That blue flower: A spring spotter's guide
Spring is a prime time for blue flowers and my daily walks currently have several from the same plant family* lining the local footpaths. As I walked past the Donkey Field the other day, I overheard some children ask their parents** what the pictured blue flower was. It reminded me it's often mistaken for those other familial blues and this time was no different, as they said it was forget-me-not, instead of the green alkanet it actually is. As well as similar flowers, most of these plants are hairy in their nature, flower around the same time, and favour damp, shady places. Many of them are great for pollinators too, especially bees and this week's warm weather has certainly drawn them to these flowers. This makes it even more likely for these plants to be mistaken for each other and it's a great opportunity for me to put together a spotter's guide in case you find the same flowers on your outings. Staying with green alkanet, the key features which set it
I like the photos.
ReplyDeleteTroy
The garden really has benefitted from the very heavy downpours we had a few weeks back and the sunshine of late. x
ReplyDeleteThat is the lush green that shout Britain to you every time.
ReplyDeleteLooking good VP! xx
ReplyDeleteThose are good views to have (minus the bins). ;-) Everything is looking so lush and green.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, wonderful, wonderful. A delight for the eyes
ReplyDeleteThe blue bin could be straightened & used as a garden focal point. ;^) As they say on my kids' Webkinz, "Good Growing."
ReplyDeleteTexas Travellers - thanks.
ReplyDeleteLouise - it sure has! It's great at the moment isn't it?
dnd - you're so right and we take it all for granted.
Flighty - thanks, but not so at the allotment. I'll tell you about it some time!
Yolanda & MMD - each time I take the picture from the top of the plot I kick myself for not straightening the bins. I'd have to empty them first though!
viooltje - thanks so much and you've been showing some goodies over at your place too I see!