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Flowers News
February 2008 - Flowering Hazel
Trees
Vinters has a number of hazel trees
dotted around the reserve and over the last few weeks
you may have noticed the male catkins or 'lambs tails'
as some people know then.
Male Catkins
Many of these flowers are now coming to an end, however
the female flowers are just beginning to show, but
you need to look carefully amongst the buds to find
them.
Female Flower
Many flowering plants stagger the timing
of their male and female flowers (known as dichogamy)
as this helps to prevent self fertilization, so the
hazel tree is not unusual in this practice. However
this technique relies on some plants (in sunny aspects)
coming into flower earlier than others (in cold areas).
In Vinters many of the earlier flowering hazels can
be found higher up the slopes, or facing a southerly
or eastern direction, whereas the late flowering trees
are usually situated along the bottom of the valley,
or on north or west facing slopes.
January 2008 - First Flowers
of the year
Winter Aconites
Eranthis hyemalis
The new year has only just begun but
already there are flowers to be seen at Vinters Valley
Nature Reserve (07th January). Near to the silt traps,
at the top of the lake, you can see a patch of winter
aconites in bloom. These delightful members of the
buttercup family are garden escapes that are widely
naturalized in the countryside. Bright yellow, with
ruffs of bracts that surround the flowers, they are
also known as 'choirboys' in parts of the country.
They like the moist soil near the silt traps and in
the afternoon catch the late sun, showing them at
their best. Do look out for them when you next visit
the reserve.
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)
Galanthus nivalis
Near to the barrel bridge you will soon
see the first snowdrops in flower. When I checked
them this afternoon (07th January) a few of the buds
were just beginning to open slightly. Depending upon
the weather they should open more fully in the next
7 days. Again these are plants that have naturalized
in the countryside and open early to attract any passing
insects on warm sunny days. They tend to stay in flower
longer than the winter aconites and different clumps
of plants in the reserve come into flower at different
times over the next 6 weeks. If you can't find the
snowdrops near the barrel bridge don't worry as many
more can be seen in flower along the lime tree walk,
towards the end of the month.
Steve Songhurst, Warden
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