Of Musk Stork's-Bill (and Spring Beauty)

We were surprised (and pleased) to find some Musk Stork's-Bill flowering beside the Car Park at Hall Place (Grid Reference: TQ5074) viz.

We had previously seen (during 2019) Musk Stork's-Bill growing locally on the Holly Hill Open Space (Grid Reference: TQ4978) viz.

and on a grassed area beside Woolwich Road * (Grid Reference: TQ4777) viz.

* where we also saw Spring Beauty again (first seen there last year and the only place we have seen it growing in the London Borough of Bexley) viz.

Tempus fugit

'Tis somewhat disconcerting to realise that we are almost half-way through Spring. The Wild Daffodils in Lesnes Abbey Woods are now but a memory and it will not be long now before Bluebells carpet the Ground (and will themselves become a memory). 'Tempus fugit'.

During a brief visit, Plants seen flowering, included:

Bluebells viz.

Greater Stitchwort viz.

Ground Ivy
Lesser Celandine viz.

Wood Anemones viz.

Wood Sorrel
and Yellow Archangel viz.

Little Critters in the Sunshine in the Gardens (at Home) and Beyond

We had intended to make a detour to the local Heath whilst on a Shopping Expedition: however, we found ourselves utterly entranced by the number and variety of Little Critters (a Bee Fly, Bees, Bugs, Hoverflies, a Wasp &c.) found in the Gardens (both Back and Front at Home) including:

Although we decided to give the Heath a miss, we did see a number of Bees, Hoverflies and Ladybirds beside a local Footpath, including:

We are seeing a few more Ladybirds now

Like this one seen on the East Wickham Open Space viz.

An assumed 7-Spotter: like all the other ones seen so far this Year.

But very much a 'few' more: not 'many' more.

Our first 'Bug' of the Year

We wonder whether this Little Guy, seen on Bostall Heath (the Royal Borough of Greenwich) settling on Gorse, might perhaps be a Gorse Shield Bug: or perhaps not?

Of Grape Hyacinths, Red Dead-Nettles &c.

Whilst visiting our local Sainsbury's, we took a short detour to look at some Grape Hyacinths, Red Dead-Nettles &c. flowering nearby viz.

A very small area but quite a few Wild Flower' Species to be seen viz.

Annual Mercury 
Bittercress
Bristly Oxtongue

Buddleia

Cleavers

Common Chickweed

Common Field-Speedwell

Common Mallow

Common Nettle

Dandelion

Forget-me-Not

Grape Hyacinth (despite a general lack of Sunshine, seen here being visited by a Bee Fly) viz.

Oxford Ragwort

Red Dead-Nettle (despite a general lack of Sunshine, seen here being visited by a Hairy-Footed Flower Bee) viz.

Shepherd's-Purse
and Sowthistle

We find some Four-Leaved Allseed in a new location for us

Leaving Lesnes Abbey Park (in the Abbey Wood area) and en-route for Abbey Wood Railway Station, we were surprised and pleased to find some Four-Leaved Allseed in a new location for us (beside New Road: Grid Reference: TQ4778):

And whilst on the final leg of the Walk Home and not far from Home, we found some Jersey Cudweed growing in a Roadside Gutter viz.

A First Safari for a couple of Weeks or so (whilst visiting the local Sainsbury's)

We decided to visit the local Sainsbury's to get some Shopping. En-Route we passed the massed ranks of Sweet Violets still flowering beside a Public Footpath (sadly, the Council Strimmers will doubtless be along sooner rather than later to raze them to the Ground: flowering 'Weeds' look so untidy!).

And the Sun shone!

It was good to be out again: lots to see, including:

California Poppy
Common Chickweed viz.

Common Field-Speedwell
Common Mallow
Common Whitlowgrass viz.

Dandelions viz.

Dove's-Foot Crane's-Bill
Four-Leaved Allseed viz.

Green Alkanet
Grape Hyacinths viz.

Groundsel
(assumed) Henbit Dead-Nettle
Ivy-Leaved Speedwell viz.

Jersey Cudweed
Lesser Celandine (assumed not planted and growing in two Front Gardens)
Lesser Swine-Cress viz.

Pellitory-of-the-Wall
Red Dead-Nettle
Rue-Leaved Saxifrage
Shining-Leaved Crane's-Bill
Sweet Violets (and visiting Hairy-Footed Flower Bees) viz.

We also spotted our first Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) for almost a couple of weeks viz.