iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Cup Fungi looking like a black Rose #wildflowerhour

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

This Red Clover plant had the flowers replaced with what looks like leaflets. Same thing happened on all flower heads of this plant #wildflowerhour

1262

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Found this nightshade in flowerbed outside a newly built city centre block of flats. Looked different to the ubiquitous Black Nightshade. Is it Green Nightshade? #wildflowerhour #WildflowerID

4221

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Chroogomphus fruiting body development

010

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Fungi from pinewoods on Sefton coast: Elfin Saddle, Copper Spike (Chroogomphus sp.), Violet Domecap, lilac Fibrecap. The Copper Spikes were really impressive so took loads of pictures #fungi #fungifriends

1180

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Earpick fungus (Auriscalpium vulgare) growing on Pine cones. I really like the colours of these #fungi #fungifriends

2456

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Xylaria, I’m often not clear on Dead Man’s or Dead Moll’s fingers. Brown cup, False Death Cap and Glutinous Waxcap #fungi #fungifriends

1130

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

BBC University challenge picture round on plant illustrations taken from original ‘Scouting for Boys’ book. One word answer required. They got the Oak on second guess but none of others. I am always in awe of these students knowledge -but is this an example of ‘Plant Awareness Disparity’?

Simple line drawing of Oak tree and a leaf with lobed edge

Line drawing of a tall narrow tree and leaf. Correct answer was given as Aspen. Looks like a Lombardy Poplar to me

Ash leaf with opposite pinnate compound leaves

Line drawing of Elm tree and leaf with serrate edge and asymmetrical base

171

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Waxcaps. All the Parrot Waxcaps at this site had caramel coloured caps #MushroomMonday #fungi

0193

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This is some kind of Puffball. Mosaic Puffball perhaps? #mushroommonday #fungi

120

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

First two images are Woolly Milkcap (Lactarius torminosus) which has concentric bands on cap and is more woolly. Second two show paler and less woolly Bearded Milkcap (L. Pubescens) North Wales #fungi #fungifriends

Woolly Milkcap with lots of overhanging hairs

Bearded Milkcap with woolly overhanging hairs

0558

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Tawny Grisette (Amanita fulva) at different stages, emerging from volva to fully opened in Birchwoods of North Wales. A common but beautiful mushroom #fungi #fungifriends

0150

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Birds nest fungi, Pine woods, Sefton coast. Common Birds Nest growing inside half a small pine cone. The orange and white buttons appear to be the early stage. Fluted Birds Nest with spiny outer surface and white covers protecting the eggs #fungi #fungifriends

0111

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

An unidentified coral fungus, Amethyst Deceiver, some tiny fungi which are little round white heads on thin black stem (possibly slime mold?) and a Penny Bun from Arrowe Park, Wirral for #mushroomMonday

000

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Amanita with yellow veil. Is this Gilded Amanita -A franchetti? Growing outside a city library #fungifriday #fungi

0110

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Chalciporus sp. In cemetary today #fungifriday #fungi

2171

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Recalibrating my exploring from wildflowers to #fungi. Slender Parasol, Wolfs Milk slime mould, Brown Birch Bolete and Velvet Shank from Denbighshire. #fungifriends

1260

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Some grassland #fungi from Denbighshire. Pink Domecaps, Entoloma Ameides, Liberty Caps, Collared Mosscap. The second picture was the highlight of the day, Bubblegum Pinkgill which smells of dentist mouth rinse. #mycology #fungifriends

040

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Managed to get some casual botanising in on family holiday to Cumbria #wildflowerhour

1364

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Went to Llanymynech looking for Autumn Ladies Tresses. Excellent consolation were Red Hempnettle and Flowering Rush -both new to me #wildflowerhour

1243

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

There is an incredible amount of Rustyback growing as #wallplant in Ambleside. Well hydrated too. #Wildflowerhour

318311

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

3 aliens and a native Woundwort growing in Canning docks, Liverpool. Seen whilst visiting a replica of Columbus ship today #wildflowerhour

