The keys of heaven

Primula veris, cowslips, the Keys of Heaven or St Peter's Keys - the latter name because the one sided flower heads are thought to resemble a bunch of keys and to grow where St Peter dropped his keys.

There is only one site in our area where cowslips grow in any quantity. This morning we went to check and they were there in joyous profusion studding the grassy knolls where the Water of Philorth flows through the bents.