Update: I am now using the app you suggest in your article and it’s completely addictive - but I am learning so much! And it produces a useful list of plants I’ve investigated which is useful too. So thank you for a genuinely helpful suggestion.
Wow, great birthday present! I’m lucky enough to look after four miles of old railway track and so far we have counted over 300 species of wildflower along the banks. It’s part of what makes it magical. Plus the butterflies it encourages that chase the train as it passes - like dolphins and dive boats.
Looking beautiful Walt (and save some for July). We're wild about orchids up at this end of the Wylye, Bertie a surprisingly hungry orchid hunter for a 12 year old boy. We've had early purples and pyramids and butterfly orchids so far, now thoughts turn to the elusive bee orchid...
I have taken up the cause, Guy. Some weeks ago I read about "No Mow May". I was surprised to learn that the dandelion provides enough nectar for bees to thrive, buttercups and daisies are the friend of pollinators. I purchased a box of "bloombugs, BeeSeedBombs" (sic), from a firm in Lincolnshire. Going to give them ago both in front and rear lawns and see what happens. In the meantime, I shall use this excuse as to why the lawns remain unshorn.
Ah! the Green alkanet whose roots we say reach down to NZ so call it the NZ plant. It sows itself everywhere but the insects love it and its blue flowers are the bluest of blues. Our set aside fields are a mass of wild flowers and we didn't sow anything but just let whatever volunteered to grow in it. A handful of Cowslips had been scattered by ourselves and now there are numbers beyond computing turning large parts to 'gold'. Hawkweed once though lovely with its yellow flowers now creates almost a green desert not allowing much else to grow within its chosen areas. Cow parsley has to be controlled, nettles to some extent as well as Miss Willmott's Ghost that is everywhere now and loved by insects too. Thousands of wild orchids give huge delight. Dog's mercury is a total menace creeping into new spots and nothing eats it. And on and on... the fields are cut in some parts and raked off by hand, and larger areas cut by the tractor's huge cutter blades and left. Wildlife loves it though the deer and rabbits destroy so many young trees unless these have guards around them. Worst of course are the grey "tree rat" squirrels who bark strip young trees, killing millions annually in the UK. But the Jay and the squirrel do plant trees forgetting where they buried their acorns, conkers, walnuts and those we put guards around too. Jays plant for their generations to come! Enjoy the wild flowers and Nature will bring every year new wonderful discoveries either brought in on foot, or on the wind. Looking forward to visiting it soon!
And do sow Yellow Rattle, if you have none, that keeps the grass in check. YR came on its own either wind borne, on feet or vehicle tyres and we gather seeds and scatter those in all set aside fields now. It really does a great control - Mother Nature hard at work without any need for nasty killer sprays.
My degree was in plant science and environmental studies, a fascinating course of study that involved a lot of yomping around grassland, hills, rivers, tarns and coastline. I have always been captivated by the beauty of flowers and amazed by the ways in which plants are adapted to their environment. It’s so easy to walk by and not notice them, but flowers and plants deserve a lot more attention and love - after all, without them we wouldn’t be here. Thank you for the article, Guy.
Wonderful stuff. You really must update us with culinary uses. I've had ice cream flavoured with various wild flowers, soft drinks and even some home produced "gin". And, simply in salads. I see a cook book in your future.....
This is a lovely post, and surely not 'off topic' - I for one signed up for 'all things Walt' and it's wholesome to remember that there's more to life than, err, Nazis.
It's good to learn about a whole new subject now and then, isn't it? Particularly one that make the world that's around you all the time anyway seem like a richer, more interesting and more beautiful place. I might just have to download that app ...
Thank you for a wonderful post and photos. We turned our tiny front garden into a garden meadow - not quite a wildflower meadow, but still much better for insects and birds than boring lawn. My dream is to do exactly what your wife did one day.
I've been using an app for the last 2 years to identify the wild flowers when out walking in Wiltshire. It must definitely be an age thing ! At this time of year I really look forward to the wild orchids coming into flower. Parsonage Down over by Shrewton is a hot spot for them (I wrote about them here: https://www.hiddenwiltshire.com/post/parsonage-down-and-the-summer-orchids) but I also see them in my local hills around Westbury and Warminster. I've also given parts of my garden over to wild flowers, which helps support my general indifference towards mowing the lawn.
Fabulous post Guy. Thank you for bringing the beautiful & understated blooms to our attention. That has to be the best ever birthday present! Well done Annabel!
Update: I am now using the app you suggest in your article and it’s completely addictive - but I am learning so much! And it produces a useful list of plants I’ve investigated which is useful too. So thank you for a genuinely helpful suggestion.
