And then we...

There's been a lot of activity recently and little time to document it beyond, of course, making sure the records are right and entered up properly.

So this is a roundup.

We explored all around the area below the Gospel Pass in two visits - to one of the farms as well as to Darren Lloyd itself and the common below it.

One of your first encounters worth recording was this - just discernable in the picture - abundance of "something white" in a field below us - which turned out to be the densest population of Pignut I have ever seen.

Pignut, Cneuen y ddaear or Conopodium majus - from afar

We found Lemon-scented fern in one of the flushes on the mountain side - and again at the farm.

Lemon-scented Fern, Rhedynen bêr y mynydd or Oreopteris limbosperma

This, I am reliably informed is part of a "nivation cirque" high on the slopes of Darren Lloyd. (A mountainside hollow - or Corrie formed by snow, not ice.)

Anyway it was home to some good species including Oak Fern.

Oak Fern, Rhedynen dridarn or Gymnocarpium dryopteris

Both Oak and closely related Limestone Fern are found at height in this area - eg at Tarren yr Esgob I later discovered and at first we were unsure which we had here...

The farm had a lovely meadow with many good species all over it.

Including this:

Marsh Arrowgrass, Saethbennig y gors or Triglochin palustris (Triglochin palustre) 

And much more:

We got quite high up Darren Lloyd.

Where this was growing in the open moorland - not woodland as is more common for the species.

Common Cow-wheat, Gliniogai or Melampyrum pratense 

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Other highlights of the last weeks' efforts:

Heath Spotted-orchid, Tegeirian brych y rhos or Dactylorhiza maculata 

At Llangorse and photographed 'cos they looked nice. (We welcomed the Wildflower Society to Llangorse to look around at its riches.)

This Brecknock rarity in flower there:

Round-fruited Rush, Brwynen ffrwythgron or Juncus compressus 

Tim Rich came to Allt Rhongyr Nature Reserve to explore the cliffs for rare Whitebeams and Hawkweeds. The whole area was enveloped in cloud that day and members of the group were very enthusiastic and intrepid in the conditions.

Sorbus leptophylla at Allt Rhongyr

I checked up on some earlier in the year encouters near Halfway when in the area.

This Fragrant Agrimony, Agrimonia procera just flowering but thirsty.

 As was a Broad-leaved Helleborine not far away.

And finally - I explored some lanes around Llywel as the area needed more recording effort a few days ago. I have a tendency if walking a winding lane / upland to "just see what's round the next corner" / "just get over the next brow" so came across this rose just outside the target area - it wasn't the only thing I recorded out of target square - after all it's not really about squares on maps...

Sherard's Downy-rose, Rhosyn Sherard or Rosa sherardii