Flora flowering in April

Around my garden in Ashridge Hertfordshire I have noted and researched into some of the flowering plants that have come out or ready to open in April and May.

Below you will find my research and photographs.
All images are copyright to Abbi Hughes.


To begin with we have Wistaria sinensis 

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  ·      Can grow up to 100ft and it is originally from China
  ·      It is one of the finest and most popular varieties of Wisteria
  ·      It has dark-mid green leaves consisting of 11 leaflets
  
  
  ·      8-12 inch long racemes of fragrant mauve flowers
  ·     A raceme is an un-branched flower arrangement which consists of individual flowers which are stalked and spirally arranged. Eg hyacinthus
  
  
  The Climbing hydrangea's buds have started to be produced- hydrangea petiolaris
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  ·      Japanese climbing hydrangea.
  ·      It is a vigorous climber
  ·      Grows to 60ft or more in height
  ·      Grows on walls (ours is situated on a west facing wall)
  ·      SIt has serrated leaves which are ovate with a pointed apex
  ·      Dark rich green above the leaf and pale green and downy on the underside of the leaf
  ·      It has cream white flowers that are produced in june
  ·      Budding now
  
  
  Welsh yellow poppy- meconopsis cambric
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  ·      The welsh yellow poppy is short lived but seeds itself freely
  ·      The leaves are slightly hairy and flower in colours ranging from yellow to orange
  ·      Freely born from june but are currently flowering in april

  Magnolia ·      Magnolia liliiflora nigra ·      Originates in Japan ·      OHolds ovate deciduous leaves which are mid green but have red purple  chalice shaped leaves that open april along with the flowers which open april – july ·      Red purple chalice shaped flowers ·      Height 6-8 spread 5-7 ft Apple blossom ·      Bramley blossom is out along with the bluebells and Colombime- Aquilegia (Columbine)  atrata Lilac tree ·      Syringa vulgaris- oleaceae ·      Is the common lilac tree ·      Hardy deciduous shrub, popular for late spring flowers but are open now- It is very fragrant ·      It can grow to a height of 8-12 ft and spread of 5-10 ft ·      Flowers during may and june ·      The leaves are heart shaped, ovate and have pyramidal panicle shaped flower  Campion lychnys Flos-govis ·      European flower ·      Perennial that can grow to 24inchs ·      It has purple/red flowers ·      Flowers appear june – aug Polgonatum – solomon seal ·      Liliaceae ·      Herbaceous perennial ·      It has arching stems with small pendulous clusters of tubulous flowers ·      Born from upper leaf axils ·      Native to Europe 2-4ft ·      Oblong clasped leaves ·      Flowers in clusters of 2-5 Maxican orange – choisya ·      Rutaceae ·      It is an evergreen shrub ·      Native to mexico ·      Glossy green leaves that are highly aromatic when crushed (smell of oranges) ·      Born in april and may but can flower intermittently until winter Clematis Montana ·      Rubins ·      Native to the Himalayas ·      Can grow to a height of 40ft and spread of 20ft ·      Deciduous flowering plant ·      Vigorous growth ·      It has dark green leaves that are trifoliate ·      Pale pink flowers ·      Flowers from July to August Geranium ibericum ·      Violet blue flowers Forget me nots- myositis ·      Latin boraginaceae ·      Salva shaped flowers with bell shaped cealyces. Viola ·      Pansy violaceae ·      5 petals which are strap shaped What I like to call the 'yellow pom pom flower' is the – kerria japonica plentiflora ·      It starts to flower april-may ·      It's a hardy bush species with glossy green branches ·      yellow orange balls of flowers that grow on the end of the previous  seasons shoots tight bud paeonia ·      pionia officianalis rubra plena ·      Native to France through to Albania ·      Has deeply cut mid green leaves that are sometimes hairy beneath ·      Holds single crimson flowers ·      These single crimson flowers are produced from may-june pieris Formosa forrestii ·      Native to the Himalayas ·      Copper red lanceolate oblong leaves when young ·      These leaves start to turn green later in their life ·      White floers carried in drooping panicles that flower between april-may

I hope you found the information on these flowering garden plants interesting and enjoyed my photography to help you identify them. 

