British Wild Flowers series, No, 11

Orpine
Sedum telephium

A succulent perennial related to the popular garden Ice Plant which attracts butterflies in the late summer.

Shown here with the new pink flowers not yet open. But one of last years seed heads has survived the winter.

Two things are of interest:

1. It is growing in a gryke on limestone pavement.
2. It has a bewildering list of local names including Livelong, Frog’s Stomach, Harping Johnny, Life Everlasting, Live Forever, Midsummer-men, Orphan John and Witch’s Moneybags.

This morning we discovered how to deal with this 30C. weather. As we normally go to bed at 10 p.m. we wake up at 5.30a.m. Instead of sitting up and reading all the bad news in the paper, we got up, had a quick breakfast and we were in a local nature reserve by 6.30a.m.

It was lovely and fresh on the Limestone pavement. Home for 9 a.m. and instead of going out in the hot sun to find a Blip we can sit in the shade this afternoon with a book and a cool drink.