It’s the day before the 75th anniversary of VE Day which is going to have to be a bit muted due to the pandemic. However, whilst we’re all going to stay in our homes, they’ll be decorated and we’re going to follow a timetable of events including afternoon tea. This is the case in Westgate anyway, it’s not the street party but the best the residents association can do under the circumstances.
It’s dry and sunny both now and for the whole weekend, a good time to try and make sense of some of the families of flowers that are appearing with regularity. One that’s confusing by the sheer volume of varieties is the Umbellifers. Cow parsley has been out along the Centurion way for some time now where it’s quite invasive. Along the lane there’s lots of Hogweed, another common member of the same family related to the carrot. Yet another one that’s all over the place is the Ground Elder with it’s toothed leaves and umbrella shaped flowerhead.
Just coming into flower are the Sow-Thistles which also have numerous variants. It seems to be the Smooth Sow-Thistle that’s popping out on all sorts of ground, apparently it’s a weed of cultivation that like bare ground. They are part of the Daisy family so related to Ragwort and dandelions.
Also widespread but easier to identify is Garlic Mustard with it’s large green leaves but small white
flowers that populates hedges and light woodlands and is prominent at this time of the year.