Woodbridge garden flowers
The unrelenting, cold wet days since April had even the hardiest of gardeners struggling to be out and about and yet, despite this lack of intervention, the procession of plants pressed on regardless. Feeling somewhat redundant I sought a brief change of outlook on the East coast, coincidental with escape from the hyperbole that is Chelsea flower show .
Fortune favours the brave and with a sudden volte face in the weather, the barometer shot to the top of the 70s. But as with any busman’s holiday, the gardener never really stays behind, even when at the seaside. Planting arrangements, from houseboats to street containers caught my attention whilst I literally had a field day with the wildflower displays- hence the abundance of images herewith! [Click to enlarge]
Hawthorn and Horse chestnut in May
One of the advantages of going East (or North) is the opportunity to re-run some of the Spring flora that has come and gone in the soft underbelly of London. Hawthorn and Horse Chestnut blossom overflowed from field and hedgerow with all the cultivated copiousness of a ‘bridal wreathed’ Spiraea. Out-blued by the bugloss ‘Green Alkanet’, the last of the bluebells were nodding off in the damp and shady places. Alarmingly many were the wretched offspring of English natives with Spanish hyacinths (H. × massartiana.) and no respecter of the wild woods. There was even a dense patch of the alba version on National Trust land which a pair of Ruddy Darter dragonflies were delighting in.
Blue flowers of Green Burnet & bells of Hyacinthoides
L to R: Hawksbeard; Meadow Buttercup
Signifying golden days ahead, the high-gloss yellows of Meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris) and dandelions as round and spiky as suns in children’s paintings. Fringed with a paler, double petalled aura, Hawksbeards are more delicate and refined than their rumbustious relatives.
In the pink - L to R: Comfrey; Red campion; Everlasting pea
L to R: Chickweed; Germander Speedwell; chickweed flower; Ribwort plantain
What the tiny wildflowers lose in wow factor, they more than make up for in the impact of dense carpeting . Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys ) spreads a dainty blue haze in the grass whilst Chickweed smothers as its goes. Lifting the tiny white flowers for a closer look, the patter of seeds falling in their hundreds shows why this is such a perennial annual. On a somewhat higher plane, the naked, erect stems of Ribwort plantain attract attention with unique, satellite-headed blooms.
Bugle Ajuga reptans
All along the lakeside edges, wild Bugle (Ajuga reptans) spread out like sun bathers in the rabbit-cropped grass. The chocolate foliage and lavender-blue flowers have been cultivated into slightly taller, intenser varieties, displaying a versatility for groundcover across the whole light-shade continuum.
Fiddlehead fronds of Pteridium aquilinum (Common Bracken)
a Speckled Wood's Nettle patch
By no coincidence was this ‘National Nettle’ week, overlapping with ‘Save our butterflies’. 1 The stinging armoury of Urtica doica means that dense areas of Nettle, flower and thrive unmolested by grazers, which in turn makes them a safer habitat for several species of butterfly and moth larvae. The Speckled Wood caterpillar however feeds on grasses but beneath the encroaching tree canopy, a male butterfly uses the dappled limelight on a nettle patch as launch pad, either to attract a mate or to intercept an intruder.
Lacy edgings of Anthriscus sylvestris
If English bluebells are the ”Blackpool illuminations’ of Spring , it is the froth of Anthriscus acreages which quicken the pulse and summon summer. The white umbels may be a gastronomic sight for ruminants and grazers (hence the epithet of cow mumble or conie parsley) but by any of the multitude of local names from Lady’s lace to Gypsy umbrella, it does smell as sweet. In their massed scent is the distillation of country lanes which marks this sea change of the season.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. 2
~~0~~
And now it must surely be time to join others at the Little Red House for another Mosaic Monday
Stopping in from Mary’s Mosaic Monday. Beautiful flowers and images. I especially love the poem and the last shot. Have a great week!
eileen read my post..Shenandoah National Park
thank you and welcome
Sounds like you had a great time and perfectly timed for the weather. The colour of that comfrey is incredible. Loving the wildflower photos. The more I look into wildflowers the more I’m hooked by them. Such beautiful little flowers that go unnoticed by so many.
wellywoman read my post..Beauty in Simplicity
Think it’s Russian comfrey but only just found out that there are 3 varieties. I like the understated element of wildflowers (and your post title could not be a better match!)
