Wild flowers

[Lankyman]

More fireweed, up at Manor Lodge in Sheffield:

I didn't know this was an alternative name for rosebay willow-herb. Just read on Wikipedia that it was also known as 'bombweed' in WW2 because of its habit of colonizing bomb craters. Apparently it's also a favourite nibble of bears, elk and others

Could be a new era for Manor Fields?

 

[bagpuss]

Will this thread convert to a fungi thread in the autumn? Very little down South at the moment, too warm and too dry. Did see a Dryads Saddle yesterday though.

Frogbit, Somerset Levels

 

[Pegasus]

I love how this thread is documenting the passing of the seasons....

 

[Jenny P]

I have been able to pick blackberries from a bramble threaded through a hedge in my garden for several weeks now. Last week I filled two bowls with ripe ones which were almost falling off the bush - so, absolutely fully ripe but sadly not very juicy to eat. Normally round here the first week in September is the usual time for blackberries.

 

[Lankyman]

Out in the woods on a damp Bank Holiday weekend. There's not much happening on the flower front, only ragwort on show

Under the trees there were a few small puffball fungi starting to appear

 

[Cantclimbtom]

A not wild flower..

The very last rhododendron flower of the year?

 

[bagpuss]

Out in the woods on a damp Bank Holiday weekend. There's not much happening on the flower front, only ragwort on show
View attachment 27664
Under the trees there were a few small puffball fungi starting to appear
View attachment 27665

Looks like an earth ball, if you were to cut it inside would be black. Not edible.

 

[bagpuss]

Rowberrow and Beacon Batch, Mendip. Heather & gorse.

 

[Lankyman]

Looks like an earth ball, if you were to cut it inside would be black. Not edible.

What I know about fungi could be written on a postage stamp (in large font). One reason I'm never tempted to forage them!

 

[Lankyman]

A not wild flower..

The very last rhododendron flower of the year?
View attachment 27674

Sadly, by far the most common flower I saw today was another invasive, Himalayan balsam. Acres of the stuff swamping the watercourses and nearby land.

 

[Lankyman]

Spotted this down by the canal today. I haven't noticed it before and wasn't sure what it was. A bit of googling suggests it may be orange balsam
View attachment 27565
It seems to be an invasive species like Himalayan balsam

Orange balsam: The lesser of two evils? - Yorkshire Invasive Species Forum

We are all aware of Himalayan balsam but what about it's cousin Orange balsam? Should we be worried about a new kid on the block?

yisf.org.uk

Perhaps I should go back and pull it up before it gets going?

I was back along the canal for a quiet Bank Holiday walk and decided to uproot the orange balsam

I then noticed that there were other plants sprouting nearby so managed to get those out as well. My route crossed a bridge nearby which allowed me to get to some more. Unfortunately, the largest patch was out of reach. I'll see if it's something that the Canal and Rivers Trust could tackle. Later on I came across some fox and cubs in a graveyard

I've just discovered that it's a naturalised garden escape.

 

[Karen L]

What I know about fungi could be written on a postage stamp (in large font). One reason I'm never tempted to forage them!

Me too. My knowledge is limited to Fly Agaric! Looking forward to following this thread.

 

[pwhole]

Not technically a 'wildflower', but it definitely wasn't meant to be in a barley field...

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Not technically a 'wildflower', but it definitely wasn't meant to be in a barley field...

A feral flower

 

[Lankyman]

As we head into the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness I spotted these which will appeal to the young at heart

Now these fungi were lurking underneath a roadside hedgerow. To me they look like 'mushrooms' but I'm not going to push my luck

 

[Karen L]

Is it me or is the fruit early this year?

 

[Lankyman]

Is it me or is the fruit early this year?

I'm not sure. I do know that the local blackberries are pretty much inedible now or rotting on the branch.

 

[bagpuss]

Me too. My knowledge is limited to Fly Agaric! Looking forward to following this thread.

Can take part in this event https://www.ukfungusday.co.uk/big-f...m_6JUGKlflqAhLitow_aem_Ev4pqH5__o60r1P__aqf1Q

 

[Jenny P]

I'm not sure. I do know that the local blackberries are pretty much inedible now or rotting on the branch.

A month ago I had two bowls of blackberries from a bush in my garden. Completely ripe but not as juicy as I would have expected. Checked again last night in hope that those I left as unripe might now be ready but they are just shrunken hard, black blobs now and quite inedible. Still some left unripe but showng no signs of ripening any further. So that's it for this year.

 

[bagpuss]

Lots of devil's bit scabious en route to GB, Mendip.