30th December: Some late fungi at Southampton Old Cemetery including Wood Mushroom Agaricus silvicola. A few flowers in bloom very early or out of aeson including Lesser Periwinkle Vinca minor and Hedge Bedstraw Gallium mollugo.
29th December: Some of the flowering Gorse bushes at Longdown Car Park in the New Forest showed extra long, slightly curved and pubescent branches. Probably an adaptation to very heavy grazing pressure.
23rd December: A good crop of Winter Chanterelle Fungi Cantharellus tubaeformis and one specimen of Scarlet Caterpillar Club Cordyceps militaris at the Blackwater Arboretum Car Park.
19th December: Winter Heliotrope starting to flower in eastern Southampton despite recent cold weather.
16th December: Meadow Buttercup and Cowslip recorded in bloom in the Durley area.
16th December: Large brackets of the polypore Pereneporia fraxinea seen at the base of a large Ash tree at Wangfield Lane, Durley. The Goblet Toadstool Pseudoclitocybe cyathiformis is quite widespread at the moment.
16th December: Found a naturalised small tree of Italian Alder Alnus cordata at Calcot Lane, Durley.
6th December: Some late fungi still about including Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria and also Pholiota gummosa in the grounds of Sparsholt College.
21st November: Hogweed in flower again at Magdalen Hill Down.
17th November: The attractive Wrinkled Peach fungus Rhodotus palmatus found growing on a fallen Sycamore log at Blashford Lakes.
13th November: Two Tree of Heaven Ailanthus altissimus self sown by the railway line north of central Eastleigh.
12th November: One casual plant of the increasing alien Narrow-leaved Ragwort Senecio inaequedens seen in a flower bed in central Eastleigh.
10th November: A plant of Wallspray Cotoneaster horizontalis growing 10 feet up an Acacia tree near the SE corner of Southampton Common.
10th November: Nine new species of fungi seen on a foray at Itchen Valley Country Park. These included thew attractive Brick Caps Hypholoma sublateritium.
6th November: A fungi survey took place in the Valley Park Woodlands at Chandler's Ford - the highlight was undoubtably a hige colony of Split Gill Schizophyllum commune on a fallen beech trunk in Badger's Copse.
6th November: A flowering Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo found at Netley Common. Seven species of fungi found new to the site including the Girdled Knight Cap Tricholoma cingulatum and the polypore Inonotus radiatus. The latter was seen on a Birch stump but it normally grows on Alder.
5th November: Wild Snapgradon or Waesel's Snout Misopates orontium still flowering at Coates Road, Sholing. Also an abundance of Sharp-leaved Fluellen Kickxia elatine along the base of an adjacent brick wall.
28th October: Five new species of fungi seen on the wooded grassy central area of Priestwood Close, Thornhill including a Common Mushroom Agaricus bisporus albida and the Cedarwood Wax-cap Hygrocybe russocoriacea.
22nd October: Naturalised Boston Ivy Parthenocissus tricuspidata and Himalayan Clematis Clematis montana along the fence by the railway line at Southampton Road Car Park, Eastleigh.
21st October: 7 new species of fungi seen for Swanwick Reserve on a foray. The highlight was a Pezizale Cup Fungus Pseudotis apophysata.
20th October: Six new species recorded on a fungus foray at Kite's Croft including Peppery Bolete Chalcoporus piperatus. Also a provusion of thousands of the 'little brown job' fungus Tubaria conspersa on bark mulch here.
20th October: Betony and Common Centaury still in flower at Soarly Beeches in the New Forest.
19th October: 58 species of fungi seen in a foray at Tantany Wood including Giant Funnel-cap Leucopaxillus giganteus and Magpie Ink Cap Coprinus micaceus.
15th October: Musk Stork's-bill Erodium moschatum recorded outside the Fareham Civic Office and two bushes of Spanish Broom Spartium junceum at Seafield Park at Stubbington.
