Weasel's Snout and Goat's Beard.

Country lanes filled with the froth of cow parsley, woodlands carpeted in bluebells and cornfields ablaze with poppies. All evocative of the British countryside and recognised and loved by many people as they create a huge visual impact when in flower.
Spare a thought for the smaller more overlooked wildflowers or 'weeds' that pop up amongst our flower beds, lawns, waste and farmlands. Beautiful to some, boring to others, many even a nuisance. I covert a lawn full of daisies, of the sort my Grandpa would ruthlessly mow out in favour of neat stripes.

Having a love of gardening from an early age, encouraged by my Mum, {who is always to be found with a little book on wildflowers, trees or seashells tucked in a pocket somewhere} I now find I am developing a new appreciation for even the most insignificent of wildflowers, and with this the intricacies of the wildlife they support.

Lucky to live close to two nature reserves, my first forays over them appeared to reveal nothing of interest, and I was rather struck by the seeming lack of wildlife. However, taking children with you, and looking through their eyes, suddenly opens up a whole new Lilipudlian world of wildplants and creatures.  Encouraged [bored] from an early age to look for interesting things "aww not MORE plants mum", I am always happily surprised when they point out little gems. Soon this empty reserve was revealing many secrets.

I have had lots of little wildflowers coming up in the garden again this year, and how could I not love them with quirky names such as 'Weasel's Snout' and 'Goat's Beard'. I have happily mown round clover and little plantains and even the odd daisy. The hoe has been retired and campanulas have self seeded through the cracks in paving, naturally softening the edges. I am sure I will never get round to planting enough creeping herbs to do the same job. I may regret it, but dandelions can never be a weed when you have guinea pigs, who love the green leaves, and I almost encourage them by leaving the fluffy clocks for the children to blow about the garden.

The plant nursery I am planning [ mostly in my head] drifts on a whim between dazzling annuals, hardy perennials, aromatic and medicinal herbs,  and now surely, dainty wildflowers. As many plants cross happily  between all these boundaries it wouldn't be difficult to incorporate them all.

Lucky really, as I have to do something with all this Wildflower seed I have sown.