Karen Andrews
@botanykaren.bsky.social
Wiltshire and Somerset botanist, nature-lover and garden visitor. Languages and photography.
https://botanykaren.net
https://botanykaren.net
Pinned
Karen Andrews
@botanykaren.bsky.social
· Sep 14
My #FavouritePlant of the year is undoubtedly Grass of Parnassus seen for the first time (and many other times) while at the BSBI’s Annual Summer Meeting in Scotland this August. #wildflowerhour
Reposted by Karen Andrews
Checked out our shiny new website yet?
bsbi.org
New to @bsbibotany.bsky.social or #WildFlowerID?
We think you'll find it easier than ever to access resources, hear about events & learn more about wild plants in your area.
Seasoned botanist?
All your fave pages are still there + lots of new stuff!
bsbi.org
New to @bsbibotany.bsky.social or #WildFlowerID?
We think you'll find it easier than ever to access resources, hear about events & learn more about wild plants in your area.
Seasoned botanist?
All your fave pages are still there + lots of new stuff!
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Checked out our shiny new website yet?
bsbi.org
New to @bsbibotany.bsky.social or #WildFlowerID?
We think you'll find it easier than ever to access resources, hear about events & learn more about wild plants in your area.
Seasoned botanist?
All your fave pages are still there + lots of new stuff!
bsbi.org
New to @bsbibotany.bsky.social or #WildFlowerID?
We think you'll find it easier than ever to access resources, hear about events & learn more about wild plants in your area.
Seasoned botanist?
All your fave pages are still there + lots of new stuff!
Reposted by Karen Andrews
We're proud to announce the winners of the 2025 BSBI Photo Competition!
3 categories - intrepid, inquisitive & inclusive - reflecting our Society's values.
Winning pix 👇 by Ian Francis, Catriona Matheson & Edward Burden: congratulations!
Full details & links to all entries:
bsbi.org/photographic...
3 categories - intrepid, inquisitive & inclusive - reflecting our Society's values.
Winning pix 👇 by Ian Francis, Catriona Matheson & Edward Burden: congratulations!
Full details & links to all entries:
bsbi.org/photographic...
November 7, 2025 at 2:57 PM
We're proud to announce the winners of the 2025 BSBI Photo Competition!
3 categories - intrepid, inquisitive & inclusive - reflecting our Society's values.
Winning pix 👇 by Ian Francis, Catriona Matheson & Edward Burden: congratulations!
Full details & links to all entries:
bsbi.org/photographic...
3 categories - intrepid, inquisitive & inclusive - reflecting our Society's values.
Winning pix 👇 by Ian Francis, Catriona Matheson & Edward Burden: congratulations!
Full details & links to all entries:
bsbi.org/photographic...
Reposted by Karen Andrews
Major revision of #GBRedList of plants published today shows 25% of our native & archaeophyte flora threatened with extinction. Many iconic widespread species classified as threatened for first time including Betony, Marsh Marigold, Devil’s-bit Scabious and Harebell. Another wake-up call for action!
November 5, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Major revision of #GBRedList of plants published today shows 25% of our native & archaeophyte flora threatened with extinction. Many iconic widespread species classified as threatened for first time including Betony, Marsh Marigold, Devil’s-bit Scabious and Harebell. Another wake-up call for action!
My Fiddleleaf Cactus is flowering again. I count 28 flowers and buds. #houseplants
September 27, 2025 at 2:44 PM
My Fiddleleaf Cactus is flowering again. I count 28 flowers and buds. #houseplants
My #FavouritePlant of the year is undoubtedly Grass of Parnassus seen for the first time (and many other times) while at the BSBI’s Annual Summer Meeting in Scotland this August. #wildflowerhour
September 14, 2025 at 7:15 PM
My #FavouritePlant of the year is undoubtedly Grass of Parnassus seen for the first time (and many other times) while at the BSBI’s Annual Summer Meeting in Scotland this August. #wildflowerhour
Reposted by Karen Andrews
#Fruits for #WildflowerHour Bramble, Sloe, Elderberry, then Oak (masses of Knopper galls this year), Sycamore, Sweet Chestnut (no Conkers on Horse Chestnut round here 🙁). Finally Hawthorn, Field Maple, Dogwood. All from brief walk to supermarket in Bradford-on-Avon
August 31, 2025 at 7:05 PM
#Fruits for #WildflowerHour Bramble, Sloe, Elderberry, then Oak (masses of Knopper galls this year), Sycamore, Sweet Chestnut (no Conkers on Horse Chestnut round here 🙁). Finally Hawthorn, Field Maple, Dogwood. All from brief walk to supermarket in Bradford-on-Avon
Reposted by Karen Andrews
It’s looking a bit like autumn! Plump, luscious fruits are brightening the hedgerows like vibrant jewels, beautiful, but can you identify them? This week find the fruits of wild plants, snap away & post your lovely pics for #wildflowerhour this Sunday 8-9pm using #fruits 🍒
August 29, 2025 at 7:10 AM
It’s looking a bit like autumn! Plump, luscious fruits are brightening the hedgerows like vibrant jewels, beautiful, but can you identify them? This week find the fruits of wild plants, snap away & post your lovely pics for #wildflowerhour this Sunday 8-9pm using #fruits 🍒
Round-leaved Fluellen, Kickxia spuria seen with SRPG at Wellow, Somerset in a post-harvest field of stubble yesterday.