Thank you

Abbi 

Location : Alderton Drive, Ashridge
Date: 31st April 2011
Time: 10am - 1pm
Weather: Bright, harsh sunlight, warm southerly winds, no cloud cover.  
Map Reference: SP 968132

The May Bug

The May Bugs or cockchafer's (Melolontha melolontha) have returned earlier than usual. My first sighting of this large beetle was on the 21st April. Adults usually appear in May to June and live for about five to seven weeks. After about two weeks, the female begins laying eggs, which she buries about 10 to 20 cm deep in the earth. She may do this several times until she has laid between 60 and 80 eggs. The common may bug lays its eggs in fields, whereas the Forest May bug stays in the vicinity of the trees. The preferred food for adults is oak leaves, but they will also feed on conifer needles.

Mark Aldron Image - wikipedia.com - may bug

The larvae, known as "white grubs" or "chafer grubs", hatch after some four to six weeks. They feed on plant roots, for instance potato roots. The grubs develop in the earth for some three to four years, in colder climates even five years, and grow continually to a size of about 4–5 cm, before they pupate in early autumn and develop into a cockchafer in some six weeks.

The May bug overwinters in the earth at depths between 20 and 100 cm. They work their way to the surface only in spring.Because of their long development time as larvae, may bugs appear in a cycle of every three or four years; the years vary from region to region. There is a larger cycle of some 30 years superimposed, in which they occur (or rather, used to occur) in unusually high numbers (10000s).

Once abundant throughout Europe and a major pest in the periodical years of "mass flight", it had been nearly eradicated in the middle of the 20th century through extensive use of pesticides and has even been locally exterminated in many regions. However, since an increase in regulation of pest control beginning in the 1980s, its numbers have started to grow again.

Unfortunately I only had a compact camera to photograph this extraordinary creature , but this is what I got.

Location : Alderton Drive, Ashridge
Date: 21st April 2011
Time: 10pm - 11pm
Weather: Cold westerly winds, night time, extensive cloud covor.  
Map Reference: SP 968132

Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

Whilst at home in Ashridge Hertfordshire I noticed the bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) had started to flower and carpet the many acres of woodland in my area.The Bluebell is a perennial herb that grows in spring from bulbs that stay in the soil over winter. The shoots emerge from early January, before trees’ leaves block a large proportion of the available sunlight. The bluebell sets seeds profusely and also multiplies by offshoots from its bulbs. As a result it can be a dominant species that carpets the woodland floor early in the spring. The drooping, blue bell shaped flowers, which give the plant its most common name, appear from April to June. 

This species is found in deciduous woodlands, hedgerows, meadows and on cliffs. The bluebell occurs in coppiced woodland, where it may dominate the ground flora. Humidity is a key requirement. It is intolerant of trampling, heavy grazing, water logging, deep shade and does not compete well with vigorous grasses. The presence of the species in hedgerows and under bracken on pastures may indicate that the land was once covered in woodland.

Although common in much of Britain and Ireland, Bluebell are rare in the rest of Europe and absent from the rest of the world. The populations in the UK represent about 30% of the global population. The species has greatly declined over the past 50 years and is globally threatened. Thus, native bluebells are protected in Northern Ireland through The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. It is illegal to collect seed or bulbs from the wild.

The reasons for the decline of the native Bluebell are:

• habitat loss, particularly woodland and hedgerows
• picking, uprooting and bulb removal, mainly for gardens
• tipping of garden waste in woodlands and hedgerows
• competition and hybridisation with its close relative the Spanish Bluebell

Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) should not be confused with the non-native Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthiodes hispanica). The Bluebell has fragrant flowers borne on one side of the stem. The anthers are cream-coloured and unequal and the raceme is nodding. The Spanish Bluebell has unscented flowers borne on all sides of the stem. It has blue, equal anthers and an erect raceme. The Spanish Bluebell is frequently planted in gardens and the two species hybridise with each other freely to create the fertile and backcrossing hybridHyacinthoides hispanica x non-scripta. Hybrid Bluebells are becoming widespread in the countryside – the result of pollination by bees and the dumping of unwanted bulbs beside the road. As the less-vigorous native Bluebell cannot compete successfully, its long-term survival is under threat.

Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) 

Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthiodes hispanica)

Thank you

 Abbi hughes.

All images copyright to Abbi Hughes, Information gained from - http://www.cvni.org/wildflowernursery/wildflowers/bluebell

Location : Ashridge, Church Road
Date: 20th April 2011
Time: 4pm - 5pm
Weather: Southerly warm and gentle winds, occasional cloud covor.  
Map Reference: SP975135

Spring has Sprung

Over the easter holidays I went back home to Ashridge in Hertfordshire. Walking through miles of open fields and woodland around the Ashridge estate inspires my photography. You can see a very clear change in the scenery from winter to spring. 

