Pale toadflax (linaria repens) and harebell (campanula rotundifolia) still blooming this week at The Holies, Streatley (W. Berks). #wildflowerhour

Just a few flowers of betony still in evidence this week at Ashford Hill Meadows (N. Hants) for #wildflowerhour.

Chiltern gentians still just holding on at Streatley (W. Berks) this week but have been few and tiny this year after the dry spell. #wildflowerhour

More chiltern gentian surprises. Just when I thought last week’s find was a one-off, I discovered a few more plants in flower in the sunshine this week, at Streatley (W. Berks). #wildflowerhour

Pleased to see basil thyme (clinopodium acinos) back in bloom at Streatley (W. Berks) today after disappearing during the worst of the drought. #wildflowerhour

A surprise at Streatley (W. Berks) today. After not finding any of the earlier autumn gentians this year, this lone, rare chiltern gentian (gentianella germanica) has defied the odds to bloom in the later more favourable weather. #wildflowerhour

My pick for #FavouritePlant is rue-leaved saxifrage. It’s been scarce this year, likely due to the unusually wet autumn and winter. Spotted on the old pavement at The Holies, Streatley (W. Berks), 28/3/2026. #wildflowerhour

Two faces of pale toadflax (linaria repens) at The Holies, Streatley (W. Berks) this week. I wonder if the darker one is a highly saturated wild variant or a stable hybrid with purple toadflax (l. × dominii)? #wildflowerhour

Red bartsia (odontites vernus) on Stockbridge Down (Hants) this week in the afternoon sun. An important late-season source of nectar for carder bees and various wasps. #wildflowerhour

Wild mignonette (reseda lutea) #FRUITS seen this week on Stockbridge Down (Hants). The picture shows green immature pods on the lower stem and ripe, open-topped brown capsules on the upper stem. #wildflowerhour

The delicate flowers of common hemp-nettle (galeopsis tetrahit) spotted at Ashford Hill Meadows (N Hants) this week for #wildflowerhour

Some gypsywort (lycopus europaeus) for #wildflowerhour, found this week by the currently dried up pond at Ashford Hill Meadows.

Looking and functioning as if they were custom built for droughts, carline thistles today at The Holies, Streatley (W. Berks). #wildflowerhour

Devil's-bit scabious - a bit of late summer purply-blue standing out against the parched downland this week at The Holies, Streatley (W. Berks). #wildflowerhour

Common restharrow (ononis repens) with bee visitor from my walk today at Streatley (W. Berks). In old farming days its deep, wiry roots routinely snagged heavy horse-drawn ploughs (harrows) forcing the harrow to rest. Late for #wildflowerhour #CommonNames

Sneezewort (achillea ptarmica) at Ashford Hill Meadows (N Hants) this week. #wildflowerhour

A tangle of skullcap and a cluster of water mint seen this week close to the edge of a recently dried out pond at Ashford Hill Meadows (N Hants). #wetlandplants #wildflowerhour.

Basil thyme (clinopodium acinos) thriving out of the cracks of the old sun-exposed pavement at The Holies, Streatley (W. Berks), 4/7/26. Late for #wildflowerhour.

Spotted three burnt-tip orchids on Ladle Hill (N Hants) yesterday growing under the wing of a conspicuous pyramidal orchid. #wildflowerhour

Goat's-rue (galega officinalis) blooming on a road verge near Old Burghclere (N Hants), 27/6/2026. Heavily managed by Wildlife Trusts for outcompeting native flora. #InvasivePlants #wildflowerhour