Well, there’s a host of new stuff in the mini-meadow. I liken this to a third phase of flowering; first the spring stuff – cowslips and like; then the early summer stuff – buttercups and such; and now the high summer stuff…..but why did I grow those plants….?
This is the flower head of greater burnet. It looks a lot nicer magnified like this; but in reality it’s a small innocuous blob. Why did I grow so much of it? En masse it looks fantastic; in meadows I’ve visited, like Pixie Mead near Oxford (yes there really is such a place) when this stuff is in flower all you can see is mile after mile of purple haze. But in my meadow it disappears completely. It doesn’t provide pollen or nectar: it just sits there, disappearing completely. Luckily there are some successes.
Like this betony. This is a really typical of traditonal Yorkshire meadows and it looks fabulous; hums with bees too. Then there’s…
Hedge bedstraw and it’s cousin….
Ladies bedstraw. Last but not least…
….harebells,
….tufted vetch (OK not last – I am feeling mischievous today),
…bladder campion, and….
…ragwort. Wait a minute….RAGWORT!?! I didn’t plant it in of course; that would be illegal and I would never do something illegal. It just sort of found its way in by itself you see. Yes. But it is a good nectar plant you see. Yes. Here are some general views, changing the subject somewhat.
No purple haze you see. Sigh!
Rob said,
July 2, 2009 @ 10:55 pm
Your meadow looks brilliant – you must be well pleased. The bedstraws are wonderfully delicate plants up close which also look good from afar, I reckon – lots of them out around here on the IoW just now.
peterjmayhew said,
July 3, 2009 @ 8:20 am
Thanks, yes, I am pleased. I agree about the bedstraws; I wish they did better here; but I don’t think the soil’s ideal for them. The meadow is an ongoing project and I try to grow a few new species to plant in each year. This year I’m doing quaking grass, agrimony and ladies smock.
Neil said,
July 3, 2009 @ 10:58 pm
It is not illegal to plant ragwort.
see http://www.ragwortfacts.com
peterjmayhew said,
July 4, 2009 @ 7:59 pm
Hmmmm, interesting; I had never read the letter of the law, like most people I guess. In fact I only mention it at all because of a sentence in Miriam Rothschild’s “The butterfly gardener”, which warns about the legal implications of growing it, and advises you not to. You are correct that there is nothing specific on growing the plant in the letter of the law, true, but encouraging it does seem against the spirit of the law. So if someone decided to complain about it, I wouldn’t really be in a strong position if I had planted it. Thanks for the info!
Emese Pallagi said,
July 15, 2009 @ 10:59 am
Hi Peter!
Your flower photos are beautiful. We really enjoyed it. Maybe we should see once Yorkshire in summer time to admire it.
Emese
peterjmayhew said,
July 15, 2009 @ 11:03 am
Thanks Emese,
Yes, when the sun is out it can be beautiful here!
Best wishes,
Peter