Wildflower Meadow 2021

 Here's how the wildflower meadow looks now.  

It has got a bit of height with teasel, thistle, wild carrot and yarrow all standing out.

Tracking through the season, dandelions looked like they had taken over and then buttercups as you can see here:

But both flowers receded in turn.  Here is the same end on view now.

For comparison here is the wildflower meadow last year.  There were more poppies and corncockles than this year and lots of wild radish. 

And going back another year this is how it all started:

As  it is now the end of August it is time to start clearing the meadow "progressively",  that is bit by bit.  The grass and other plants have become a matted thatch so I remove them to a sacrificial pile at the end.  There is ample opportunity for wildlife to move on as progress is slow - I use a pair of hand shears!

Here is a gallery of some of the current occupants:

Hope you enjoyed a mosey around the wildflower meadow!

Wild Wild Flowers

Here's the current state of play  in the wildflower meadow:

Yellow is still the order of the day, but these are mostly  buttercups now instead of dandelions.

There is some white too with the cow parsley

White clover

And white, so called 'sea campion'

The oxeye daisies, red campion and sorrel deserve a mention too.

And then there are the beneficiaries for whom the garden has been created.  Happily they are much in evidence.

 

Fields of Dreams

 The 2020 wildflower meadow has morphed into the 2121 wildflower meadow by the timely amendment and reinstatement of the sign.  The perimeter rope has also been reinstated.  (Two of the four reinstated metal stakes went missing so we are down to a single strand of garden twine stretched between two stakes.  It suffices as a mere suggestion to the council grass cutters of the agreed status of this corner of the park)

The dandelions are currently having their moment. Once they go to seed the seed issue will arise.  Already I am planning a cull of docks.  These dominated the patch before we set it up and are well represented throughout the neighbouring area (as are buttercups).

Back within the bounds of the school garden the nursery class are taking on the "grow your own loaf" challenge.  Here is the designated 'wheat field'

The canes are there temporarily to demarcate a sowing zone for each child.  A net will be deployed once the ears develope.  Those crows will be thwarted this year .

My final field dream come true is captured below. The 'wee bird' on the side of the path is a skylark.

So often heard, but only seen flying, never on the ground.  This encounter was like a dream.

Wild in the Country

Fly agaric

The season for fungi is here for all to see.  I never pick (let alone eat) any.  Not having the expertise to identify more than one or two I would have no confidence that I wasn't poisoning myself and those near and dear enough to share a meal with.  When it comes to threats to life I like to keep it simple. I do however admire from afar and try to expand my knowledge.  So I am enjoying walks and the fungi are putting on a show just as the flowers are being snuffed out by the cold.  Here's a woodland flower (as you can tell from the flash being required) that I just had to learn about.  

It turns out to be Yellow Pimpernel (Lysmachia nemorum).  I can see the similarity to Scarlet Pimpernel,  except that likes open spaces and is famous for only opening when it is sunny whereas Yellow lives in the shady woods!

Back at the school it turns out that the council has cut down the wildflower meadow.  Not a problem at this time of year but we will need to reinstate the metal stakes and rope demarking the area.  (Someone pinched the bright blue rope that was used for this purpose). 

Wildflower Meadow at it's longest

 

Flower Power

It is raining today so I am looking back over the pictures I have taken in the wildflower meadow which was sown last autumn.  It is ready for hay harvest now but before the chop here are some of the residents when they were in their flowering prime,  No names - just enjoying the shapes and colours.

Corn Marigold

Kidney Vetch 

And here is a picture of the meadow which has provided all the above:

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.