ju1i3's blog

Welcome to my gardening blog

flowerpot for a pillow

I hope I can share a little of what I've learned - and there is so much more to learn. Let's learn to love dandelions! and all those wildflowers that are so helpful for bees.dandelion

If you want to share anything, please post at https://www.facebook.com/gardenwithoutdoors/.

Victor using a flowerpot for a pillow

 

May 2025

I just love green alkanet , an amazing number of flowers attractive to bees produced early with zero effort on my part.

green alkanet with bee

green alkanet with bee

green alkanet with bee

green alkanet with bee

 

The Crepis vesicaria are blooming - it's been a long wait from magnificent rosettes last year to flowers this spring. I have 20 in the garden, surprising from a tightly packed lawn.

crepis vesicaria

crepis vesicaria

stocks

stocks

lewisia

lewisia

ceanothus at that magic time in spring when in full bloom

ceanothus

Yellow chamomile / golden marguerite (Cota tinctoria), I grew from seed, I planted some seedlings in the back garden and some in the front. These in the front have survived and seed to be developing buds but the ones in the back were savagely devoured by slugs.

cota tinctoria

cota tinctoria

cota tinctoria

cota tinctoria

I did find a couple of the Cota tinctoria surviving seedlings in the back garden in a pot

discovered this Crepis capillaris in a pot yesterday, I've had them in both the front and back garden

crepis capillaris

purple loosestrife seedlings

In trying to organize my many small pots with various self-seeders, I had these seedlings from different pots and thought they were the same species so I put them together in one small pot. I think they are purple loosestrife but will grow on to confirm.

purple loosestrife

purple loosestrife

some of my purple loosestrife plants

purple loosestrife

verbascum

verbascum blattaria

fringecups, I found a small seedling, I used to have a lot in my last garden, thought I'd brought pots with me which had it

fringecups

vetch

vetch

knautia

knautia

prickly sow thistle

prickly sow thistle

 

April 2025

Victor enjoying the sun in the garden

wintercress in bloom at the derelict car park

wintercress

wintercress

wintercress

wintercress

winterecress

wintercress

wintercress

wintercress

wintercress

more flowers on the honesty

honesty lunaria annua

Centaurea montana cultivar (maybe Amethyst?)

centaurea montana

some apple blossom in my garden

I was surprised to find one of my auricula's in bloom, it's survived the move and the winter. I don't recall seeing it last year. I used to have a lot more. I don't know if I brought all the pots they were in or not. I would have so I assume they didn't survive.

auricula

auricula

this shows what happens in my garden - lots of self-seeded forget-me-nots, dandelions and erigeron karvinskianus and pots of poppies (below)

auricula

claytonia, there's one spot on a pavement nearby that the claytonia loves and spread like mad

claytonia

claytonia

claytonia

claytonia

claytonia

claytonia

I know I'm back in Camden when I see Eastern rocket

eastern rocket Sisymbrium orientale

those extravagant long fruits

eastern rocket sisymbrium orientale

also saw an enormous catsear

catsear Hypochaeris radicata

and further along the road, Japanese knotweed shooting out over the pavement, I've been observing it there for years

japanese knotweed

a few days before on the same road, I saw a large wall lettuce in bloom, typical Camden plant that loves the lime of the period buildings there

wall lettuce lactuca muralis

nearby another wall lettuce just getting established, no buds or flowers yet

wall lettuce lactuca muralis

nipplewort

nipplewort

a waterfall of chickweed

chickweed

an enormous dandelion

dandelion

greater celandine, first flower I've seen this year

greater celandine

hawkweed oxtongue rosette

hawkweed oxtongue

hedge mustard plants growing up from the basal rosettes they start from, and a small rosette at the front of this one

hedge mustard sisymbrium officinale

hedge mustard sisymbrium officinale

hedge mustard sisymbrium officinale

black horehound plants

black horehound

black horehound

a local car park has some great plants around it

are these dandelions? similar to wild lettuce but no distinctive hairs under the leaves, will go back in a couple of weeks and check them

I'm not sure on this one, another to keep an eye on

maybe catsear

a number of Crepis vesicaria

crepis vesicaria

crepis vesicaria

crepis vesicaria

crepis vesicaria

crepis vesicaria

I'd seen this before looking like a dandelion but now I'm not sure

slightly closer view of the centre

lots of groundsel

a really interesting looking buttercup

buttercup

wider view of entire plant

buttercup

dandelion

dandelion

another car park near there

a pussy willow growing right through the tarmac

a closer view

wintercress?

groundsel?

