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Danish scurvy grass by a roadside

Danish scurvy grass

A plant which in recent years has become visible as a white ribbon directly next to roads, usually busy ones. Danish scurvy grass is a plant which can tolerate high levels of salt in the soil where it grows (a halophile).

Winter gritting leaves such salt levels in the edge of verges. It is possible that the seeds also spread in car tyres. So this tiny flower is now becoming common in early spring, often found in a band only a few inches wide.

Most of the patches I’ve seen have been right by very busy A-roads – not comfortable places to stop to photograph. These were on the edge of the small village green at Seisdon.

It was a dull and chilly day when I was there, so the flowers are only half out.

Danish scurvy grass

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First bluebell of the year

First bluebell of the year

OK, probably not the very first one, even locally. But the first bluebells were coming out in ones and twos a couple of days ago in the unexpectedly warm weather. This one was in the woods behind Northycote Farm.

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Landscape with Goodyear balloon

Landscape with Goodyear balloon

I’d just crossed over into south Staffordshire when I heard the sound of the sound of the Goodyear balloon, heading to fly straight overhead..  The skyline is in the vicinity of Lower Penn.

Goodyear balloon

Landscape with Goodyear balloon

Goodyear balloon

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Frogspawn and a frog

Frog spawn

Seen in a pool on one of the Wolverhampton allotments over the weekend. The frogspawn is already so well developed that the beginnings of the tadpole shape can be seen.

Frog spawn

Perhaps the water snails are enjoying a glut of food.

Frog spawn

Thanks to Barbara and Tony.

Frog's head