The main differences between the indigenous and the invader, and the crosses are as follows:-

*The indigenous flowers tend to droop and hang from one side of the stem, the Spanish and cross sprout from all around the stem and can stick out.

*The indigenous flowers tend to be smaller and parallel with the outer lip turned back, the Spanish flowers don’t follow this rule.

*The indigenous flowers are scented, the Spanish aren’t, but the crosses may be.

*The indigenous leaves are narrow, the Spanish tend to be wider.

There are other differences, if you go to www.plantlife.org.uk and look for Bluebells, this gives an interesting series of questions and answers to follow.
Or download the fact sheet at the bottom of the page from www.nature detectives.org.uk

 I mentioned in a previous months article about the flowers of the Horse Chestnut, Castan, and the large ‘Candles’, these should be out now and also one of my favourite scents, Lilac Laylac. The Sycamore, Shykey should be in bloom, I call Sycamore a ‘weed’ but the bees love it (don’t park your car underneath one! it will be covered in a sticky mess ). Under the trees the Ransoms/Wild garlic or ‘Stinking Rogers’ Craue will be in flower.

The sea cliffs should be a riot of colour with Thrift or Sea pink Kione jiarg (red head), Sea Campion Lus ny brooinyn hraie, Spring squill Unnish varrey, Sheep’s bit Bossan gorrym and Milkwort Bluightagh veg. 

In the hedgerows will be found amongst others, Bird’sfoot trefoil Crow cheyt, Meadow vetchling Pishyr bwee, Greater stitchwort  Lieen ny Ferrishyn, Lesser stitchwort Lus y toar villish, Ladies bedstraw Lus ny binshey mooar, Fumitory Booa ghon and Wood sage Creeaghlagh. 

We should be well into the Grass Faiyr pollen season, many people don’t realise that grasses have wonderful and complicated flowers, hence the pollen.  Some of the more unusual grasses make a smashing display as part of a flower arrangement. My favourite is named after me, Crested Dog’s tail  Connane.

Most of the wetland flowers will be out, Bog cotton Lus y chadee, Bog bean Lubberlub (what a great name), Ragged Robin Lus ny Cooag and Marsh cinquefoil Lus ny curreeyn. Orchids will be out but I will discuss them next month.

John Dog.