I'm not sure about this, willowherb?

a few Crepis vesicaria

hoary mustard

hoary mustard

creeping thistle?

back in my garden

honesty, a plant I brought with me from my last garden when I moved

honesty

bristly oxtongue

bristly oxtongue

spear thistle

spear thistle

dandelion on my driveway - where no one can mow it down

dandelion

and some fat buds

dandelion buds

a Frankenstein plant, Danish scurvygrass growing up through buck's-horn plantain

buckshorn plantain and danish scurvygrass

danish scurvygrass

danish scurvygrass

also along the main road, thale cress

thale cress

also along the main road, cornsalad, it really likes this area and has spread along here

cornsalad

cornsalad

cornsalad

cornsalad

some white deadnettle amongst the liquor bottles

white deadnettle

I think this is a first year lesser knapweed but it's been a while since I had any of those. In my last garden I had a lot of mature plants which start with different leaves. A seed must have come along with me.

stock flower

stock plants I grew from seed last year, they're only flowering this year

I added the Erigeron speciosus Azure Fairy small plants to the stocks pots

March 2025

three cats sunning themselves in my garden, preventing me from watering my pots - but then suddenly a downpour later that afternoon - totally unexpected, not in my weather forecast

common whitlowgrass in my patio cracks

common whitlowgrass draba verna

common whitlowgrass draba verna

common whitlowgrass draba verna

forget-me-nots

forget-me-nots

muscari, front and back

muscari

muscari

daffodils

daffodils

daffodils

daffodils muscari

my giant knapweed have been eaten savagely by slugs, some were in the ground

giant knapweed slug eaten

I decided to try to save one in a pot, it might be the only one I have

giant knapweed

something I suspect I've grown from seed but I'm really not sure what exactly, it's the only seedling of it's type that I have - I think

lots of Danish scurvygrass (Cochlearia danica) in bloom along a nearby main road

danish scurvygrass Cochlearia danica

danish scurvygrass Cochlearia danica

danish scurvygrass Cochlearia danica

danish scurvygrass Cochlearia danica

an amazing nipplewort rosette (Lapsana communis)

nipplewort lapsana communis

Eastern rocket (Sisymbrium orientale)

eastern rocket sisymbrium orientale

shepherds purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

shepherds purse capsella bursa-pastoris

shepherds purse capsella bursa-pastoris

shepherds purse capsella bursa-pastoris

shepherds purse capsella bursa-pastoris

shepherds purse capsella bursa-pastoris

shepherds purse capsella bursa-pastoris

a few similar unknown rosettes I need to observe over coming weeks

dandelions

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

11-3-2025

dandelion

15-3-2025 a few days later, same dandelion in bloom

dandelion

22-3-2025

same dandelion a week later, lots of new buds

dandelion

dandelion

February 2025

end of February lots and lots of rosettes I've seen in the last few days

I'm not sure on this one

Crepis capillaris (I think)

hairy bittercress

hairy bittercress

claytonia

claytonia rosette

claytonia

claytonia

I'm not sure on this one

shepherds purse, a very variable plant

shepherds purse capsella bursa-pastoris

shepherds purse

shepherds purse

shepherds purse capsella bursa-pastoris

shepherds purse capsella bursa-pastoris

shepherds purse

shepherds purse

shepherds purse

Crepis vesicaria left, shepherds purse right

crepis vesicaria shepherds purse

Crepis vesicaria

crepis vesicaria

Crepis vesicaria?

Crepis vesicaria?

crepis vesicaria

Crepis vesicaria?

crepis vesicaria

Crepis vesicaria?

crepis vesicaria

Crepis vesicaria?

crepis vesicaria

Crepis vesicaria?

crepis vesicaria

crepis vesicaria

I'm not sure on this one

smooth sow thistle

smooth sow thistle

wood avens

wood avens geum urbanum

nipplewort

nipplewort

possibly sheep sorrel

another similar plant nearby

21-2-2025 common whitlowgrass (Draba verna) first flowers I've seen this spring

common whitlowgrass

common whitlowgrass

Pleased to see the Drimia maritima (was Urginea maritima) has survived the winter and is growing. I had them before but had to leave them behind when I moved and had not seen them bloom.

urginea

urginea

I also have a 3rd Drimia bulb but no sign of life yet.