13th October: Reduced numbers of fungi in the woodlands east of Beaulieu Motor Museum but alot of different Clitocybe species seen as well as Russula luteotacta, Tephrocybe rancidum and Thelephora penicillata.
10th October: Report of a white variety of Death Cap Amanita phalloides in the woodland at Valley Park, Chandler's Ford.
10th October: Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta established and in flower on the dump at Beaulieu Moptor Museum Car Park but no Physalis philadelphicus there this year. Much less fungi there than this time last year.
6th October: A large quantity of two species of earthstar Geastrum triplex and Geastrum fimbriatum seen at Abbotstone Down near Alresford
3rd October: A single bird sown tree of New Zealand Broadleaf Grisellinia litoralis seen at Freemantle Common, Bitterne.
2nd October: Some interesting flora on some grassy banks at Summer Street, Northam including Yellow Bristle Grass Setaria pumila, Safflower Carthamus tinctorius and Niger Seed Guizotia abyssinica. Also Angel's Trumpets Datura ferox and Morning Glory Ipomoea purpurea on disturbed ground near to Havant Broadmarsh,
26th September: A new flower for Southampton - Canary Clover Dorycnium hirsutum (pink flowered despite its name) was found under a fence by Mount PLeasant Road, Northam.
23rd September: Destroying Angel Amanita virosa toadstool found at Wooson's Hill in the New Forest.
16th September: The yellow-berried variant of Holly Ilex aquilifolium 'Fructo-luteo' seen in the hawthorn scrub of North Scrubs, Stanpit Marsh.
15th September: A good display of Saltmarsh Water Crowfoot Ranunculus baudotii seen at Farlington Marshes on the Field Meeting.
14th September: A second Southampton site for Bastard Cabbage Rapistrum rugosum discovered at Cross House Quay. Nearby on the sea wall on the eastern side of Ocean village various shrubs naturalised such as Lauristinus Viburnum tinus, Oregon Grape Mahonia aquilifolium and Passion Flower Passiflora caerulea.
9th September: Botanical trip with Wild Flower Society in New Forest. A large colony of Leafy Toad Rush Juncus foliosus at West Wellow Common and two plants in a 'new' site at Cadnam Common. Good display of Bog Hair Grass Deschampsia setacea at Ipley and Dwarf Spike Rush Eleocharis parvula at Beauleiu Tidal Pond.
8th September: Not many fungi due to dry weather but an interesting bracket fungus Postia caesia seen on a lump of soft wood at Ashdown Close, Chandler's Ford.
8th September: A small bush of Japanese Spiraea Spiraea japonica discovered on the shingle of the upper shore at Calshot.
7th September: A non-fruiting bush of American Elder Sambucus canadensis with variegated yellow leaves seen in a nettle bed at Bishopstoke Recreation Ground.
6th September: Some interesting flora found on wasteground near the Broadmarsh, Havant junction of the A27. This included Cape Gooseberry Physalis peruviana, Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta and at least 20 plants of Moth Mullein Verbascum blattaria. On the nearby Broadmarsh Mound both Grass Vetchling and Hairy Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia and L.hirsuta respectively are flowering. In the nearby car park American Elder Sambucus canadensis is in berry.
6th September: About 100 Flowering Ash Fraxinus ornus of all sizes discovered on the embankment of Hilsea Moat, Portsmouth. A bird sown Horse Chestnut nearby might be Indian Horse Chestnut Aesculus indica.
5th September: Stinking Fleabane Dittrichia graveolens coming to bloom at the Cadnam junction of the M27 and some more of it seen at the Ower junction. A bad year for Ivy-leaved Bellflower at Cadnam Common. Two plants of the Musk Mimulus moschata still surviving in the overgrown roadside ditch at Netley Marsh.
3rd September: Discovered a Small-flowered Sweet-briar Rosa micrantha on Peartree Green.
2nd September: Two interesting lichens seen on an old oak at Inchmery Shore, namely Physcia aipolia and Ramalina fraxinea. Marsh Mallow flowering in profusion here too.
