Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa 18 June 2015 Whilst a traditional flower guide sets out each part of a species for easy identification, nature has a different agenda and it's reproduction. When the flora of Scout Scar escarpment is a mass of yellows I like the challenge of recognising each distinct species before I'm close enough to be sure- from jizz which brings into play everything I've learnt along the way. At the same time, I've been looking for the perfect image to show a flower for what it is.
Here I have pinnate leaves together with a perfect circlet of florets. According to Marjorie Blamey's Flora the name horseshoe describes the twisted segments of the seed pods- which will require a return visit.
Mountain Everlasting, Cat's-paw, Antennaria dioica
Flowers change in appearance as they bloom. The fresh flower-head of mountain everlasting shows as more rounded. The flowers seem to have elongated as they mature- something I've not noticed before.
Passing the Ghyll Brow meadow saxifrage pasture a glance suggested the flowers were over. But there they are. It's simply that grasses have grown tall above them. And ox-eye daisies and buttercups are more showy.
Recently, someone asked me what the tall blue flowers near the Mushroom Shelter were. I had not seen any. At the moment the only blues I can think of are milkwort, a tiny flower that comes in different intensities of blue. Then I suddenly came upon the mystery flowers being thrashed this way and that in the wind so my camera struggled to hold them in-frame and to focus.
Passing the Ghyll Brow meadow saxifrage pasture a glance suggested the flowers were over. But there they are. It's simply that grasses have grown tall above them. And ox-eye daisies and buttercups are more showy.
Recently, someone asked me what the tall blue flowers near the Mushroom Shelter were. I had not seen any. At the moment the only blues I can think of are milkwort, a tiny flower that comes in different intensities of blue. Then I suddenly came upon the mystery flowers being thrashed this way and that in the wind so my camera struggled to hold them in-frame and to focus.
Windswept Aquilegia
I know aquilegia grows on the limestone of Hutton Roof but had not found it here on Scout Scar before. I suspect it's a garden escapee.
Greater butterfly orchids begin to flower. And I found a great fat common spotted orchid. I like the pollinator's view of a flower and here it is for the common spotted orchid. Too cold and windy for most pollinators today. So far, this isn't much of a summer for bees and butterflies.
Greater butterfly orchids begin to flower. And I found a great fat common spotted orchid. I like the pollinator's view of a flower and here it is for the common spotted orchid. Too cold and windy for most pollinators today. So far, this isn't much of a summer for bees and butterflies.
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