Another bulb which I brought with me and planted them in the ground. I think these two photos are Scilla peruviana but hope they will flower this spring / summer. I have not had good luck with them so far.

scilla peruviana

scilla peruviana

The Sainsbury's lupins are doing well.

lupins sainsburys

I have had variable results with ranunculus. I'm never sure when to plant them, in the autumn or early spring. This year, I did start some in the autumn and then bought more recently at Sainsburys which say to start March to May and with the warm weather this week, I decided to start them end of February.

sainsburys ranunculus

white asphodel seedlings - the long grey-ish green seedlings in the centre of the each pot (except the top left) which have been invaded by a lot of other seedlings

white asphodel seedlings

13-2-2025

lots of hoary mustard rosettes

hoary mustard hirschfeldia incana

hoary mustard hirschfeldia incana

lots of Eastern rocket (Sisymbrium orientale)

eastern rocket sisymbrium orientale

eastern rocket sisymbrium orientale

eastern rocket sisymbrium orientale

eastern rocket sisymbrium orientale

Eastern rocket on the left hedge mustard on the right

eastern rocket sisymbrium orientale hedge mustard sisymbrium officinale

bristly oxtongue (Helminthotheca echioides)

bristly oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides

9-2-2025

beaked hawk's-beard (Crepis vesicaria) looking rather dandelion-ish, challenging shot - had to put my phone through the gaps in the metal barrier of the building site

crepis vesicaria rosette

crepis vesicaria rosette

crepis vesicaria rosette

crespis vesicaria rosette

crepis vesicaria

crepis vesicaria

what I call a Frankenstein plant, two growing together, in this case hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale) growing through beaked hawk's-beard (Crepis vesicaria)

hedge mustard crepis vesicaria

an unusual Crepis vesicaria rosette, initially I thought it looked like a shepherd's purse

Crepis vesicaria

three smooth sow thistle rosettes

smooth sow thistle rosette

smooth sow thistle

smooth sow thistle

prickly sow thistle

prickly sow thistle

 

a huge horseweed rosette growing in a wall

horseweed Erigeron canadensis

two thale cress left, prickly sow thistle right

thale cress

thale cress

hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale) really likes this area

hedge mustard sisymbrium officinale

hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale

hedge mustard sisymbrium officinale

hedge mustard sisymbrium officinale

update on the Eastern rocket (left) and hedge mustard (right) I saw the other day

eastern rocket hedge mustard

Eastern rocket (Sisymbrium orientale) seedlings

eastern rocket sisymbrium orientale seedling

eastern rocket sisymbrium orientale seedlings

smooth hawk's-beard (Crepis capillaris) - easy to identify as it's on my driveway and I've seen it in flower

smooth hawk's-beard crepis capillaris

 

8-2-2025

I saw these yesterday at Sainsburys and thought they were so cute. I love buying garden stuff at Sainsburys as it's easy and affordable. Of course, some products are better than others. Anything about wildflowers and pollinators is my favourite.

sainsburys wildflower seeds tins

wildflower seeds tins sainsburys

Blue and White Wildflowers

sainsburys wildflower seeds tin blue and white

back of the can

sainsburys Blue and white wildflower can

sainsburys blue and white wildflower tin

Pink and White Wildflowers

sainsburys wildflower seeds tin pink and white

sainsburys pink and white wildflower tin

sainsburys pink and white wildflower tin

Beneficial Insect Wildflowers

sainsburys beneficial insects wildflower seeds

sainsburys beneficial insect wildflower tin

sainsburys beneficial insect wildflower tin

In addition to the tins, I got a pack of lupins and ranunculus.

lupins sainsburys

lupins sainsburys

sainsburys lupins

sainsburys lupins

I thought I should pot these up as soon as possible.

lupins sainsburys

lupins sainsburys

lupins sainsburys

I love lupins but they are generally destroyed by slugs and snails. I am putting these in pots and putting them on shelves off the ground.

lupins sainsburys

Sainsburys ranunculus

back of the box of ranunculus

ranunculus sainsburys

clearer view of the back of the box

sainsburys ranunculus

sainsburys ranunculus

sainsburys ranunculus

more January 2025 plants

13-1-2025 I saw an intriguing hoary mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) leaf shape variation or at least I assume it is hoary mustard.

hoary mustard hirschfeldia incana

 

hoary mustard hirschfeldia incana

hoary mustard hirschfeldia incana

hoary mustard hirschfeldia incana

hoary mustard hirschfeldia incana

I went back 10 days later but I couldn't get any better photos. The area is on the other side of a metal openwork wall so difficult to get direct overhead shots. On the left are the more usually-shaped leaved hoary mustard plants next to the differently-shaped leaved plants.

hoary mustard hirschfeldia incana

hoary mustard hirschfeldia incana

I walked around the area hoping I might see some additional examples of hoary mustard but didn't see any that day. I will come back and check on these in a couple weeks.

