A Walk on the Wild Side

Yesterday we went for a walk on a familiar route.  A farm lane/bridle path that leads into the Pentland Hills just outside Edinburgh.  We regularly walk this path and there is always some eyecatching novelty to stop you in your tracks.  Due to the virus restrictions we haven't been this way for about ages.  The flora and fauna haven't missed us and are thriving.

First to greet us this chicory flower:

Next a novelty I had to look up.  Yes it looks a bit like white ragwort or even blackberry flowers but this is Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica)

Here's a picture with the leaf to help identification

The big attraction is the knapweed which is proving a magnet for many species

Another insect magnet is this:

My best guess is Hawkweed, but "dandelion like flowers" covers an extensive range of plants.  A check of the leaves suggests  Leafy hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum)

As we get higher a heathland favourite appears

A bank of harebells

Now here is the most camera shy wildflower .  My camera's autofocus is fooled every time I try to get a close up.  It is Devil's-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis)

The much maligned ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)  is hosting an insect party

Another commonplace plant: Yarrow  (Achillea millefolium)

Looks like Cow Parsley - I reckon this is a Hogweed seedhead

Next a real surprise up on the moor: Wild Basil?

Clinopodium vulgare

Not to confused with White Horehound (Marubium vulgae) found a quarter of a mile further on 

Last to feature although the plant is long gone these Sweet Cicely seeds are hanging on in their characteristic configuration.

Time to head for home.