A Year in the Valley

Compared to last month, Little Venice is back under water again.  It is so full of pondweed and algae, that I keep expecting to see frog and toad spawn.  That wouldn’t be a good thing though, as fingers crossed the path will dry out soon.  As with the valley, there is a lot of new green growth sprouting through the dead grass – buttercup, cleavers, bedstraws, lesser celandines, docks, reed canary grass and a few clumps of HWD.  I had thought they would come up easily through the soft mud, but Mr C said the suction was phenomenally strong and it would be easier when the ground has dried out a bit.  Yellow flowers include – kingcup (still!), lesser celandine, dandelion and the first buttercup.  Some of the willows have pussy willow buds on them.  Soon, I will have another go at identifying our willows and the neighbouring overhanging ones.  We have at least two different types, not counting the weeping willow.