I also saw an Eastern rocket plant. Haven't seen one in a while. It was quite prevalent in areas of London I found myself botanizing in but not so much in Edgware.

eastern rocket sisymbrium orientale sisymbrium officinale hedge mustard

some plants seen mid-January

On a very cold day yesterday, I was able to observe some plants in and around a local car park.

Crepis vesicaria possibly to the left, bristly oxtongue to the right

crepis vesicaria bristly oxtongue

another Crepis vesicaria possibly

crepis vesicaria

hoary mustard (Hirschfeldia incana)

hoary mustard Hirschfeldia incana

wintercress possibly, I don't see this very often so I don't know it very well

wintercress

ragwort seedling rosette, catsear to the left, tiny common whitlowgrass seedlings around, forget-me-not seedlings, some tiny hairy bittercress seedlings

ragwort seedling

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

common whitlowgrass

common whitlowgrass

common whitlowgrass

Geranium lucidum

geranium lucidum

stone parsley

stone parsley

creeping potentilla

creeping potentilla

bristly oxtongue

bristly oxtongue

another bristly oxtongue

bristly oxtongue

Crepis capillaris or autumn hawkbit

a couple I wasn't sure about

maybe evening primrose?

dandelion maybe?


January 2025

mid-January

hellebore in bloom

hellebore

scabious in bud and bloom

scabious

Danish scurvygrass (Cochlearia danica) rosette

Cochlearia danica Danish scurvygrass

Cochlearia danica Danish scurvygrass

buck's-horn plantain (Plantago coronopus) with tiny Danish scurvygrass and common whitlowgrass rosettes to the right and Danish scurvygrass growing through it

buckshorn plantain Plantago coronopus

Frankenstein plant (dandelion and Geranium molle)

frankenstein plant

beginning of January lots of rosettes

dandelions

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

dandelion

are these beaked hawk's-beard (Crepis vesicaria)? I worry the verge and other locations where they are will be mown down in the spring before I get to see them in bloom

shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) on the right, not sure on the left

another shepherds purse

shepherds purse capsella bursa-pastoris

bristly oxtongue (Helminthotheca echioides)

bristly oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides

I think these next two are the same but not sure what they are, they do look like dandelions but not exactly right for dandelion

pineappleweed (Matricaria discoidea), it's made itself into a rosette but not the usual basal plant rosette but and aged weathered rosette

pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea

spear thistle

spear thistle rosette Cirsium vulgare....

thale cress rosette

thale cress

thale cress rosettes

thale cress

stone parsley

stone parsley

dock

dock

bristly oxtongue

bristly oxtongue

December 2024

Danish scurvygrass (Cochlearia danica)

I saw a lot of this locally earlier this year in bloom. Now there are lots of seedlings.

danish scurvygrass cochlearia danica

cochlearia danica danish scurvygrass

cochlearia danica danish scurvygrass

cochlearia danica danish scurvygrass

cochlearia danica danish scurvygrass

cochlearia danica danish scurvygrass

cochlearia danica danish scurvygrass

mayweed (scented or unscented)

mayweed

mayweed

mayweed

mayweed

mayweed

November 2024

18-11-2024 lots of rosettes on a walk yesterday

dandelions

dandelion rosette

dandelion rosette

dandelion rosette

autumn hawkbit (Scorzoneroides autumnalis)

autumn hawkbit

I think this is smooth hawk's-beard but not certain at this stage.

autumn hawkbit

smooth hawk's-beard (Crepis capillaris)

crepis capillaris smooth hawk's-beard

catsear (Hypochaeris radicata)

Hypochaeris radicata

teasel

teasel

shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) in bloom

shepherds purse

hoary mustard (Hirschfeldia incana)

hoary mustard hirschfeldia incana

hoary mustard hirschfeldia incana

hoary mustard hirschfeldia incana

hoary mustard hirschfeldia incana

and not exactly a rosette but some stone parsley (Sison amomum) new small plants, possibly overlapping rosettes

stone parsley

13-11-2024

poppy rosette, Cotoneaster horizontalis above, common whitlowgrass rosettes to the left

poppy rosette

dandelion rosette with buds

dandelion rosette

close-up of the dandelion buds

dandelion buds

another dandelion

dandelion rosette

I also saw some dandelions in bloom

dandelion

shepherd's purse rosette

shepherd's purse

autumn hawkbit

autumn hawkbit

I love cosmos buds

cosmos bud

cosmos

cosmos

cosmos

cosmos

I also love rosettes. Some I saw recently:

shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

shepherd's purse capsella bursa-pastoris

shepherd's purse capsella bursa-pastoris

autumn hawkbit (Scorzoneroides autumnalis)

autumn hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis

dandelions (Taraxacum)

dandelion rosettes

dandelion rosette

dandelion

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