Scotney Castle 24th March 2017
Perhaps best known for its old castle by the lake, the National Trust's Scotney Castle also has extensive grounds, mostly neat and manicured to exhibit their ornamental species. However me being me, I like to look for the "weeds" and wildflowers that the gardeners have missed. First up was the successully naturalised Ivy-leaved Toadflax, whcih has colonised walls all over the UK since its introduction many years ago. This grew abundantly on the wall from the house down to the gardens. Cymbalaria muralis I almost walked past this one thinking it was a Shepherd's Purse, but the leaves on the rosette didn't look right. Sure enough, it was a Thale Cress, the first plant to have its complete genome mapped. Arabidopsis thaliana These Snake Head Fritillaries are planted, but I could't resist taking a photo of them amongst the Daffodils. Here's another cultivated plant, a do