White Water-lily (Nymphaea alba) – Nymphaea is Latin, which comes from a Greek term possibly referring to nymph or nymph-like, of a mythological supernatural spirit of nature, often described as a beautiful maiden associated with water, which would be very befitting for this delicate aquatic plant.
Oenothera biennis – lighting up the fields on a dull day.
Rubus idaeus – This image just goes to show how you can pass by so much without really noticing things. I discovered Rasberry today, growing wild off a narrow dirt pathway leading but a short few steps to the river. It was almost hidden by brambles and nettles, and shaded under willow, but here we have… Read More Rasberry
Yellow Corydalis (Pseudofumaria lutea) – This low-growing plant with its golden yellow flowers is the 100th species to be added to A nature Journey. A non-native species originally from the Alps, I discovered it growing from a local canal bridge. It likes to grow between the degraded mortar in old walls, or between the cracks… Read More 100 Wild Flowers
Smooth Sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) – This member of the Asteraceae family has quite an unenviable reputation as a nasty and troublesome weed of gardens and arable land, and yet, seen in a different light, it is much more than just that. It has a beauty all of its own as a native wild flower and… Read More Bringing Light To A Weed
Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus) – In the 1940s the Swiss electrical engineer George de Mestral had a brain wave when he kept noticing the sticky burrs of burdock (we also have Greater Burdock (Arctium lappa), which is similar) kept attaching to his clothes when he passed by it. Also called ‘Sticky Buttons’, he thought he… Read More V Is For Velcro
Nuphar lutea – Another lily I discovered on the canal, and for such a small flower it has quite large leaves of which frogs could hop to and fro from if they so wished. Please double-click images for a closer look.
Nymphaea alba – After my last post I thought something a little lighter was required, so here are 2 photos of this lovely lily, which I saw the same day as the snake on the local canal. The lily will only open in bright sunshine, which obviously brings its own challenges when photographig satin white… Read More White Water-lily
Malva moschata – We have had some unusally high winds for this time of the year recently, so bad that when I spotted this in a local field I couldn’t photograph it until today. Double-click images for a closer look.
Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) – In the first image I am standing below the plant looking up at the underneath of this massive bloom. I am 6′ 2″ tall, and these can grow up to 5m (over 16ft) tall. I was also on higher ground, the plant virtually in the river. A word of warning… Read More In Search of Giants
Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) – Kind of like the old Donny Osmond hit back in the early 70’s (for those of us who can remember – or even want to remember) but poppies and not puppies. I love these – poppies – and as soon as I see that bright scarlet red out amidst the… Read More Poppy Love
Hypochaeris radicata – I guess you was expecting a cat’s ear? Sorry to disappoint … but we have a beautful bright yellow wild flower native to Britain but considered a noxious weed in some areas, especially if it has invaded your quarters. If you wish to learn more about this sunshiny flower and see more… Read More Cat’s-ear
Leucanthemum vulgare – Strolling along the riverbank you can’t help but notice the beautiful display this daisy gives. Fairly tall and standing above most of the crowd, the large yellow and white flowerheads were alive with bees and beetles, all enjoying the rich nectar bounty on offer. Double-click on images to enlarge. © Peter Hillman… Read More Oxeye Daisy
Bryonia dioica – I spotted the greenish-white blooms of this wild flower as I approached a hedgerow dividing two fields, one of my favourite places to visit. Only a couple of blooms had been teased out by the spring sunshine, but there was plenty of fresh buds, and creeping tendrils were pushing their way through… Read More White Bryony
Viola riviniana – Although unscented, these lovely little flowers have always popped up in my front garden during the spring. Many folk consider them to be a weed and pull them out. But I rather like them, and they never give me any bother, so I just leave them be. I have added a side… Read More Common Dog-violet
Viola arvensis – It’s almost euphoric when you are ambling through an expansive field and suddenly spot one of these tiny beauties rising amidst the sea of grasses. Double-click image to enlarge. © Peter Hillman ♦ 22nd April 2020 ♦ Local field, Staffordshire ♦ Nikon D7200
Cardamine pratensis – Also called Lady’s-smock. When I first eyed this lovely flower on my allowed ‘once a day’ excercise walk, it took my breath clean away, I was so bedazzled by its beauty. This is a sure sign that spring has arrived. x2 photographs. Double click images to enlarge. © Peter Hillman ♦ 10th… Read More Cuckooflower