31st August: Boston Ivy Parthenocissus tricuspidata naturalised and growing with Clematis on stonework around the railway brifge at Bishopstoke Road, Eastleigh.
30th August: A colony of the southern Europaean umbellifer Pimpinella peregrina has turned up at Compton village. It is probably the first British record. The Chinese Lantern Physalis alkakengi also here. The Italian Figwort Schrophularia scopoli is doing particularly well this year - probably the best year yet for it.
30th August: Report of Saltwort Salsola kali on the shore at Inchmery. This would be a new site. Orpine Sedum telepium in bloom nearby.
26th August: The Prince mushroom Agaricus augustus reported at Pitts Wood, Godshill and at Bolderwood - it's a good year for this species.
22nd August: A new colony of Strawberry Clover near junction of Bitterne Road East and Bursledon Road in central Bitterne. Also a new site for Red Bistort Persicaria amplexicaule in the newly cleared Thornhill Park Wood.
22nd August: Autumn Lady's Tressess Orchids surviving at Priestwood Close and Carey Road at Thornhill. Also the usual large numbers on Southampton Common. They are flowering quite early this year.
19th August: Autumn Lady's Tressess coming to bloom at Royal Victoria Country Park
18th August: A black Eath-tongue Fungus, probably Trichoglossum walteri, in grassy debris under Fleabanes at Grange Fields. Also Yellow Bartsia still surviving and in flower on Grange Fields hill.
17th August: A few fungi about due to recent rains but not as much as expected due to lack of heat previously. The Prince Agaricus augustus coming up at Peartree Green and also in central Bitterne.
12th August: Field Gentain in flower at Burbush Car Park in the New Forest. Also Bog Orchid stillout at Matley whilst Autumn Lady's Tressess already in bloom at Homesley.
5th August: There is a strong colony of Wallflower Cabbage in flower along both sides of the B3053 at Kennel's Row, Fawley. A large colony of Yellow Bartsia between Calshot village and the power station.
4th August: At Tregould's Copse in Valley Park, Chandler's Ford there is an surviving colony of Lily-of-the-Valley and Solomon's Seal. Both of which are no longer in flower. The Hemp Nettle Galeopsis bifida also very common in the Valley Park area.
4th August: Large colony of Common Calamint at the south end of Port Lane, Hursley and an established colony of Red Bistort Persicaria amplexicaule nearby at junction of Bunstead and Collins Lanes
31st July: The first record of Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria at Windy Bay, Northam. Seen on Field Meeting but not in bloom.
30th July: Thw Wild Snapdragon Misopates orontium found growing at the base of a wall at Wide Lane, Eastleigh - an unusual habitat.
29th July: A flowering specimen of the orange Buddleia Buddleia x weyeriana found along the A3057 opposite the Malthouse Inn at Timsbury.
27th July: A botanical survey of the grounds of Rownhams House took place today. Narrow Buckler Fern Dryopteris carthusiana was interest by the lake and Heath Grass Danthonia decumbens and Harebell in quantitry on a grassy slope. Flora on a gravel track included Sharp-leaved Fluellen Kickxia elatine and this was rather unexpected.
26th July: The uncommon Field Woundwort Stachys arvensis seen in small garden at Northam Council Estate.
25th July: First report of Dropwort Filipendula vulgaris at Rownhams Church.
22nd July: The white variant of Common Knapweed seen in Southampton Old Cemetery
22nd July: Two spikes of Pyramidal Orchid seen at junction 5 of the M27 (whilst waiting in a queue)
13th July: The Globe Artichoke Cynara scolymus now in flower at Mansbridge and Bottlebrush Buckeye Aescula parviflora just coming out at the Southampton Old Cemetery.
12th July: Two plants of Large Yellow Foxglove Digitalis grandiflora seen naturalised on a bank of soil in Portswood and White Mignonette Reseda alba growing as a garden weed at Regent's Park.
10th July: At Tanglewood Pond, Lord's Hill there was a record of Druce's Crane's-bill Geranium x oxonianum escaped from a local garden.
