Water Mint

The scent of Water Mint (Mentha aquatica) fills the air of the forests streams environs; like others of its' genus it's a prolific colonizer and can also be used as a edible herb.

Field of flowers

 

Our route by way of the Corfe Valley had us encounter a huge field of wild flowers, through which our footpath fortuitously passed. Approaching the final hill of what was an arduous Purbeck walk, the wonder and colour of the field was a welcome distraction.

Moody's Gore

 Ramsons in Moody’s Gore.

Bluebell wood

Bluebells reign through Knighton Wood and Reddish Gore. Is there any sight more uplifting than the countryside in spring; our temperate land blesses us with  springs of unassailable verdance and gentle beauty. 

Ramsons

 

Ramson (Allium ursinum) shoots started poking through a few week ago, the early birds now sporting well developed leaves, and today I spotted my first flower buds forming. Ramsons really come into their own towards end of April into May, when they'll carpet woodland for as far as the eye can see. It's a beautiful sight. If you've ever stood in a ramson filled wood on a sunny spring day you'll know what I mean, it's magical; and if you haven't you really should. We live a country full of small wonders which for the most part goes unseen or ignored, most certainly not valued as it should be.

Water Mint

 

Walking the same forest roams throughout the year you get to see how a place changes, see that it's always someone’s time to shine; currently it's Water Mint (Mentha aquatica) time. Swathes of this fragrant member of the mint family carpet the damp grassy environs of the forest streams. Smells lovely.

Bog Asphodel

The tapered spikes of densely packed dainty yellow flowers you'll notice in the boggy habitats of the forest are Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum). They're a very pretty flower.

Cotton Grass

 

Cotton Grass (Eriophorum angustifolium) is usually a common sight in the wet boggy regions of the forest, but this year appears to have been a particularly good year for it. Remember it, as it's a good indicator that you don't want to be walking where it's growing due the potentially hazardous nature of bog. Although it's called 'grass' it's actually a member of the sedge family. And its uses? Well, its stems and seeds are edible, and its roots and leave have medicinal astringent properties, and it has also been used to stuff pillows and to dress wounds at different times. Most things our here have some use or other, we've just forgotten them. Maybe it's time we began remembering.

Mullein moth

The Mullein moth (Cucullia verbasci), or rather the caterpillar there of, so named due to their taste for the mullein family of plants. A gang of these buggers have butchered what was shaping up to be a grand Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) in the garden; these  impressive plants will grow up to 2m tall, most of which is a majestic spike densely covered in yellow flowers. Great Mullein's a common wild flower found in myriad habitats, and is a useful plant in traditional folk medicine with many medicinal benefits, including having antiviral and antibacterial qualities. The colourful nature of this moths' caterpillar is not reflected in the Mullein Moth itself, which is perfectly camouflaged to look like dead wood, ragged edged, brown and buff with a dark tufted back. A cool looking moth.

Ramson buds

I spotted the first Ramson (Allium ursinum) flower buds this morning, the wheel of the really is turning with speed, alarming speed in my opinion. Still, I'd better get my wild food head on, the season of the spring greens is upon us. 

Ramsons

Bang on time the arrival of February sees the first emergence of that perennial wild food favourite the Ramson (Allium ursinum). A ramson woodland in full flower is a wonder to behold, you'll need to wait a couple more months yet for that though.

Elderflower

As appears the lot of all blossoming trees this year, the Elders (Sambucus nigra) are showing copious blooms. I understand that the excess has been driven (in part at least) by last years hot weather and the freezing stretch at the beginning of the year; apparently, due to climatic changes trees are blooming 2 weeks earlier than they were 30 or 40 years ago. Can't be right.

Bogbean

 

A particularly attractive wildflower the Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) is nationally uncommon, though a fairly common sight in the wetter areas of the forest. Lucky us I say.

The scent of spring

Ramsons (Allium ursinum) are a common sight amongst Cranborne's woodlands where they frequently form heavily scented lush green carpets. A Wild Garlic wood has to be one of my favourite, if not my favourite Spring sights (and scents). 

Midland Hawthorn

 

The arrival of May sees the Hawthorn (Crataegus) flowers beginning to burst forth; the first you'll see will probably be Midland Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) which usually flowers a couple of weeks before Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna); our Common Hawthorn's buds are still tightly rolled balls, it looking like they're going to put on quite a show though.

Apples

As the apple trees over the common are coming into blossom, I've noticed their number is multiplying with several young trees popping up. To my knowledge all the Common's apple trees, well at least all the ones I've tested, are eaters rather than cookers. I don't know what variety of apple they are, though they have the feel of an older less breed variety and produce small yet flavoursome fruits with tough skins. I'm hoping for a good fruiting season as I've got some appley plans.

Ramson flowers

The first of the Ramson (Allium ursinum) flowers are just being to unfurl. In a few weeks the woods where these fragrant flowers congregate on mass will put on show the beauty of which will blow you away. It's a spring treat I look forward to; and we are blessed with some fabulous Ramson woods hereabouts.  

 

Gorse extravaganza

 

You may be able to find gorse (Ulex) flowering somewhere in the forest on any given day, though it's at this time of year that we're granted a gorse extravaganza. Even on a dull day like today the flowers radiated a sweet coconuty aroma; if you were wanting to make some gorse flower wine, we're now entering the best time to be gathering flowers. Gorse was a favourite of the wines we 'crafted'; we'd make the yearly pilgrimage to the Kimmeridge bowl where tradition had become we'd gather our flowers, enough for 5 gallons of wine usually. Always a clean crisp wine; we'd use a chablis or Chardonnay yeast as I remember. I fancy making wine again; after all home made wine/beer was big in the 70's, and as we're economically back in the 70's I think it's time for a resurgence.

First rose

 

The Primrose (Primula vulgaris), don't you just love them, they have the power to always lift the spirit.

Pyramidal Orchid

Either standing alone or in diffuse clusters, Pyramidal orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis) are a common sight throughout the rough chalk grassland at this time of year. A beauty to behold.