Wildflower Delights

Now that we are in the midst of wedding planning, we have finally got round to having a proper consultation with a florist. Unexpectedly, it was probably the most fun part of the planning process so far. In the hands of an amateur, flowers are a lovely way to brighten up a room but in the hands of a professional they are truly an art form. As our florist led us through pages of an RHS colour chart and her book containing more flowers than I had ever considered, we realised that the job of choosing flowers was more intricate yet more exciting than we had expected. This led me to think more about the wildflowers which grace our village and, perhaps, get unfairly overlooked.

One of the most delightful perennial flowers I have found in our woodland is Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys). Now that the bluebells are fading, patches of this pretty little flower continue to paint the woods blue and lilac. They have four dainty rounded petals which surround a white centre which bears a distinctive double stamen. The jagged edges of its ovate leaves look contrastingly rugged. Apart from the woods, you may also see these flowers in meadows and at the side of roads.

Continuing with the same colour scheme, the woods are currently adorned with thick mats of Bugle (Ajuga reptans). This plant has a single erect stem with a rosette of large verdant leaves at its base and smaller rings of leaves intermittently up its stem. Delicately lined deep blue and purple flowers sit in the axils of the stem leaves. This charming perennial stays close to the woodland floor and takes root by spreading out its overground runners.

Another of my favourite wildflowers in our village is the Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), a jaunty yellow member of the Buttercup family. This flower, with its 8-12 long splaying petals, is like sunshine in plant-form and effortlessly brightens up even the plainest wood or meadow. Appropriately, I think, its dark green leaves are heart-shaped with wavy edges. These flowers are on their way out at the moment but hopefully you will be able to catch a glimpse before they fade.

It would be impossible for me to do justice to the wealth of wildflowers we have in our village in such a short post, but these are just a few of those that are special to me. Perhaps this week you will take the time to appreciate some of your favourites too.