Wildflowers that are often ignored

Whilst most of us will notice the primroses and bluebells that appear at this time of the year there are many other flowers that won't often get seen but are worth a closer look.

Here are a few I have noticed while out on my daily walk around 
the local lanes in the last few days.


Flowers such as the Herb Robert, which is from the geranium family and is also known as Stinky Bob! It is edible and has a number of medicinal uses. To find out more click here

This flowers from spring to late summer and likes shady spots so can easily be missed. Look closely around the lanes now and you should find some about.

The cow parley, also known as Queen Anne's Lace, it is beginning to appear now and there is always a good show of it in the Meade. It is so common that it rarely gets a second glance but it is an important food source for hoverflies, bees and other insects. It also has a number of medicinal uses, including as a mosquito repellent!
To find out more click here

The White dead nettle is flowering along the hedge banks now and will continue to do so right up until the end of the year. As the name suggests it is a nettle but it doesn't sting and actually has quite an attractive flower if you take the time to look at it more closely and again is an important source of nectar for bees and other insects.

Click here for further information.

Lastly, a pretty, small  blue flower, the speedwell. This one seen along the roadside verges at the moment is a Germander speedwell. There are various other speedwells but this is probably the commonest one. For the gardeners amongst you , this is a type of Veronica but not one you would probably deliberately grow in the garden.

For more details click here



If you are also walking the lanes to get some exercise during the current lockdown, why not start a list of the wild flowers you see as you go along. I find it interesting to compare the dates I see the first ones in flower and then compare from year to year.