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 ...
Hi VP, thanks for the link to the petition. First time round I wasn't convinced because I reasoned that temporary sites had their place. Thinking about it now I don't think it's fair that allotmenteers should have so little security so it really falls to councils to do their duty by the Allotmet Acts and provide enough statutory sites for everyone who wants one.
ReplyDeleteI've signed the petition. Thanks for the reminder as I should have done it when you first blogged about it!
ReplyDeleteWe have more or less the same problem too with allotments in the Netherlands. More and more are disappearing (new roads, housing development ect.). But more and more people want to grow their own food and where should they do that if they have no or a very small garden? sigh!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter!
Done and dusted. Will pass the link on. Many thanks !
ReplyDeleteSimon - thanks for the matched posting on your site and the link back to me. It looks like a few people have come over to sign the petition.
ReplyDeleteFlighty and Anna - good for you!
Yolanda - it's really sad isn't it. Hope you had a good Easter too!