A purple orchid blooms near the shore at Barleycove in the west of Ireland
Our friend @milneorchid.bsky.social needs your help!
He's working on an orchid book for the Collins New Naturalist series, and needs more orchid images.
Find out how you could help Richard & maybe get one of your orchid photos (with credit) into this prestigious new book:
bsbi.org/blog/2026/04...
Two female botanists stand by a lake, with grassland behind; they are smiling, holding aquatic plants they have fished out of the lake for identification
We're looking to recruit a manager for 2 fabulous botanical projects in Ireland:
#AquaticPlantProject
#IrishGrasslandProject
You'll be coordinating expert-led field events & developing training materials for botanists at all skill levels.
2 days per week.
Apply by 25 May:
bsbi.org/about/news/l...
Edouard Vuillard's portrait (1912) is of Theodore Duret, heir to a firm of Cognac dealers, a collector, orientalist, and art critic; he was an early champion of Courbet, Manet, and the French Impressionists. He was also very fond of cats.
Eriskay 12.3.26
Huisinis, Harris. 9.3.26
Afternoon mooch.
“Violet and coltsfoot are among the first Spring flowers. Growing among the roots of the trees are violets and lesser celandine”
Writer: EL Grant Watson
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Early Meadow-grass Poa infirma being its most obvious at this time of year, forming lime green patches on the edges of tracks, pull-ins by roads, carparks.. then check for a narrow inflorescence, non-branching culms, no purple in flowers and ovoid anthers - to separate from annua #wildflowerhour
St. Clement's Church, Rodel, Harris. 8.3.26
Stunning.
(Walk to) Eilean Glas Lighthouse, Harris. 8.3.26
Butt of Lewis Lighthouse, with crashing waves and a very tired looking snow bunting. I think... 7.3.26
Clach an Truishal standing stone, Lewis. 7.3.26
One of the tallest in Europe? 6m. Good lichen.
Dun Carloway Broch, Lewis. 7.3.26
My favourite so far.
Callanish Stone Circle (1), Lewis. 7.3.26
Callanish Stone Circle 8, the Bridge(s) over the Atlantic, and Bosta Beach, Great Benera. 7.3.26
Luskentyre Beach, Harris. Obligatory. 6.3.26.
Seilebost Beach, Harris. 6.3.26
(Those aren't rocks. It's sand disguised as rocks...)
Must make a will...
Black and white print featuring a blackbird sitting in a next amongst branches of a tree in blossom
Printmaker Clare Leighton, 'Blackbird on Nest, Lithograph of Wood Engraving, 1935 #womensart
What a beautiful thing!
There are a few places left on this BSBI Scottish Outreach event this Sunday: 'Conifers Identification - a guided walk', at Balloch Castle Country Park, north of Dumbarton. Should be a great day, if a little nippy! @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
New leaves of Cow Parsley (left, a week ago) & Hemlock (right, today), Anthriscus sylvestris & Conium maculatum. At a distance to me the latter always looks more fern-like but that said I'm unlikely to eat either.
#Botany
2 panel cartoon 1. A human teacher is teaching a class to students. 'Most insects are harmless' 2. A bee teacher is giving a class to insect students. 'Most humans are harmful'
Class
Young man sitting in field with plant ID books, recording wild flowers in the sunshine
Can you find, identify & record 100 wild plants in 2026?
BSBI is confident that (with our support) yes, you can!
Beginner botanists, will you accept the challenge?
Sign up today for #100Plants2026 challenge:
bsbi.org/take-part/ac...
Check out the webinars & #WildFlowerID help we've prep'd for you!
No, your artificial lawn is not a "life hack". It's another tiny nail in the planet's coffin.
Barassie Beach 31.01.26
We're hiring!
Could you become our new Wales Officer, lead our Priority Plants Project & support #BSBICountyRecorders across Wales?
Apply here: bsbi.org/about/people...
Deadline: 23 February
Interested but not for you?
Please help us spread the word!
Amazing. Thank you!
Do you have a particular point that you're watching from? We may be over on Barra in March and it'd be great to watch for them. I realise we probably won't see any! Aldo, are you reporting your sightings to anyone?
Online talk: Looking forward to exploring some of my favourite urban plants with @bsbibotany.bsky.social at 7.30 on Wednesday night. Expect new discoveries, lots of aliens, heat islands and how pubs shape the urban flora. If you’d like to join in please book here bsbi.org/take-part/ev...
Looks amazing.