Daisy (Bellis perennis) – You can’t help but notice these pretty little daisies springing up all over now, little oasises for the spring insects for them to feed from. The way the pollen has been scattered around the centre of this one, I would say somebody has already been here. © Peter Hillman ♦ 26th… Read More What The Bees Leave Behind
Ficaria verna – I am very fortunate that where I live I only have to walk five minutes and I am into woodland. So with the bright weather I have been managing to venture out for a few minutes. The sight of all these wonderful sunshine coloured flowers carpeting the woodland floor is such a… Read More Lesser Celandine
Trifolium arvense – This has to be one of my favouries of the clovers. They are so fine and delicate, especially if the light catches the fluffed up flowers just right. Double-click for a closer look. Copyright: Peter HillmanCamera used: Nikon D7200Date taken: 16th July 2019Place: Local field, Staffordshire
Dactylorhiza fuchsii – It is always a delight when I come across these beauties when strolling along the river. Copyright: Peter HillmanCamera used: Nikon D7200Date taken: 26th June 2019Place: Local field margin near local river, Staffordshire
Not much to say really … apart from these lovely pink thistles were growing all over the local fields at the time and they really caught my eye. I hope they catch yours, too. I thought they might make a change from all the moths … Copyright: Peter HillmanCamera used: Nikon D7200Date taken: 7th July… Read More Thistle
Silene latifolia – This is one of my favourite wild flowers, and it is always a pleasure to see on my walks. According to fossil records it was introduced to Britain during the Bronze Age. It flowers between May and October across much of Britain, except the far north and west. Copyright: Peter Hillman Camera… Read More White Campion
When I first spied these little beauties along the seafront, especially as they appeared to glisten in the freshly fallen rain, I thought oh yes, wow! How lovely! The small brightly pink flowers kind of jump out at you. The plant is called Common Restharrow (Ononis repens). Exmouth, Devon. August 2019 © Pete Hillman.
This ‘looker’ of a wild flower, rain-speckled and dotted with holes as it may be, is called the Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), and can be seen either on wasteground, in a garden, or on a roadside verge near you this summer. It is a very good provider of nectar for the insect world. Exmouth, Devon.… Read More Beauty On The Verge
This is another reason I realy love summer. July 2019, local field, South Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
July 2019, local field, South Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
June 2019, local field, South Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Click and click again on the image to get that little bit closer … June 2019, local field, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
It is always a joy to see the Dog Rose Rosa canina on my walks through the local woods. It is a sign that summer is not too far away. Click and click again on the image to get that little bit closer … June 2019, local woodland margin, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Greater Celandine Chelidonium majus, June 2019, local woodland margin, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
February 2019, local woodland path, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica, February 2019, local field, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Autmum fell to winter, and winter flew and we are already enjoying a wonderful spring here on this side of the pond. Finally I made it back after a fairly long hiatus, and I will look forward to catching up with you all! This is one of my favourites which seemingly appeared out of nowhere… Read More Catching The Sun
On a stroll around Derwentwater I saw drifts of this most beautiful flower Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria). It was even growing amongst the rocks on the shoreline. It is a member of the rose family Rosaceae, and it thrives in wet and damp places. It is commonly found in damp meadows and has a very sweet… Read More Meadowsweet
Click once to expand view, click again to get that little bit closer June 2018, local field, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Click once to expand view, click again to get that little bit closer June 2018, local field, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
This small, low-growing plant always catches my eye, and I just have to stop to admire it. May 2018, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, England. © Pete Hillman
Only in one place near the local river I find this most beautiful Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii growing amongst the tall grasses. You can see in the image below why they chose this particular vernacular name for it. Click once to expand view, click again to get that little bit closer June 2018, local field,… Read More Orchids Are Here
One of my very favourite wild flowers, this is such a small, low-growing flower it could quite easily be overlooked if it wasn’t for its bright red vivid colour. Definitely a hands and knees job in the dirt to get these shots in. Click once to expand view, click again to get that little bit… Read More Scarlet Pimpernel Anagallis arvensis
