For our November work party we had a great morning planting in the wildflower meadow. After a wet week the weather was kind to us on the day itself, and the ground nicely softened up by the rain.
We had a mix of 500 wildflower plug-plants and 1,000 fritillary bulbs to put in, which you’ll be able to lookout for as they flower next year. They’ve been planted in patches across the meadow so we’re hoping for small patches of colour across the field.
It was a fabulous way to while away a Sunday morning.
You can join us on our next work group on the first Sunday in December, when Jason will be leading us in a bit of coppicing. We may also have a few leftover bulbs to put in…
Below are some of the plants we’ve put in so you know what to look for, with links to the rest if you’re interested.
Some of these I recognise from my own garden, I just never knew what they were called until now 🙂
Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fritillaria_meleagris_MichaD.jpg
As the fritillary once thrived in flooded hay meadows across middle and southern England, it should be at home in Hreod Burna.
By the time we’re finished, 1,000 bulbs will have been planted, so we’re hoping for an excellent display when they flower in April & May.
Meadow crane’s-bill has hairy stems and saucer-shaped, white, blue or violet flowers about 4cm across. It can be seen in lowland hay meadows, roadside verges and grasslands. It flowers between June and August.
Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meadow_Cranesbill_(Geranium_pratense)-_geograph.org.uk-_876517.jpg
Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oxeye_daisy-oliv.jpg
Oxeye Daisy, found in traditional hay meadows and along field margins. Its large blooms appear from July to September and are so bright that they appear to ‘glow’ in the evening, hence the other common names of ‘Moon daisy’ and ‘Moonpenny’.
Below is a list of all the plants we put in this time, with links to the Wildlife Trusts and Royal Horticultural Society web sites if you fancied finding out a bit more.