9th July: A form of the Shaggy Parasol Toadstool Macrolepiota rhacodes var. hortensis seen at Donkey Common.
5th July: Mistletoe Viscum album found on a Sugar Maple Acer saccharinum at Foundry Lane School.
5th July: The wet weather had encouraged a good crop of fungi at Foundry Lane School including Yellow-stainer Agaricus xanthodermus and the boletes Boletus luridus and Xerocomus rubellus.
3rd July: Betony Stachys officinalis recorded at Peartree Green - probably a first for here.
1st July: Hampshire Purslane Ludwigia palustris still thriving at it's site on Southampton Common.
25th June: Wild Gladiolus Gladiolus illyricus now in bloom in the New Forest.
22nd June: A Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuschii seen at Peartree Green - a very rare species here.
15th June: Moth Mullein Verbascum blattaria (10+ plants) by M27 at Hedge End.
10th June: 20+ spikes of Bee Orchid counted by the Stoneham Link Road.
9th June: Bee Orchids reported at the airport end of the Stoneham Link Road. Pyramidal Orchids seen at the same site last year so these might still be present too.
6th June: Only one spike of Bee Orchid noticed at the site along Bitterne Bypass this year.
4th June: A strong colony of Yellow-flowered Strawberry Duchesnea indica found on steps up to the former disused railway between Bar End and St Cross, Winchester. Also a naturalised patch of Pale Corydalis Pseudofumaria alba here. Both have been recorded elsewhere in Winchester previously.
31st May: Along one of the entrance roads to Gilkicker Common, Gosport the White Mignonette Reseda alba is still flourishing. The variety of Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera var belgarum is out at Skew Road, POrtsdown but there is no sign of the Field Cow-wheat Melampyrum arvense that was originally introduced there.
31st May: Along one of the entrance roads to Gilkicker Common, Gosport the White Mignonette Reseda alba is still flourishing. The variety of Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera var belgarum is out at Skew Road, POrtsdown but there is no sign of the Field Cow-wheat Melampyrum arvense that was originally introduced there.
29th May: Two plants of Bithynian Vetch Vicia bithynica found in flower at Peartree Green.
29th May: At least 14 flowering plants of the Pitcher Plant Sarracenia purpurea at Homesley Bog in the New Forest - a major increase. Unfortunately only four spikes of the white variety of Early Marsh Orchid at Sleepy Bottom, near Dibden Purleiu - a particularly bad count.
28th May: Two plants of an unusual Labiate Salvia viridis growing under a fence at Beech Avenue, Bitterne. The American 'Five Spot Baby' flower Nemophila maculata growing with it.
26th May: A single plant of Rosy Garlic Allium roseum found at Greenhill Lane, Toot Hill, Rownhams.
25th May: One of the three Globe Artichoke Cynara cardunculus plants west of Mansbridge is producing flowering buds.
25th May: A strange fungal gall affecting and swelling the flower stalks of Hemlock Water-dropwort Oenanthe crocata at Monk's Brrok Greenway. It is caused by the Ascomycete fungus Photomyces macrosporus.
20th May: Purple Crane's-bill Geranium x magnificum and the attractive pink variety of Bloody Crane's-bill Geranium sanguineum var striatum have appeared west of Stanpit Marsh Car Park at Christchurch.
19th May: Rough Clover Trifolium scabrum reappered at a carpark along the top of Southbourne Cliffs. Also Blanket Flower Galliardia x grandiflora showing well this year.
17th May: Three new flowers seen at Boscombe Chine, Bournemouth on recee for Wild Flower Society event. These were Corn Marigold Chrysanthemum segetum, Slender Vervain Verbena rigida and Fringe-cups Tellima grandiflora. Also three more new species at the Southbourne end were Rock Sea-spurrey Spergularia rupicola, Keeled-fruited Cornsalad Valerianella carinata and Laurustinus Viburnum tinus.
11th May: Four Broad-leaved Helleborines coming up in wet alder woodland in Jurd's Lake Vallet, Mayfield Park. Also Skunk Cabbage there and probable Wild Leek (not in bloom) as an established throw-out behind an Archery Road garden.
