One of the earliest ever Alliums,known to me as Babingtons Leek,the picture shows the seed head forming,the plant in this photo being just under 6 feet in height.It was introduced into Britain by prehistoric people and has been found growing in places where monasteries used to be.
One off my favourite plants is Feverfew but apparantly it is disliked by bees because it has a strong and bitter smell,but it great to chew if you can stand the bitterness as a relief for headaches,feverfew limits the inflammation of blood vessels in the head ( a careful watch will be kept to see if bees do go on the flowers,or maybe they don't suffer from headaches)
Star of the show this week was the appearance of a Bee Orchid at the NWC,this particular one is now showing for a limited period between 10am- 5pm matinees by arrangement.The flower of the bee orchid produces a scent like a female bee and its shape has also evolved to attract male bees.The bee attempts to mate with the flower and in so doing transfer pollen between plants.However in England it is thought that bee orchids only reproduce asexually and the species of bee the flower evolved to attract is not found here.
One of natures great architects/construction workers the wasp,their latest creation photographed in the pump room at the National Wildflower Centre this morning,these sort after apartments were quickly snapped up by the local wasp community.A spokesman said extensions to the properties are in the balance!
