Deadnettle.

This specie is very common around these parts but I can't find its specific name. It's a member of the Lamium genus witch has between forty and fifty species. In general they are bee friendly plants and have similarities with the mint family, having square stems, the stinging nettle, having similar leaves, and the pea family which has a similar flower form. However, it seems that none of the four families are closely related.

Many years ago I spent a pleasurable time terrorising a group of small children in early spring by chasing them  while waving a bunch of deadnettles before they had developed their flowers. However, after about five minutes they realised that they were being duped and reverted to their normal annoying behaviour.

According to the gardening definition, a weed is a flower growing in the wrong place; these have found a welcome home in our little patch.

I’ve just posted “Larch Cone” from the 28th of April.