8th May: A Foxglove already in bloom at Mallard's Moor, Hamble - certainly the earliest one that the CHairman has ever seen.
6th May: A suspected naturalised Horse Chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum in flower in a hedge by Bubb Lane.
6th May: An estimated 600 Green-winged Orchids in bloom at St Mary's Extra Cemetery in Sholing. Only two Fly Orchids up (one nearly in flower) due to dry weather.
5th May: A white flowered variety of Lilac Syringa vulgaris in a roadside hedge by Newtown Road, Netley.
4th May: A stand of 200 Salsify Plants Tragopogon porrifolius amongst native vegetation on a roadside at Winsor near Cadnam.
2nd May: There have been very few fungi this spring but Dryad's Saddle Polyporus squamosus was found at Hum Hole, Bitterne.
1st May: Three-cornered Leek and two trees thought to be Siberian Crab Apple Malus baccata found at Ramalley Copse, Chandler's Ford.
29th April: Wild Bluebells seen on the Field Meeting at Denny Wood reported as being very small due to the dry conditions.
24th April: An interesting moss Calliergon cordifolium identified at Emer Bog. Very few fungi about due to the extremely dry weather.
23rd April: Even more Small-flowered Buttercup near the Admiralty Pattern Anchor at Freemantle than usual. A small bird-sown Berberis darwinii found at West Quay Road.
22nd April: Large colony of Upright Chickweed Moenchia erecta at another new Southampton site - Mayfield Park. Also the fungus gall Exobasidion japonicum on Azalea here.
19th April: Excellent display of Heath Dog Violet at Peewit Hill, Bursledon. Also Pill Sedge coming up in large quantities in an area burnt last summer.
14th April: First meeting of the Wessex Lichen Group at Buskett's Wood. We saw some Schedule 8 species including New Forest Parmelia Parmelia minarum.
13th April: A fine display of Narrow-leaved Lungwort along Summer Lane at Exbury. Two Early Purple Orchids coming into bloom at Pignal Inclosure and Goldilocks buttercup at Ivy Wood.
3rd April: A plant of Snake's-head Fritillary Fritillaria meleagris, with three blooms, in a damp grassy area at Lakeside Park, Eastleigh. This plant was seen again on 6th April when Garden Wood Spurge Euphorbia robbiae found naturalised in nearby woodland.
2nd April: Cut-leaved Dead-nettle Lamium hybridum identified on a grave at Eastleigh Cemetery. This species is scarce in the Southampton area.
1st April: Small Grape Hyacinth Muscari neglectum spreading on Peartree Green. Report of Summer Jasmine Jasminium officinale naturalised at Dairy Lane, Nursling.
31st March: Glory-of-snow Chionodoxa forbesii well naturalised in open woodland at Druitt Gardens, Chistchurch.
29th March: Several plants of Neapolitan Garlic Allium neapolitanum appartently growing wild by the road into the police training college at Netley.
25th March: During the Field Meeting at Mansbridge we were amazed to see Welted Thistle Carduus crispum already in bloom.
25th March: Wood Sorrel already in bloom at Wootton Coppice Inclosure in the New Forest.
24th March: Narrow-leaved Lungwort in bloom at Woodfidely Bridge in the New Forest.
23rd March: 60 species of lichens found in a major survey at Hillier's Gardens. Some lichens were parasitised by the unusual fungus Tremella pertusaria. Some interesting flora naturalising on the peat beds here including Noble Liverleaf Hepatica nobilis, Corydalis cheilanthifolia and the fern Adiantum pedatum.
21st March: Dragon Arum Dracunculus plant seen on a bank by the Sholing valley at Botany Bay.
15th March: Two plants of Creamy Butterbur Petasites japonicus have appeared by Tanglewood Pond at Rownhams. We think that this is a new site.
13th March: An incredibly early Ox-eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare already in bloom at junction 7 of the M27 (at Hedge End).