0181

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Rhizina undulata -Doughnut fungus growing on floor of pine plantation in North Wales and a smut, Anthracoidea sp. on Carex #MushroomMonday #FungiFriends

0200

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Low light shots of Blue Fleabane and Ploughman’s Spikenard growing from mortar in Ruthin castle. Not seen these growing from walls before #wildflowerhour

0151

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

My first sighting of Yellow Birds-nest at Minera. A bit gone over. No sign of any Autumn or Field Gentians #wildflowerhour

0181

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Eurasian Jay feather now in my treasure collection

060

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Nightshade alien from a road verge in Denbighshire. AI says S rostratum? #wildflowerhour

2191

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Nettle-leaved Bellflower and Limestone Woundwort in a parched Denbighshire last week. Limestone Woundwort past its best but doing much better than the other wilted herbs in the parched woodland #wildflowerhour

1272

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Young Chicken of Woods and plenty of Ergot around- seen here on Sweet Vernal and Cocks-foot grasses this week. #mushroommonday #fungi

050

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Lesser Skullcap and Bifid Hemp Nettle from North West Wales #wildflowerhour

0322

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Some #fungi found this week. Anthracoidea arenariae a smut on Sand Sedge. ?Albugo sp. on a Brassica. Coleosporium senecionis on Narrow Leaved Ragwort #fungifriends

0100

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Centaurium in full swing in North West. These are from Sefton coast and North Cheshire #wildflowers @bsbibotany.bsky.social

White form Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea)

? Intermediate Centaury (Centaurium × intermedium)

0112

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

#Hoya incrassata has aborted its buds the last 2 years. This year I think it will actually bloom. I am really excited to find out what it will look like and how it will smell.

011

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Noticing more moths this year. Not ready to set up a moth trap yet though #ukmoths

030

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

From around Liverpool Bay this week for #Wildflowerhour

050

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Kidney Vetch, Parsley Piert, Yellow Rattle and Hop Trefoil current #lawnflowers all from locally collected seed #wildflowerhour

080

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Can’t see any recent records for Knotted Hedge Parsley in Merseyside. Found in the biodiversity hotspot of ‘The Asda’ carpark along with Narrow Leaved Pepperwort #wildflowerhour

0131

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Common Mallow and Dwarf Mallow-side by side comparison- both frequent on pavement edges in Wirral #wildflowerhour

0111

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Cheerful Button Weed (Cotula coronopifolia) on a traffic island in Wirral. Widely established on the salt marshes of the Dee estuary but my first time seeing it inland #urbanbotany

020

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Bee Orchids starting to flower at Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool. The mowing regime timing greatly affects numbers. This one is protected in a small planted wildflower area. Best years 60+ spikes found #wildflowerhour

0120

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Bee visiting Greater Butterfly Orchid. I presumed they were pollinated by moths #wildflowerhour

0150

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Some incidental moths noticed in limestone grassland, Wales #teammoth

070

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Water Avens (Geum rivale) with lots of hybrid (Geum x intermedia) of varying forms in ancient woodland Flintshire #wildflowerhour

0161

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Shepherds Cress (Teesdalia nudicaulis) seed heads from above in Denbighshire #wildflowerhour

080

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Hutchinsia (Hornungia petraea) surprisingly still in flower. Tiny with a black ant for scale in Denbighshire #wildflowerhour

0111

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Early Purple Orchids in Llangollen #wildflowerhour

0162

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Red Campion Anther Smut (Microbotryum silenes-dioicae) in North Wales #fungifriday

071

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

This guy was knocking on the window trying to get in last night. The glowing eyes put me off a bit so didn’t invite it in #ukmoths

000

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Two Medicks which I haven’t seen before in North West. Growing on converted landfill site. The seedpods of Toothed Medick made it stand out from the commoner species #wildflowerhour

0121

Ben @benrl.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Tiny Adders Tongue amongst Spring Sandwort in North Wales. My first time seeing this plant #wildflowerhour

0949