The open fields are becoming ever greener and the hedgerows are coming to life. Spring flowers are creating an inspirational atmosphere when walking through the daffodils, snowdrops and now the bluebells. 

The woodland has also changed. The sap is rising from the roots of the trees creating new leaves and buds on all of the trees are starting to come into full bloom and the woodland floor is also coming alive. Again we will see carpets of bluebells and the last remaining snowdrops and many new green shoots eg bracken, beginning to emerge quickly before the coverage of the trees blocks out the sunlight.

As well as all the change to the flora from winter to spring, there is also change in the wildlife we see. Bumblebees and butterflies have come out of their winter hibernation. Sheep have began lambing and the cows have got their newly born calves.

Here are some of the images of the newly born calves and lambs seen on the Ashridge estate. In my photographs the calve is only two weeks old and the lambs are about three weeks old.

All images copyright to Abbi Hughes. Hope you enjoy them.

This is an image of the mother cow that has just given birth to a beautiful bright white calf.

This image is of the two cows. I am unsure of the particular breed this is but i am looking into it and will hopefully be able to tell you shortly.

This is the single calf that was born two weeks.

And these are the gorgeous little lambs. Once again i am unsure of the exact breed but aim to talk to the farmer and find out. The sheep began lambing in the areas through march and april.

Abbi

Location : Ashridge, Church Road

Date: 14th April 2011

Time: 1pm - 5pm

Weather: Southerly warm and gentle winds, strong sunlight, no clouds.  

Map Reference: SP975135

Oak before the Ash

There's an old saying, "oak before ash, naught but a splash; ash before oak, you're in for a soak."

The oak has come out before the ash so we are in for a splash.
If the ash had come out before the oak them we would be in for a soak.

This old myth means that (fingers crossed as it is a myth) we will have little rain this year and have a lovely warm and delightful summer!

Location : Alderton Drive, Ashridge
Date: 21st April 2011
Time: 10pm - 11pm
Weather: Cold westerly winds, night time, extensive cloud covor.  
Map Reference: SP 968132

A Duo of Long-Tailed Tits

I was sitting, watching the day go by and outside my kitchen window I noticed  a pair of Long- Tailed  Tits.(Aegithalidae) making/improving their nest. This is unusual for this time of year as you usually see them at work in early March. They were piecing together lichen, cobwebs and animal hair in the unmistakable oval and domed shaped nest with the entrance hole near the top. This nest was about 6ft from the ground in a near by tree. They seemed to be working from the inside of the net and to finish, camouflaging the outside.They start to lay their eggs mid to late may. In the breeding season they are found near woodlands and clearing with hedgerows. They rarely visit suburban gardens. They are present all year round and in winter return to wooded areas and huddle in groups to stay warm. 

The long-tailed tit is easily recognisable with its distinctive colouring, a tail that is bigger than its body, and undulating flight. Gregarious and noisy residents, long-tailed tits are most usually noticed in small, excitable flocks of about 20 birds. Like most tits, they rove the woods and hedgerows, but are also seen on heaths and commons with suitable bushes. Found across the UK except for the far north and west of Scotland. They can be seen in woodland, farmland hedgerows, scrubland, parkland and gardens.

I hope to get photographic evidence of these sweet little birds soon. 

Abbi

Location : Ashridge
Date: 11th April 2011
Time: 7pm-8pm
Weather: Light evening clouds, some spells of rain but overall quite pleasant 
Map Reference: SP975135

Fields of Daffodils

Just outside campus are fields and fields of golden daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus ). I visit these fields on a regular basis as they provide a unique, thought provoking and royal setting. It is truly magical to walk through ordered fields, with a strong,vibrant yellow and green taking over your imagination. The poem below by William Wordsworth is a great tribute to this wonderful sight. 

Some of the images I photographed can be seen below. Hope you enjoy them.

Daffodils

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they

Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;

A poet could not be but gay,

In such a jocund company!

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

William Wordsworth

Images copyright to Abbi Hughes


Location : Falmouth Turbines
Date: 6th March 2011
Time: 6pm - 7pm (varies)
Weather:Strong winds, bright colourful sunset. 
Map Reference: SW756354