Australia, of course, has to go one better!
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-61655327
Wow, great birthday present! I’m lucky enough to look after four miles of old railway track and so far we have counted over 300 species of wildflower along the banks. It’s part of what makes it magical. Plus the butterflies it encourages that chase the train as it passes - like dolphins and dive boats.
Looking beautiful Walt (and save some for July). We're wild about orchids up at this end of the Wylye, Bertie a surprisingly hungry orchid hunter for a 12 year old boy. We've had early purples and pyramids and butterfly orchids so far, now thoughts turn to the elusive bee orchid...
Wow! your orchids are ahead of ours! Things always a little more backward in our valley...!
Very admirable.
I have taken up the cause, Guy. Some weeks ago I read about "No Mow May". I was surprised to learn that the dandelion provides enough nectar for bees to thrive, buttercups and daisies are the friend of pollinators. I purchased a box of "bloombugs, BeeSeedBombs" (sic), from a firm in Lincolnshire. Going to give them ago both in front and rear lawns and see what happens. In the meantime, I shall use this excuse as to why the lawns remain unshorn.
Ah! the Green alkanet whose roots we say reach down to NZ so call it the NZ plant. It sows itself everywhere but the insects love it and its blue flowers are the bluest of blues. Our set aside fields are a mass of wild flowers and we didn't sow anything but just let whatever volunteered to grow in it. A handful of Cowslips had been scattered by ourselves and now there are numbers beyond computing turning large parts to 'gold'. Hawkweed once though lovely with its yellow flowers now creates almost a green desert not allowing much else to grow within its chosen areas. Cow parsley has to be controlled, nettles to some extent as well as Miss Willmott's Ghost that is everywhere now and loved by insects too. Thousands of wild orchids give huge delight. Dog's mercury is a total menace creeping into new spots and nothing eats it. And on and on... the fields are cut in some parts and raked off by hand, and larger areas cut by the tractor's huge cutter blades and left. Wildlife loves it though the deer and rabbits destroy so many young trees unless these have guards around them. Worst of course are the grey "tree rat" squirrels who bark strip young trees, killing millions annually in the UK. But the Jay and the squirrel do plant trees forgetting where they buried their acorns, conkers, walnuts and those we put guards around too. Jays plant for their generations to come! Enjoy the wild flowers and Nature will bring every year new wonderful discoveries either brought in on foot, or on the wind. Looking forward to visiting it soon!
And do sow Yellow Rattle, if you have none, that keeps the grass in check. YR came on its own either wind borne, on feet or vehicle tyres and we gather seeds and scatter those in all set aside fields now. It really does a great control - Mother Nature hard at work without any need for nasty killer sprays.
My degree was in plant science and environmental studies, a fascinating course of study that involved a lot of yomping around grassland, hills, rivers, tarns and coastline. I have always been captivated by the beauty of flowers and amazed by the ways in which plants are adapted to their environment. It’s so easy to walk by and not notice them, but flowers and plants deserve a lot more attention and love - after all, without them we wouldn’t be here. Thank you for the article, Guy.
Thank you for the comment, Beverley!
Wonderful stuff. You really must update us with culinary uses. I've had ice cream flavoured with various wild flowers, soft drinks and even some home produced "gin". And, simply in salads. I see a cook book in your future.....
Actually, was thinking of something along the lines of "GuyFood"...
This is a lovely post, and surely not 'off topic' - I for one signed up for 'all things Walt' and it's wholesome to remember that there's more to life than, err, Nazis.
It's good to learn about a whole new subject now and then, isn't it? Particularly one that make the world that's around you all the time anyway seem like a richer, more interesting and more beautiful place. I might just have to download that app ...
Thank you for a wonderful post and photos. We turned our tiny front garden into a garden meadow - not quite a wildflower meadow, but still much better for insects and birds than boring lawn. My dream is to do exactly what your wife did one day.
Great post! Come for the negronis, stay for the weed. I'll get my coat.
I've been using an app for the last 2 years to identify the wild flowers when out walking in Wiltshire. It must definitely be an age thing ! At this time of year I really look forward to the wild orchids coming into flower. Parsonage Down over by Shrewton is a hot spot for them (I wrote about them here: https://www.hiddenwiltshire.com/post/parsonage-down-and-the-summer-orchids) but I also see them in my local hills around Westbury and Warminster. I've also given parts of my garden over to wild flowers, which helps support my general indifference towards mowing the lawn.
Fabulous post Guy. Thank you for bringing the beautiful & understated blooms to our attention. That has to be the best ever birthday present! Well done Annabel!