Adur Wild Flowers 2013

To see a World in a grain of sand,
And Heaven in a wild flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour

William Blake

1 December 2013
A brief cycle ride to Old Shoreham was predictably dull. As it was December I noted Common Toadflax, Sow Thistle, Yarrow and a Common Hogweed still in flower.

I cycled under the Ash branches were hanging heavy with keys almost forming a complete canopy over parts of the Downs Link Cyclepath from Old Shoreham to Upper Beeding. Colour was in the hedge border, full of wild fruits and berries, the red of Hawthorn, Dog Rose (Rose Hips) and Guelder Rose (a honeysuckle) were most noticeable.

17 - 18 May 2013
Hawthorn was flowering at Cuckoo's Corner, as well as Garlic Mustard and Red Campion on the Coombes Road verges.

New flowers spotted for the first time this year on the lower slopes of Mill Hill: Milkwort, Germander Speedwell, Bird's Foot Trefoil, Salad Burnet.
Top part of Mill Hill (southern end) and verges: White Campion, Wild Carrot (white flowers), Hoary Cress.
Waysides and recorded earlier in the year: Corn Salad, Bulbous Buttercups.

9 May 2013
Marsh Marigolds began to flower in my shaded north-facing front garden pond in Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham.

On the verges of the cyclepath I saw my first ever local Snake's Head Fritillaries, Fritillaria meleagris, in flower in the wild. (I have seen them in gardens before usually on the damp beds next to ponds.)

The lower slopes of Mill Hill were covered in scattered clumps of Dog Violets visited by Peacock Butterflies and a patrolling Brimstone Butterfly one Small Tortoiseshell and a single Comma at the northern end. I looked for but could not find a single Horseshoe Vetch flower which means this important caterpillar flower is late this year.

17 April 2013
Ground Ivy and Cowslips are added to the plants in flower. Lesser Celandine was now prevalent on verges and waste places.

Blackthorn and Green Alkanet were spotted in flower for the first time at the southern entrance to the Waterworks Road footpath (which was still blocked off by branches and a fence). Field Speedwell and Lesser Celandine were flowering where I had not seen them before. Hairy Bitter Cress was prevalent on the road verges. The Primroses were noted next to the cyclepath in Old Shoreham south of the Toll Bridge.

14 April 2013

Red Dead-nettle and Groundsel, Old Fort, Shoreham Beach.

Coltsfoot and Lesser Celandine were seen in small clumps on the vegetated bank between Widewater Lagoon and the shingle and the sea. The Snowdrops are almost finished where seen. No Blackthorn flowers were seen. The diminutive Hairy Bitter Cress was commonly seen by the wayside.

2 April 2013
For just a few minutes I felt he brief and weak warmth of the sun from between the white clouds, as I was battered by a chill north-east breeze (Force 5 gusting to Force 6).

20 March 2013
A few flowers of Lesser Celandine were spotted on the western grass verge of the Steyning Road just north of the last house in Old Shoreham.

19 March 2013
Coltsfoot is often the first sign of colour in spring. This flower was seen on the eastern towpath underneath the Railway Viaduct.
Dandelions were also flowering on verges.

The small flower was thought to be a closed up Lesser Celandine despite its very early flowering. Not Winter Aconite, Eranthis hyemalis. Greater Periwinkle was seen flowering in wild gardens and the adjoining verges.
Epiliths


Common Toadflax	Buttercup	Arum	Wayfaring


Dog Violet	Yew	Milkwort	Privet


Privet	Guelder Rose	Ash Keys	Ash Keys


Bittersweet	Holly	Dog Rose	Wayfaring


Sweet Violet	Deadly Nightshade	Carline Thistle	Bramble


Field Speedwell	Green Alkanet	Bittersweet	Hawthorn


Dogwood	Purple Toadflax	Ash branches hanging	heavy with keys


Wild Basil	Wild Basil	Autumn Gentian	Autumn Gentian


Bittersweet	Bittersweet	Scentless Mayweed	Rock Samphire & Sea Kale


Carline Thistle & Cotoneaster	Elderberry	Deadly Nightshade	*Clematis*


Red Bartsia	Devil's Bit Scabious	Great Mullein	Self-heal


Musk Mallow	Red Bartsia	Red Bartsia	Common Toadflax


Marjoram	Common Poppy & Marjoram	Carline Thistle


Hemp Agrimony	Plantain	Rosebay Willowherb & Goldenrod	Red Bartsia & Eyebright


Greater Knapweed	Deadly Nightshade	Deadly Nightshade	Spear Thistle


Evening Primrose	Evening Primrose		Lesser Burdock


Comfrey	Comfrey	*Buddleia*


	Meadow Cranesbill	Wild Carrot	Purple Loosestrife


*Buddleia*	Viper's Bugloss	Fleabane +	Fleabane


Greater Knapweed	Fleabane	Basil	Carline Thistle


Common Eyebright	Teasel	Marjoram	Buddleia on Mill Hill


Ploughman's Spikenard	Traveller's Joy, Clematis	Nettle-leaved Bellflower	Wild Basil


Hardhead (Lesser Knapweed)	Teasel	Scentless Mayweed	Harebell


Creeping Jenny	Marjoram	Fleabane	Lesser Burdock


Vervain	Carline Thistle	Greater Knapweed	Wild Basil


Stemless Thistle	Small Scabious	Small Scabious	Field Scabious


Yellow Wort	Round-headed Rampion	Small Scabious	Knapweed Broomrape


Annual Wall Rocket	Creeping Jenny	Nipplewort	Bristly Ox-tongue


Arrowhead	Meadow Cranesbill	Scarlet Pimpernel	Spotted Orchid & Sedge


Field Bindweed	Fool's Water Cress	Spear Thistle	Teasel	Creeping Thistle


Tufted Vetch	Pyramidal Orchids	Creeping Cinquefoil	Greater Willowherb


Melilot	Centaury	Hardhead (=Lesser Knapweed)	Pyramidal Orchid


Musk Thistle	Musk Thistles	Centaury	Ox-eye Daisies


Creeping Cinquefoil	Creeping Cinquefoil	Silverweed


Lady's Bedstraw	Rosebay Willowherb	Melilot	Scentless Mayweed


Hemp Agrimony	Hedge Woundwort	Rosebay Willowherb	Agrimony	Great Mullein


Tree Mallow with Tamarisk	Creeping Thistle	Yellow-headed Poppy	Lesser Burdock


Restharrow	Common Spotted Orchid	Common Spotted Orchids	Pyramidal Orchid


Yarrow	Navelwort	English Stonecrop	Common Poppy