Thread by @suzirowcliffe

Mission accomplished!
I’ve finally found all 240 wildflowers in my Collins Gem guide. The project has taken me many years and to many places, from seashores to mountain tops, and I've absolutely loved it! 🧵

#wildflowerhour #TwitterNatureCommunity #wildflowerhunt

Since 2006, I've been recording the date and location of each new species I found flowering in the wild. After making gradual progress for years, I decided in January to find all the remaining 112 by the end of this year.

The goal of finding all 112 in a single flowering season meant I had to do a lot of research on when and where I could see each one. Then I started making special trips to find the species not growing locally. I went on foot, by coach, train, bus and even boat!

Some wildflowers were easy to identify, like primrose, chicory, poppy and foxglove (pictured). But others were quite tricky, requiring forensic investigation. Umbellifers and violets were a bit of a challenge . . . And don’t get me started on hawkweeds!
@BBCSpringwatch

Finding each new species has been like finding treasure. I often took selfies with them like they were celebrities. They are my kind of fabulous!

Interaction with other enthusiasts has made a huge difference to my project. I’m very grateful to everyone sharing their finds online, local knowledge and identification tips, all of which helped me complete the task.

Special thanks must go to my bedroom and botany partner, Nick, who first inspired me to learn about wildflowers. He created a spreadsheet (bit.ly/3r2UorE) for me to record my finds, and joined me on some of my searches, always enthusiastically!

Things I learned:
🌸Wildflowers are everywhere!
🌸Many are flowering earlier than my book says (published 2004)
🌸Seemingly identical species can be told apart with time and patience.

The more I get to know wildflowers, the more I love them! #NaturePhotography #wildflowers