We find another Population of Rue-Leaved Saxifrage growing beside the Thames Path in the Belvedere area

During mid-March we were both surprised and pleased to find Rue-Leaved Saxifrage, some flowering, growing on the Thames Path in the Belvedere area (Grid Reference: TQ 50809 79951 or thereabouts).

There were sixty-plus plants growing on dirt and moss; a somewhat precarious toe-hold on existence.

Today, we were pleased (although not too surprised bearing in mind the previous find) to notice another small population, growing a couple of hundred yards or so upstream (Grid Reference: TQ 50713 80136 or thereabouts) viz.

We reckon there were around a hundred Plants growing on dirt &c. (again, a somewhat precarious toe-hold on existence) on/beside a disused Jetty/Wharf (the Majority behind the Padlocked Gate) viz.

A Postscript … Elsewhere, we were pleased to see our first flowering Ribwort Plantain and Greater Celandine of 2016 viz.

The former beside the Public Footpath that runs up from Church Manorway to the Thames Path; the latter on Rough ground next to the Lorry Park in Church Manorway.

We were pleased to see that the Nipplewort growing beside the Public Footpath that runs up from Church Manorway to the Thames Path is flowering again viz.

Also; assumed Charlock viz.

and assumed Hedge Mustard viz.

And in the Grounds of the Church of St John the Baptist, we spotted a Hummingbird Fly (aka a Bee Fly) visiting Purple Archangel (aka Red Dead-Nettle) viz.

Yippee: the Wood Sorrel is flowering in Lesnes Abbey Woods

Having done some work in the Garden at Home (digging, sowing wild flower seeds, cleaning out the bird bath &c.) in the morning we didn't feel at all guilty about popping out to see if the Wood Sorrel (which is on the Kent' Rare Plant Register) was flowering in Lesnes Abbey Woods and Yippee, our luck was in viz.

The flowers really are super-attractive. There are quite a few plants; seemingly more than last year but we cannot be sure on that point. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact location of the population due to the tree cover but we think the Grid Reference to be somewhere in the region of TQ 47783 78582.

They are growing in the shadow of a large Tree, a Sweet Chestnut, we think viz.

But it was not just the Wood Sorrel that drew our attention since we also noticed:

Wild Bluebells viz.

(a few) Wild Daffodils are still in flower viz.

Sweet Violet viz.

Greater Stitchwort viz.

Ground-Ivy viz.

Lesser Celandine viz.

Wild Garlic viz.

and Wood Anemone viz.

Magical; quite, quite, Magical.

We are intending to make regular visits to the Woods this year. Sadly though, we do not anticipate many visits to the nearby Lesnes Abbey Park viz. the area around the Lesnes' Abbey Ruins. Whilst we are hoping that the so-called enhancements/improvements currently underway will not result in the total destruction of the area as a place to look for Butterflies, Wild Flowers &c., we fear the worst.

We also assume that should these so-called enhancements/improvements attract more people to the Ruins &c. then we will surely see more people clambering about on the Ruins, despite notices asking people not to do so. We also imagine that vandalism will become a bigger problem.

Postscript: we also paid a fairly fleeting visit to the Erith Marshes (aka the Crossness Nature Reserve and Surrounding area) in search of Butterflies &c. and spotted: Brimstone, Comma, Green-Veined White, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Small White Butterflies. No Orange-Tip Butterfly yet but the recent weather hasn't really been the sort to encourage anyone to want to escape from a cosy cocoon!

We take a Wildflower Walk

With the Sun seemingly trying to break through the Cloud Cover we parked the car at the top of Norman Road North close to the Waste Incinerator and looked around for flowering Plants.

Looking first on the nearby Rough Ground we found:

(assumed) Black Medick viz.

Blackthorn viz.

Bluebell (both Blue and White ~ the Spanish variety we think) 
Bulbous Buttercup
Common Field-Speedwell viz.

Common Sorrel viz.

Cowslip viz.

(assumed) Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill viz.

Forget-me-Not viz.

Grape Hyacinth (Muscari) viz.

Green Alkanet
Lesser Celandine viz.

Oxford Ragwort
Primrose
Purple Archangel (aka Red Dead-Nettle) viz.

Three-Cornered Garlic/Leek
Spotted Medick viz.

Sweet Violet
Sticky Mouse-Ear
Tansy
and White Dead-Nettle

The Stinking Hellebore (on the Kent Rare Plant Register) is now flowered out viz.

Moving on the the Public Footpath that connects Norman Road North to the Thames Path we spotted:

Blackthorn
Bluebell
Common Field-Speedwell
Cowslip
Grape Hyacinth
Green Alkanet
Ground-Ivy viz.

Hawthorn viz.

(assumed) Hedge Mustard viz.

Lesser Celandine
Primrose
Purple Archangel (aka Red Dead-Nettle)
Spring Starflower
Sticky Mouse-Ear
Three-Cornered Garlic/Leek
and White Dead-Nettle

We also spotted a Bee-type Critter visiting a Dandelion viz.

Walking up to and along the Thames Path we noticed:

Annual Mercury (just about flowering)
Bluebell (the Spanish variety we think)
Common Field-Speedwell
Common Chickweed
Cowslip
Cow Parsley
(assumed) Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill
Forget-me-Not
Grape Hyacinth (Muscari)
Green Alkanet
Lesser Celandine
Pot Marigold viz.

Primrose
Purple Archangel (aka Red Dead-Nettle)
Sweet Violet
Three-Cornered Garlic/Leek viz.

White Dead-Nettle
and White Ramping-Fumitory viz.

Walking across the Erith Marshes (aka the Crossness Nature Reserve and Surrounding area) we focused our attention on Birds although to little advantage; that being said we were able to photograph a dear little Great Tit viz.

Also a splendid and rather dear, if albeit, unidentified, Little Critter viz.

After walking through the Norman Road Field we turned up Norman Road North towards the Incinerator and the Car, seeing more Cowslip viz.

Green Alkanet, Lesser Celandine, also some (assumed) Scentless Mayweed and a couple of Unidentified Flowers viz.

And then, on arriving back at the Car, we went home having done the shopping earlier in the morning. And yes; the Sun did break through although shortly after leaving there were few spots of Rain.