Ragwort in the rain.
Sunrise: 05.17 am Sunset: 09.13 pm
The only blooms in Hoo Wood at the moment are ragwort and Himalayan balsam, and precious few of these. The weather has been so hot and dry lately that many of the plants have wilted. However, we have had a few heavy rain storms over the last couple of days and the vegetation is responding positively.
recovering beautifully!
They are, Angela.
You have helped me identify flowers, thanks. In Hilly Fields and Cymbeline Meadows there is greater diversity of flowers. Why so little diversity in your area?
This year’s weather conditions will have something to do with it, but the main reason is likely to be Cholchester’s chalky soil.
Here in Colchester it is sand/gravel on a clay base. Chalk is further west of Colchester around Saffron Walden area.
I see. Perhaps it’s that my blog doesn’t reflect enough of the plant life in Hoo Wood, or on Wilden Marsh. This might be more useful, Alex: http://www.wbrc.org.uk/WORCRECD/issue_31/Day_John–Vascular_Plants_table_Wilden_Marsh.html
Thanks for the interesting list Mike 🙂
Those areas I mention are in Colchester.