Spring flowers (and other spring things)

[Harvestman]

Well, spring has sprung, and it is my favourite time of year. It is my habit to keep a mental list of flowering herbaceous (i.e. non-woody) plant species as I encounter them. They have to be in flower to count, even if I can identify them anyway. Seeing each one for the first time in the year is like greeting on old friend. It always makes me smile.

When I get to about 20 species, I tend to stop counting, because so much starts to appear at once. Here is my list to date, all found incidentally, rather than me making a point of looking for them:

1. Daisy
2. Dandelion
3. Snowdrop
4. Lesser Celandine
5. Marsh Marigold
6. Cuckoo flower/Lady's smock
7. Germander speedwell
8. Hedge garlic/garlic mustard
9. Common chickweed
10. Dog violet
11. Wild daffodil (incidentally, non-wild plants don't count either)
12. Cow parsley
13. Hairy wood-rush
14. Primrose
15. Cowslip
16. Wood anemone
17. Barren strawberry
18. Wood sorrel
19. Wood forget-me-not
20. Coltsfoot
21. Bugle

Obviously I could get more if I actually went out specially searching, and I am sure I have forgotten a few. Notice no bluebells or ramsons yet. Lots about, but not yet in flower here in South East Wales.

Other spring things are 2 swallows, one bat, and an adder, plus a few insects like early bumble bee, green tiger beetle, and 4 species of butterfly.

I'm sure other people can add to this. I'd be interested to know what is in flower in your area.

[mazeman]

We've got a few bluebells up here, and spring squills. :)

[Toddy]

Coltsfoot,
Dandelion,
Cuckoo smock,
Daisy,
Primrose,
Lungwort,
Heather,
Bog Myrtle,
Heartsease,
Lesser Celandine,
Ransoms,
Narcissus,
Hairy Bittercress,

I love this time of year :D

cheers,
Toddy

[calibanzwei]

Flowering Ramsons already? Ours are just about to burst I think.
Can add Honesty to the list.

[Jumbalaya]

How's everyone finding the 'timing' of plants so far? Ramsons with me are only just starting to flower... reckon we're about 3-4 weeks behind normal schedule.

[Harvestman]

Thanks guys. Everyone is saying things are late this year. Certainly the local orchids are way behind last year (and the site that I discovered a few weeks ago with 50 early purple orchids on has just been dug up for building a car park :eek::cussing::mad:)

I can add heather, greater stitchwort, herb robert, and bluebells to my list after today, plus another swallow.:)

[locum76]

Theres plenty hyacinths now too. :)

The Ramsons are probably on the verge of going over.