Wild flowers

[me]

my Mountain Ash is definitely stressed

 

[Lankyman]

We had some rain last Sunday, which was welcome, but in some parts of the country trees are beginning to die, which is bad.

I've noticed signs of stress on some smaller trees round here in Lancashire. It's often been while driving up the M6. We haven't had quite the same levels of heat and extended drought as further south so the bigger trees seem to be coping. I worry for the future though as we seem to be approaching a shift in our climate. There are trees (including cypress) just a few feet from where I sleep at night and if they go up I could be literally toast.

 

[bagpuss]

Axbridge Hill, Mendip, an abundance of wildflowers, tried to limit myself to mostly only photographing ones I've not already added to the thread. If you like your wildflowers (and butterflies) it's one of the best spots I've been to on Mendip.

Common Agrimony
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I thought this was betony on first glance, but looking more closely looks to be wild basil?
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Common Centaury
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My thistle ID skills are useless, google suggests Musk Thistle
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Dropwort (the white flower), Ladies Bedstraw in the background.
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Wood sage
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Having said I'm not repeating photos of ones I've already added... couldn't resist this display of Ladies Bedstraw and creeping thyme in a natural rockery on the limestone.
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Fairy flax, a really tiny flower
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Not a wild flower unless you count nettle, but I've not seen a dragon fly consuming a butterfly before!
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Fire last night in the area these were taken https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/incidents...Azl8dkGBJWyieX32jI_aem_EPL512BezFNhoDtOJNTcuw

 

[Pegasus]

Walking in the Lake District again yesterday and still very dry. You wouldn't know that this is one of the wettest parts of England. Grassland looks brown and hammered by the sun. Fortunately our route had a lot of cooler, wooded areas although bracken is overhead in places.
Wood sage

A single large burdock by the memorial seat overlooking Windermere. The bees were all over the flowers
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Bee on a ragwort flower
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Little pockets of heather (bell heather I think) standing out in the dried grasses

A horse owner's nigtmare

 

[RobinGriffiths]

Ragworts are doing insanely well this year.

 

[Lankyman]

A horse owner's nigtmare

I've just walked/bushwhacked along a local bridleway. It seems to be more overgrown than I recall in other years. A horse or cyclist would struggle. Perhaps Lancs CC are cutting back on spending rather than rampant vegetation? Here's a pic I posted a few weeks ago of a BW in the south Lakes. Very overgrown then, possibly impassable now?

 

[Pegasus]

We would get through.....

 

[Lankyman]

Back to the canal today. We've had some rain but the ground is still bone dry even though the grass in the fields has greened up somewhat compared to a week or so ago.
Wood nightshade

Growing in the water of the canal, water mint and frogbit

Apparently, frogbit is classed as 'vulnerable' in Britain but is an invasive pest in North America. I was glad to see quite a few butterflies and bees out today.
Here's a peacock on a thistle

 

[JasonC]

We've had some rain but the ground is still bone dry even though the grass in the fields has greened up somewhat compared to a week

No rain this side of the Pennines (Harrogate) for at least 10 days, then only 1mm. Have taken to saving bathwater to keep the garden alive

 

[pwhole]

On Wincobank hill, Sheffield.

 

[mikebooth76]

Ah, John and Wild Willy, a great live act. I'll show this post to Sally next time I see her....

And still going. Saw JO in melboure a couple of months ago. Great night.

 

[Lankyman]

More showers on a Bowland walk yesterday so the pastures have greened up somewhat (sorry @JasonC!). Up on the moor there were bilberries and cranberries but not as big and juicy as past years (long dry spells?).

I think the heather might also have taken a beating from the long, hot, dry spell but the recent showers seem to have brought it on a bit. The views towards the Dales fells were good.

 

[Jenny P]

More showers on a Bowland walk yesterday so the pastures have greened up somewhat (sorry @JasonC!). Up on the moor there were bilberries and cranberries but not as big and juicy as past years (long dry spells?).
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I think the heather might also have taken a beating from the long, hot, dry spell but the recent showers seem to have brought it on a bit. The views towards the Dales fells were good.
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I now have ripe blackberries in my garden but they are definitely not as uicy as they were last year.

 

[Lankyman]

I now have ripe blackberries in my garden but they are definitely not as uicy as they were last year.

I've seen a few ripe blackberries in the hedgerows locally but it doesn't seem like a classic year for them so far. There are a few damson trees by one of my local tracks and they seem to be getting towards edible. Last year was amazing for them, the heaviest crop I've seen. I have some small apple trees in big tubs that always fruit. Mostly, I've just ignored them but last year they were actually big enough to eat. This year there are more apples but they're small and look scorched and not great. Being away on Orkney over the hottest two weeks and not keeping them watered probably didn't help?

 

[Lankyman]

Ragworts are doing insanely well this year.

They get everywhere - a bridge over the M6

 

[kay]

I've seen a few ripe blackberries in the hedgerows locally but it doesn't seem like a classic year for them so far. There are a few damson trees by one of my local tracks and they seem to be getting towards edible. Last year was amazing for them, the heaviest crop I've seen. I have some small apple trees in big tubs that always fruit. Mostly, I've just ignored them but last year they were actually big enough to eat. This year there are more apples but they're small and look scorched and not great. Being away on Orkney over the hottest two weeks and not keeping them watered probably didn't help?

Amazingly heavy crop of blackberries in my area of Leeds. My apples are having a related "June drop". Not ripe but just being shed.

 

[spelfish]

We make cider every year as a village co-operative. Usually between 70-80 gallons. Last year's was the best ever (really good, sweet apples and a new whisky barrel). This year we're looking at our trees and feeling pessimistic. Lote of small apples on the trees, even more small apples on the floor. They'll probably have wonderful levels of sugar and flavour but we'll have to work very hard to pick/gather enough...

This is very much a first world problem compared to those faced by the local farmers- either poor yields from arable or burnt out grass for cattle and sheep.

 

[Lankyman]

Found this colourful fungus growing on a stump in the woods near home. Autumn here we come?

 

[Mr Dinwiddy]

I think Fulk posted a picture of Harebells earlier in the thread. I am sure its time for another one because they are out in profusion at the moment.

 

[bagpuss]

Found this colourful fungus growing on a stump in the woods near home. Autumn here we come?
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Chicken of the wood?