Weather: Cloudy with a breeze
Outlook: Chance of afternoon showers
The sky is a soft matt grey. A gentle wind is blowing in the meadows, flower heads moving in the breeze. A Robin swoops low over the grasses. This morning Katie shows me the difference between the buttercups. The sepals (the small leaves holding up the flower’s head) of a Meadow Buttercup point upwards, while those of a Bulbous Buttercup bend over to point down. These two varieties alter slightly in their rich golden hues.
A Green Woodpecker, laughs at us from amongst the trees, sounding snarky and sarcastic in its humour. The Goosegrass, also called Cleavers or Sticky Weed, is in flower, a rare sight I am told, with its four minuscule white petals. I get a glimpse of lilac purple, discovering my first Common Spotted Orchid. Such a strange flower, so intricate and delicate up close with its deep purple spots, but from afar it looks a raggedy cone.
The Cowslips are now turning to seed, leaving room for more wildflowers. Pale Flax, a sweet periwinkle blue just starting to bloom will soon add a soft blue hue to the meadows. Herb Robert, its pale pink petals struck through with cream and rich purple, is starting to take hold as well, its centre a vibrant vermilion. Common Vetch, a member of the pea family, nods from the side lines, a violet dab of petals with a tiny fuchsia tongue.
Above Centenary Meadow, a pair of Skylarks dance on wing, calling out in jubilant abandon above sweeps of magenta, Sanfoin Vetch, with their tall spikes, slowly opening from bottom to top. Daisies, tall and white, sway amongst the soft green and purple seed heads of Coltsfoot. Near the Yellow or Hay Rattle grows Corky-fruited Water-dropwort – an impressive name for this pretty member of the carrot family yet to fully bloom.
Upper Gully is striking this morning, bursting with white from the Hawthorn in bloom. At our feet are the deep grape buds of Wild Clary, and buttery Charlock, like a ball of tiny butterflies. Humorous-looking are the Birdsfoot Trefoil flowers with their beaks and hats in a range or oranges and yellows, another member of the pea family.
If you would enjoy learning more about our wildflowers, please join us on Sunday at 2:30, for a walk with Ted Pratt, part of Dorset Wild Flower Week.
Diary written by Rosaline McGraffin