One of the things I really enjoy about botany is the out of the way 'secret' places it gets you to. Balmy summer evenings in such places at this time of year are a joy and Tuesday night was exceptional. Stuart Read had very kindly offered to meet at one such site at Thorington Street near Stoke-by-Nayland as he'd found some of the rare Small-flowered Buttercup there a few days previously.
We spent a good hour in one small area which held an outstanding array of scarce plants. as well as the main attraction there were 4 species of scarce clovers - Suffocated Clover, Birds'-foot Clover, Clustered Clover and Knotted Clover. 3 of these were new to me! Into the bargain there was also a good patch of the beautiful Grass Vetchling and Hoary Cinquefoil plus Hairy Tare, Smooth Tare, Slender Trefoil, some curious white-flowered Common Vetch, Lesser Stitchwort, Field Madder, Scarlet Pimpernel and a large area covered in Lesser Calamint which will sadly not be in flower for some time yet. Turtle Dove and Cuckoo were the icing on the cake.
Bidding farewell to Stuart I made for home - via the Ipswich Lizard Orchid which is up but still in bud at the moment. I had tried on my drive down earlier but had incorrect directions. That error did at least allow me to find Jerusalem Sage and Musk Stork's-bill whilst searching.
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