Glory-of-the-Snow Chionodoxa forbesii still doing well at the site at Sailor's Lane, Corhampton. They are spreading gradually into an adjacent field.
12th March: Three-cornered Leek Allium triquetrum found at a new site - within the Woodmill Activity Centre. This species is also spreading along the A31 at Ringwood
11th March: 28 species of Bryophytes recorded during the moss event at Lord's Wood. Also the Alder Cone Cup Fungus Ciboria amentacea was seen.
7th March: An interesting discovery of three plants of Globe Artichoke Cynara scolymus (another Mediterranean species) naturalised south of the MOnk's Path at Swaythling. Purple (=Blue) Toothwort already in bloom in some places along the lower sections of the Monk's Brook.
2nd March: The Cretan Rock Tulip Tulipa saxatilis has reapperead at Peartree Green. This garden escape was probably favoured by the baking hot summer last year. Some interesting lichens on a survey at Peartree Green, including Physcia tribacia on oak and Phaeophyscia nigricans on maple bark.
2nd March: Another new site for Bay Laurel. It was found bird-sown at Fremantle Common in Bitterne.
1st March: The lungwort Pulmonaria saccharata naturalised at Kendall's Wood, Thornhill. Bay Laurel found at a new site - Bacon Wood, West End and Summer Snowflake at another new site - near the pond in Telegraph Woods.
27th February: Blackthorn Prunus spinosa already in bloom in central Bitterne.
26th February: 30 species of lichens identified on tombstones at Rownhams Church.
25th February: Barren Strawberry and 'Wild' Daffodil already in bloom at Southampton Old Cemetery.
24th February: Out of season coral fungus Ramaria stricta seen at Old Bursledon.
21st February: Cherry Plum Prunus cerasifera already widely in bloom in the Hampshire countryside.
18th February: A one foot tall self-sown specimen of Serbian Spruce Picea omorika seen at Blackwater Arboretum. Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock also self-sown here.
13th February: Coltsfoot in bloom on shingle neat to the base of Hurst Spit. An interesting lichen Ramalina fraxinea plentiful on Hawthorns at Normandy Marsh.
10th February: Wall Rue fern surviving on the south wall of the former Northam Bridge. Winter Agaric fungus at Collier Close, St Denys.
7th February: Green Hellebore in bloom already NE of Upham. Snowdrops at their peak at Warnford.
3rd February: Alpine Squill and Primrose in bloom in Southampton Old Cemetery but Winter Heliotrope nearly gone over here.
2nd February: Cherry Plum coming into bloom at Horns Drove, Rownhams.
30th January: 30 species of lichen recorded during a survey at Watts, Andrews and Palmerston Parks in Southampton. These included Physconia distorta and the rather pollution sensitive Usnea subfloridana.
30th January: Two specimens of the uncommon 'Spring Cavalier' toadstool Melanoleuca cognata seen by Cemetery Road on Southampton Common.
22nd January: Summer Snowflake Leucojum aestivum already in good flower by Sowley Pond.
20th January: An alien flower growing along the base of the south side of Waitrose, Hythe was identified as the South African Sutera cordata. It is probably an escape from hanging baskets.
19th January: The lungwort lichen Lobaria pulmonaria found on an old Beech tree at Little Stubby Hat, near Buskett's. Another special New Forest lichen Parmotrema crinitum found on an old oak at Tantany Wood.
14th January: Primrose, Greater Periwinkle and Musk Storksbill in bloom already at Dibden Bay. Garden Daffodils seen at Hythe.
12th January: The lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea on an oak tree at Ashley Cross in the New Forest. There are only about three previous New Forest records to our knowledge.
7th January: The rare lichen Parmelina tiliacea found on the Ash tree outside the entrance to the Hawthorns Centre. There were about 20 to 30 specimens.
7th January: Greater Snowdrop Galanthus elwesii in flower in Southampton Old Cemetery.
5th January: Pleated Snowdrop Galanthus plicatus already in flower at Upper Swanmore