of the box of ranunculus

clearer view of the back of the box