January Wildflowers

Frost still lingered in shaded areas of

Falmouth cemetery

This was the second year I participated in the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland’s New Year Plant. My chosen day was Tuesday, 3^rd January and inauspiciously it began with a frost that lingered in shaded areas all day. The location was the old parts of Falmouth cemetery.

Primrose

Primroses can begin to flower quite early in Falmouth, a few can be seen as early as October in a mild autumn. Winter Heliotrope usually starts to flower in December and peaks in January.

Winter Heliotrope flowers possess a vanilla scent

An important source of pollen and nectar is the often maligned dandelion (above), there appeared to be less than usual about this year. Ivy-leafed toadflax (below) is a low growing plant that often grows on stone walls.

Ivy Flowers

Ivy begins to flower towards the end of August with its main period being September and October. A few flower heads were still to be seen in January.

Daises

Red Campion

Daises and red campion are both wildflowers that can be found in most months of the year. The biggest surprise of the month was discovering a single flower of Trailing Tormentil.

Trailing Tormentil flower in January

On the coastal path gorse was in flower.

Gorse