Lovely photos, and a favourite poem. I’ve been mesmerised by the hawthorn and cow parsley this year, it seems frothier than ever. S x
hillwards read my post..It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Summer…
I think it’s a Mast year judging by the amount of blossom – will keep an eye out for fruiting!
glad you had a wee break from the city Laura, you sound like you really enjoyed it and have re energised, love all the wildflowers and lovely words as usual, Frances
Island Threads read my post..Temples
thank you Frances and I love the contrast with the city too
Hi Laura,
Hope you had some fun on your trip.
Give me wildflowers any day. They are without doubt my preference. My garden is very late this year, it has taken a long time to warm up. I am only just saying goodbye to bluebells. Hawthorn and Elder are in bloom.
It is fenced off so that the Grandchildren can’t fall in them ……..
I have a huge nettle patch….my family think I am slightly crazy but do be honest, I have no problem with that
As always your posts captivate me…….
the nettle patch may be where your Brer rabbit(s) lives
…and lovely compliment thank you
Time near the sea is always so welcome, and if you also encounter so many beautiful sights, then all the better!
RobinL read my post..Rose Report from Robin
Lots of lovely flowers in the post!
Except . . . I find green alkanet an odd plant. It’s very popular. I think some people grow it in their gardens. But I find it very off-putting. I can’t bring myself to like it. Buttercups now . . . !
Lucy Corrander read my post..TREE IN A DRAIN
the name is odd considering that gorgeous blue
what a wonderful visit and change of scenery…lovely scenery…
Donna@Gardens Eye View read my post..Harmony Through Chaos
- time out of London is good and best of all by the sea Robin
- my favourite time of year Donna
Very lovely series of images~
I am having a very slow week, and I ask you to forgive me for my tardiness. Momma always said, better late, then never~
glad you did
You did have a wonderful vacation and a refreshing change. But the flowers always draw us.
Carolyn @ Carolyns Shade Gardens read my post..Large Hostas Get the Spotlight
we city folk need refreshing
Calling in from the beer-belly of London – rather intoxicated now that the foxgloves are in bloom.
Enjoyed cooling off by the sea and the frothy umbels with you.
I would be really interested to see your interpretation of a Chelsea Garden, if my nomination counts.
Chelsea often more show than flowers with occasional charms as with Japanese/English hybridBarakura English garden I especially went to see in 2009.
p.s. your foxgloves should win at least a silver!
Lovely photos. Much of my garden is full of wildflowers, some welcome, some less so. I am overwhelmed with alkanet. I love and hate it together. The vibrant blue sings out but the coarse, prickly foliage swamps everything in its path with the sole exception of perennial cornflower which is mounting a bit of a fight back. Again and again I find that the wildflowers throw up combinations that are better than anything I can produce with my books and my musings.
elizabethm read my post..Enjoy yourself; it’s later than you think
had read that alkanet is a bully – and blooms looks so self-effacing! I guess Wildflowers have to have lot of space else they look measly hence bigger ornamentals needed for most gardens
Wild flowers are the beauty of the English countryside.
Happy to see so many of your photo’s showing them.
Common Bracken, with the newly emerging fiddleheads and later lush fresh green fronds, where would the countryside be without it? and probably not as ‘common’ as marigolds.
Andrew @potted read my post..June Garden Tips and Ideas
Bracken is another lovely bully though- the first to make a comeback and take all the room when the verges are mown.
p.s. Also a problem of toxicity and ticks for grazing animals so walkers encouraged to trample it
You’ve had a beautiful Spring. I, too, adore the sea, although I am not as fortunate as you to live close by. That poem touched my heart.
Carolyn read my post..June "Walk in the Gardens" Challenge…
not that near to the sea and horrid weather mosst of the time
What a lovely post – really refreshing and – shh, I don’t want to say it out loud in case it vanishes – summery……
Kate read my post..At last – End of the Month View, May 2012
too late- summery went downstream with the jubilee flotilla