Marsh Gentians

These are one of our rarest and fastest declining plants. They are also one of our most beautiful. In North Hampshire, they are very rare indeed and fast vanishing. See them while you can and breathe in the beauty of their scent and feast your eyes on the ethereal blue of the sky they hold within their petals.

English ( Early) Gentians in comparison

These tiny, beautiful gentians grow in the driest of conditions and are endemic to England where they are found in Dorset and a few other places. Once thought to be a form of the autumn gentian they have now been separated on genetic grounds. Having seen both species, these seem to have a different habitat preference to the autumn gentians which grow in taller damper grass, rather than on hard baked coastal gullies.

Perfection!

This is the perfect plant, growing in profusion on the old hill.

Another Autumn Gentian

These are the essence of beauty at Coombe Hill.

Another view from Coombe Hill

What an ancient and magical landscape this is. A true vision of beauty.

View from Coombe Hill

A magical place, full of wild flowers and birds of prey. I have just seen a family of honey buzzards, a common buzzard, two sparrow hawks and several red kites.

Sublime Autumn Gentian

This beautiful gentian is on Coombe Hill, Buckinghamshire NOW!