Seeing the Changes 459

Spring seemed more advanced in the Douro Region of Northern Portugal (even making allowance for the unseasonally hot weather prevailing in the UK). Masses of flowers were in bloom including Greater celendine (Chelidonium majus), Tree mallow (Lavatera arborea), Green alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens), Horse radish (Armoracia rusticana), Corn marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum), Viper's blugloss (Echium vulgare), Perennial sunflower (Helianthus x laetiflorus), Common fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Spring gentium (Gentiana verna), Spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum), Kerry lily (Simethis planifolia), Purple mountain vetch (Oxytropis halleri) and a strange thistle with variegated leaves. Critters included the Wall butterfly (Lasiommata megera), a Mullein wave moth (Scopula marginepunctata), a bug and a scorpion-like crab spider. Wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) were also active in the sunshine.