Plantago spp. – 5th June 2023 – Three Plantains
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Maria Chamberlain has been looking at native Plantains
Crataegus monogyna – 29th May 2023 – Hawthorn
This year there seem to be more flowers than usual on Hawthorn.
Alliaria petiolata – 22nd May 2023 – Garlic Mustard
A native herb with a delicate garlic flavour; invasive in other parts of the world.
Prunus padus – 15th May 2023 – Bird Cherry
A native tree with a northern tendency, recently called into service to make boutique gin.
Lepidium draba – 8th May 2023 – Hoary Cress
A plant with a military connection.
Smyrnium olusatrum – 1st May 2023 – Alexanders
A ‘forgotten vegetable’. An archaeophyte with maritime tendencies.
Cerastium species – 24th April 2023 – the Mouse-ears
Here are four Mouse-ears, all native and flowering now. Two are easily found, but you will have to search hard to see the others.
Cardamine pratensis – 17th April 2023 – Cuckooflower (Lady’s Smock)
I haven’t heard the cuckoo yet but there are plenty of Cuckooflowers already.
Saxifraga granulata – 10th April 2023 – Meadow Saxifrage
A native perennial which herbalists considered to be good for kidney trouble, now becoming scarce. Its flowers present a puzzle.
Prunus spinosa – 3rd April 2023 – Blackthorn
The Blackthorn and Cherry Plum are closely related and may be the ancestors of the modern dessert plum.
