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 apples, and generally eat one most days. That's a well named variety. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteIt's a fabulous early apple Flighty. We won't be able to get through all of these before they start to go soft as we have such a bumper crop this year, so I'll be making some apple jelly and freezing some to go with my morning porridge :)
DeleteScrumptious looking they are indeed!
ReplyDeleteThey are - it's a well-named variety from East Malling's breeding programme. I tasted an even more amazing looking one there recently - they showed Matt Baker tasting it on Countryfile on Sunday. It will go far - it really shines out of the tree, tasted fantastic and has a red flesh.
DeleteIt looks like its name!
ReplyDeleteIt tastes like its name too Brian :-)
DeleteToday I am eating thr humble Cox. Hurrah for Apple day!
ReplyDeleteNowt humble about the cox in my view, Colleen. Hurrah indeed!
DeleteThat's a beautiful looking apple, sounds as if it tasted really good too.
ReplyDeleteThey are Janet. I'm just about to use up some of the windfalls by making apple jelly. Single variety jam - there's posh!
ReplyDelete