This years weather has been varied to say the least! The coldest spring since 1962 and a wetter than average May was followed by a heat wave which kicked off in July and is currently still with us. This rather extreme weather has played some interesting games with the plants of our countryside. The wet May seems to have been great for the grasses (but not for the hay fever sufferers!) the hedgerows and meadows have a surfeit of grass growth and a massive explosion of flowers and pollen! However, the heatwave very soon made short shrift of this growth and most grasses are now busy setting seed and dying back to scorched yellow, orange and brown stalks (good news for hay fever sufferers!). Check out Dr M’s survey of the tribes of Poaceae for more on grass identification.
July 19, 2013
