Odds and Ends

A few interesting plants that never made it into a specific post over the last few months...

Hairy-fruited broom (Cystisus striatus) found naturalised at a new site near Cridling Stubbs (VC63).

It was nice to find good numbers of truly Wild Pansy (Viola tricolor subsp. tricolor) near Rossington (VC63). Not a common sight on arable margins these days, and interesting to see so much variation in flower colour and form.

At the same location I was also surprised to find a thriving population of Yellow Bartsia (Parentucellia viscosa)

Siberian Wallflower (Erysimum x marshallii) popped up again in its usual spot in Woodlesford (VC63) where it was first sown several years back. Its one of those plants I was aware of but did not appreciate how different it was. Lots of years needlessly pondering any vaguely orange Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri) just in case!

A flash of gold(ish) in Little Preston (VC64) turned out to be Bowle's Golden Grass a cultivar of Wild Millet (Milium effusum 'Aureum'). Unfortunately, I never did get to see it flower, as the strimmers got there first. I'm surprised this grass is not more frequent, as it breeds true and self sows around my garden.

While on the edge of a farm ditch near Swillington, this stunning and unexpected Crown-Imperial Fritillary (Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra Maxima') with other garden throwouts.

To Addingham and Back Again (VC64)

Time for a bit of a catch up on local news. Last week I took a trip over to Ilkley as I had always fancied a walk along the river towards Bolton Abbey, but had never quite made it. Spring was definitely springing in Wharfedale, but not as advanced as on my local patch. So I enjoyed a second final hurrah from the daffodils, while also being able to enjoy some of the species just starting to come into there own.

It was nice to see the thriving colony of Fairy Foxglove (Erinus alpinus) on Old Bridge, Ilkley. Far too early for flowers though.

(photo by Jerzy Opiola, Wikimedia Commons)

Not a rare plant, but I forget how prolific Few-flowered Garlic (Allium paradoxum var. paradoxum) is along the Wharfe. All those bulbs where there should be flowers.

A surprise find on a tree stump well away from gardens was Trailing Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana), but this is not my first find of this species on an isolated river bank.

On the river bank at Addingham, and likely of planted origin, was Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides).

Moving up hill away from the river towards Langbar, I was surprised to find a Chameleon ... i.e. Sweet Spurge (Euphobia dulcis 'Chameleon'). The hedgerow along Langbar Lane also had the hybrid hawthorn Crataegus x subsphaerica (to be seen again later in the hedge bounding Ilkley golf course).

Another nice find on Langbar Lane was a particularly robust lush clump of Alternate-leaved Golden-saxifrage (Chrysosplenium alternifolium).

A rubbish photo but this odd Daffodil (Narcissus 'Pipit') lit up a shady beck bank at Nesfield. I'm not even going to try linking this to a named Daffodil species or hybrid! Google it for a better image.

Back towards Ilkley were Garden Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum x hybridum) and this striking, and very early into bloom this year, Broom (Cytisus scoparius subsp. scoparius f. andreanus).