Moira O'Donnell

A very nice selection!

Not specifically supermarkets, but there have been several #CarParkBotany challenges over the years!

However the violet flowered form can also escape from plantings in gardens and churchyards, leading to uncertainty over the status of many populations. Here's info from Atlas 2020:
plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9...
I hope I've got all that right, bit if not, better botanists feel free to jump in!

(Other colour forms are often introductions, although the white-flowered var dumentorum is thought to possibly be native in Cornwall.) .......

Hi Peter, yes, the pale bits behind the flowers are indeed the sepals (blunt tipped in V. odorata). They are often found on road verges and in parks. Consulting the BSBI Viola handbook, the violet flowered colour form is considered mostly native as far north as Westmorland and Durham ....

Hairy Bittercress, Cardamine hirsuta, with the flowers thankfully open in the sunshine, which makes it so much easier to count the four stamens! This was in the Sainsbury's (other supermarkets are available) car park. #WildflowerHour

👍

Japanese (aka Giant) Butterbur, Petasites japonicus, naturalised on the bank of the Ravensbourne River in the vicinity of Ravensbourne Lodge. This is a remnant of exotic plantings by Joanna Bonham-Carter, who built the lodge in 1861 and created a large garden. #WildflowerHour

So pretty and uplifting aren't they!

@bsbibotany.bsky.social @botvolution.bsky.social
Hi! I can't reply to this post, so am using a quote tweet as a workaround! Zooming in (see pic below) I think I can only count four stamens and that along with the sticky-up seedpods make me think it is probably hirsuta. Will be posting my own later!

Musk Stork's-bill, Erodium moschatum, continuing its road verge colonisation of my local streets. #WildflowerHour
plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9...

Lovely photo!

I sometimes don't have to travel very far for #WildflowerHour! A lovely patch of Sweet Violet, Viola odorata, in my road. 💜

It’s Sunday & it’s 8pm, so it must be time for #wildflowerhour! Please share your pics of the wild & naturalised blooms you’ve found from across Britain & Ireland in the last week! Did you manage to spot the last #thewinter10?

An excellent day which exceeded my expectations! It was great to be able to have a quick chat with you, and I hope we might be able to see an occasional #WildflowerHour post from you? 😉

Yesterday's excellent BTO Conference in Northampton - a blog markavery.info/2026/03/01/b...

How was it for you? @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @julietvickery.bsky.social @chilternsnl.bsky.social #northantsbirds @naturelark.bsky.social #shag #nightjar #gull #blackbird #usutu

Violets flowering among grass and fallen leaves

Who's seen some Spring flowers this weekend? Did you find any last entries for the Winter Months Hunt yesterday or are you starting the Spring Week Hunt today?

💛

Love this hashtag! 👏

A Juniper Shieldbug, having a rest on my wheelie bin the other day.

Without perhaps even knowing what lichen is.

😂

Earth's heat to produce electricity for homes in UK clean energy first Water super-heated by rocks will also provide the UK's first domestic supply of the critical mineral lithium.

Earth's heat to produce electricity for homes in clean energy first.The UK's first geothermal power plant goes live, providing a completely new type of renewable electricity using hot water from underground. GEL will also be able to extract lithium carbonate for EVs...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Great photos!

Highlight of the birds seen at Cley this morning was a Long-tailed Duck. As its name suggests it has a long tail but the only time it was visible on this bird was when it dived. Mostly seen at sea except when breeding. The last time I saw this species was in the Mojave Desert!

A rather fabulous tree stump in Padmall Wood featuring Cyprus-leaved Plait-moss, Hypnum cupressiforme, and Cladonia polydactyla (which I note is given the quirky name "Many-fingered Powderhorn" in the new Lichens of Britain and Ireland field guide).
#BonkersForBryophytes
#Lichen
#StumpOfTheDay

This Cape-pondweed is local to me at Keston Ponds in LB Bromley. First recorded there in 1909. I happened to visit today and remembered your recent post!

Hi Mel, it is a naturalised garden escape. Here is the BSBI distribution map.
plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9...

Glory-of-the-snow, Scilla forbesii, on a broad grassy road verge in Croydon. The whole verge will be a sea of blue soon. 💙