Snowdrop Time

Its that time of year again when everyone should find some time to stop and enjoy the snowdrops. I had convinced myself they were late this year, but looking back to last year's post I see that they are about on track. Hopefully the cooler weather this year will keep them in bloom for as long as possible.

My regular spot for snowdrops is Oulton churchyard (VC63), and I've described the species present in more detail previously. So I'll stick to the photos this time.

Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis f. nivalis)

flore pleno Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus)

Green Snowdrop (Galanthus woronowii)

Elsewhere at Mickletown this charming dwarf (note sycamore leaf for scale) Snowdrop with tiny flowers was just coming into bloom.

Back in the churchyard there were a few plants of Crocus x luteus 'Golden Yellow' (syn 'Dutch Yellow') to add some zing to the late winter scene.

More Signs of Spring

Jonathan Shanklin has kindly sent another batch of records gathered on a Cambridge Bryology Group outing to Huntingdonshire. This time the group spent time in Stilton and Washingley. Given the focus of the trip was bryophytes and the limitations of the time of year, not a bad list was assembled and this included the second county record of Early Crocus (Crocus tommasinianus) naturalised from plantings along the footpath past the fish ponds at Washingley.

This species is past its best now but here is a photo taken a couple of weeks ago in Oulton churchyard (VC63).