Tis the season of fresh life, new beginnings, hope and vigour. It’s also the time for long countryside walks, catching up with friends and admiring natures beauty. Here’s our little guide to wildflowers that you may come across and how to display them in their honour.
Primrose
Home: grassland, railway tracks & woodland
When can you see them: Spring – early Autumn
The name derives from the Latin prima rosa meaning ‘first rose’ of the year, despite not being a member of the rose family. In different counties of England it is also referred to as butter rose, early rose, Easter rose, golden rose and lent rose.
Red Campion
Home: Woodland & road side verges
When can you see them: late Spring – early Summer
These are also known as Batchelors’ buttons which suggests it was once worn as a buttonhole by young unmarried men. Other local names include Johnny Woods, Ragged Jack and Scalded Apples.
Forget me not
Home: Woodlands, streams & road side verges
When can you see them: Summer – Autumn
Forget-me-nots used to be known as ‘scorpion-grass’, the current name only appearing in the early 19th century. This name arose because the clusters are more or less bent over or coiled. In the Language of Flowers forget-me-not stands for true love and memories.
Poppy
Home: Farmland & road side verges
When can you see them: Summer – early Autumn
Poppies are the county flowers of both Essex and Norfolk. We also love the fact that they have been used for medicinal and culinary purposes over the centuries. The seeds of the poppy are currently used in flavouring for breads and cakes and for the production of oil.
Foxglove
Home: Woodland
When can you see them: Summer – early Autumn
The mottled markings were once thought to be the hand-prints of fairies. In Gaelic, it was called lus nam ban-sith – ‘the fairy woman’s plant’. Fairies are supposed to have given the corollas of this powerful plant to foxes. Wearing the foxgloves, the fox could then sneak in magic silence up to the poultry or away from people.
Lavender
Home: Grassland
When can you see them: Spring – Summer
Bees and other pollinating insects love lavender, and so do we! Lavender flowers can be used in cooking, cakes, ice cream as well as aromatherapy and oils. If you’ve never made a lavender bag before, we highly recommend doing this – they last forever.
Red Clover
Home: Grassland
When can you see them: Summer – early Autumn
We didn’t know that red clovers are used in herbal medicine to treat respiratory and skin disorders. They’re not just useful for us – they fix the nitrogen levels in soil. It’s a wonder why this plant is classed as a ‘weed’!?
Cornflower
Home: Farmland, grassland
When can you see them: Summer
Also known as Bachelor’s buttons and used in France much like we wear poppies, these bright little things can grow up to a metre high. Our favourite fact is that these were found in Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt, still vivid in colour from over 3000 years ago.
Daisy
Home: Grassland
When can you see them: Spring – Summer
The daisy aka a reminder that Spring is arriving. Hoverflies, honeybees and bumblebees love this rosette looking wildflower, and so do our lawns. Anyone else remember “he loves me, he loves me not?!”
Whilst we want to enjoy the outdoors, please ensure you are picking flowers that follow the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act. Identifying and learning about wildflowers is an enjoyable and important experience, so why not use this guide to teach the little ones.
