Ox eye

This ox eye daisy is probably way too big to really be grown in our tiny garden and I have to make sure it gets watered otherwise it dies back. For the first two years I used to get leaves followed by dead leaves until I worked out what was going on.

It has a bitter juice and is not liked by insects, happily my bees and hoverflies don't seem to mind it and come in to the garden anyway. Despite the bitter taste, young leaves can be eaten in salads though I confess I have never tried it.

This lovely flower used to be dedicated to Mary Magdalen and can be also known as Maudlin Daisy, which I think is a bit nicer than "ox eye".