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    Wildflower families: Lamiaceae

    Wildflower families: Lamiaceae, the Dead-nettle family is the latest in my series of blogs on wildflower families.  My online Field Studies Council course on ten common wildflower families, delivered by Iain Powell, provided information and inspiration.  I draw and paint wildflowers all the time, so learning more about what separates the families and what are […] Read more

    Wildflower families: Apiaceae

    Wildflower families: Apiaceae, the Carrot family is my latest blog in this series on common flower families.  I was inspired to write this series by my online Field Studies Council course.  I spend a lot of time drawing wildflowers, so it’s important for me to learn more about their family similarities and differences. As a […] Read more
    Great plantain

    Wildflower families: Plantaginaceae

    Wildflower families: Plantaginaceae, the Plantain family is my latest blog in this series on common flower families.  I was inspired by my online Field Studies Council course taught by Iain Powell.  I do a lot of observing and illustrating wildflowers, so it’s important to know more about their families and similarities and differences. For definitions […] Read more

    Rosaceae Fruit

    Rosaceae Fruit Whilst recently researching the wildflower families, I fell down a fruit-shaped rabbit hole.  And it is because of the amount of variety shown in the fruit of the Rosaceae, or rose family. Japanese rose Rosa rugosa For more on what makes a plant a member of the Rosaceae, check out my recent blog […] Read more
    brassica

    Wildflower families: Brassicaceae, the Cabbage family

    Wildflower families: Brassicaceae, the Cabbage family is another blog I’m writing in a series on wildflower families, inspired by my online Field Studies Council course.  Adding botanical knowledge of flower families to my observations of plants helps to increase the accuracy of my illustration work. White mustard Sinapis alba These blogs discuss some common wildflower […] Read more

    Trees: Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum

    Trees: Horse chestnut is one of a series of blogs I’m writing on common British trees.  You can also see blogs on the Elder, the Yew, the Ash, the Oak, the Holly, the Sycamore, the Rowan, the Hawthorn, the Lime, Scots pine, and the Beech. The Horse chestnut is easily recognized, with distinctive palmate leaves […] Read more
    fungus

    Fungal treats at Cusop Churchyard

    Fungal subjects always make my heart sing, so I was really pleased when three turned up in a recent species list I’ve been working on for Cusop Churchyard.  Not only were these three species new to me, but one is considered extremely rare! British earthstar Geastrum britannicum The British earthstar is one of a family […] Read more

    Trees: Birch

    Birch trees: The Silver and the Downy Birch   There are two main Birch trees in the UK, the Silver birch Betula pendula and the Downy birch Betula pubescens.  The Downy birch tends to grow better in wetter areas and in the north.  The Silver birch likes drier soils and is often found growing ornamentally […] Read more

    Trees: Beech

    Introduction Beech trees are common across Britain, favouring chalky soils.  The oldest Beech trees live up to 400 years.  You’ll find them in open spaces and in woodland and can tell them straight away by their smooth bark.  The trees produce beech mast which is nutritious for animals, and the canopy supports wildlife.  Beech wood […] Read more

    Lizzie Harper