August 25, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Round-leaved Fluellen, Kickxia spuria seen with SRPG at Wellow, Somerset in a post-harvest field of stubble yesterday.
Sea Campion under Bamburgh Castle today.
August 8, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Sea Campion under Bamburgh Castle today.
This afternoon I enjoyed the detail in the flowers in the #GreatTapestryOfScotland
August 7, 2025 at 6:06 PM
This afternoon I enjoyed the detail in the flowers in the #GreatTapestryOfScotland
My highlight from day 3 of the #BSBI Annual Summer Meeting in Scotland was Sagina nodosa, Knotted Pearlwort with Parnassia palustris,Grass-of-Parnassus, open and in bud. Not a bad assemblage.
August 7, 2025 at 5:48 PM
My highlight from day 3 of the #BSBI Annual Summer Meeting in Scotland was Sagina nodosa, Knotted Pearlwort with Parnassia palustris,Grass-of-Parnassus, open and in bud. Not a bad assemblage.
Reposted by Karen Andrews
Having a fantastic week at the @bsbibotany.bsky.social summer meeting. Finding a fantastic range of sedges and grasses. Highlight of my week is finding Carex x boenninghausiana, the hybrid between remota and paniculata. Hierochloe odorata, Calamagrostis stricta and it's hybrid C. x gracilescens.
August 6, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Having a fantastic week at the @bsbibotany.bsky.social summer meeting. Finding a fantastic range of sedges and grasses. Highlight of my week is finding Carex x boenninghausiana, the hybrid between remota and paniculata. Hierochloe odorata, Calamagrostis stricta and it's hybrid C. x gracilescens.
This southerner at the #BSBI Annual Summer Meeting in Scotland was delighted 🤩 to finally see Grass of Parnassus on Day One at Blackpool Moss. No mean feat to photograph it in the wind as Storm Floris was sweeping in.
August 4, 2025 at 6:42 PM
This southerner at the #BSBI Annual Summer Meeting in Scotland was delighted 🤩 to finally see Grass of Parnassus on Day One at Blackpool Moss. No mean feat to photograph it in the wind as Storm Floris was sweeping in.
This wasn’t really this week, but this recent intrepid harebell on a slag heap at Priddy Mineries deserves a spotlight in the #HarebellChallenge for #Wildflowerhour , doesn’t it?
July 20, 2025 at 7:09 PM
This wasn’t really this week, but this recent intrepid harebell on a slag heap at Priddy Mineries deserves a spotlight in the #HarebellChallenge for #Wildflowerhour , doesn’t it?
Today I had a go at getting to grips with those tricky Epilobiums. Here is Hoary or Hairy Willowherb, Epilobium parviflorum, as seen today in VC8 near VC6 border at Alfred‘s Tower, Stourhead with #wiltsBotSoc #hairyplants #wildflowerhour
July 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Today I had a go at getting to grips with those tricky Epilobiums. Here is Hoary or Hairy Willowherb, Epilobium parviflorum, as seen today in VC8 near VC6 border at Alfred‘s Tower, Stourhead with #wiltsBotSoc #hairyplants #wildflowerhour
Reposted by Karen Andrews
Great habitats at Priddy Mineries on yesterday’s #WiltsBotSoc visit, wonderful plant communities and Euphrasia just about everywhere.
July 6, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Great habitats at Priddy Mineries on yesterday’s #WiltsBotSoc visit, wonderful plant communities and Euphrasia just about everywhere.
Ivy-leaved Bellflower, Wahlenbergia hederacea, as seen with #SRPG today on Exmoor. Unfortunately, no sun to coax the flowers out. #wildflowerhour
July 6, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Ivy-leaved Bellflower, Wahlenbergia hederacea, as seen with #SRPG today on Exmoor. Unfortunately, no sun to coax the flowers out. #wildflowerhour
Black-tailed Skimmer seen at Priddy Mineries today.
July 4, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Black-tailed Skimmer seen at Priddy Mineries today.
Harebells at Priddy Mineries, Somerset today.
July 4, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Harebells at Priddy Mineries, Somerset today.
🥵 Too hot out in the sun botanising today. Instead, I spent a lovely day focused on Snake’s-head Fritillaries at @floodplainmead.bsky.social craft workshop in Cricklade. Results are not too shabby given my usually poor artistic skills. 😃 Thank you to Alice, Emma and Olivia.
June 29, 2025 at 3:52 PM
🥵 Too hot out in the sun botanising today. Instead, I spent a lovely day focused on Snake’s-head Fritillaries at @floodplainmead.bsky.social craft workshop in Cricklade. Results are not too shabby given my usually poor artistic skills. 😃 Thank you to Alice, Emma and Olivia.
I’m fascinated by the daily unfurling fronds of my Sago Palm, Cycas revoluta. #houseplants
June 28, 2025 at 1:40 PM
I’m fascinated by the daily unfurling fronds of my Sago Palm, Cycas revoluta. #houseplants
Reposted by Karen Andrews
🌱🌳 Planting trees isn't just about tossing seeds or seedlings in the ground. It’s about growing them in the right ways.
Here's some #GenerationRestoration guidance to make every tree count.
Here's some #GenerationRestoration guidance to make every tree count.
June 27, 2025 at 12:47 PM
🌱🌳 Planting trees isn't just about tossing seeds or seedlings in the ground. It’s about growing them in the right ways.
Here's some #GenerationRestoration guidance to make every tree count.
Here's some #GenerationRestoration guidance to make every tree count.