Thursday 28 June 2018

Oat fields over Luddesdown...

Although perhaps not quite as colourful as last year (maybe not surprising given the heat and complete absence of rain since the beginning of the month), the fields overlooking Luddesdown valley (as seen from my favourite perch of the Bassett's Seat at Wrenches Shaw), are still surprisingly green, with many colourful wild flowers now visible in amongst the ripening crops.

Towards Luddesdown, view from the Bassett's Seat
The photograph doesn't really do justice to the blues, yellows and whites of the flowers growing amongst the oats.  The blues and purples are provided by a mixture of chicory, creeping thistle and tufted vetch.

Chicory
Creeping Thistle
Tufted Vetch
Corn Sow-thistle provides a bright yellow contrast...

Corn Sow-Thistle...
The Stinking Chamomile is also starting to show through at the field margins.  An unfortunate name for such a pretty little plant, but it is indeed named for its unpleasant smell.  It closely resembles Corn Chamomile, where its smell distinguishes it from its odourless relative, which also has more feathery, rather than wiry, leaves. The stinker seems to be the prevalent species in the Luddesdown area...

Stinking Chamomile


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