Squillions

Not for the first time, I give you... spring squill.

A carpet of bluebells is a magnificent sight to be sure but  the gauzy shimmer of spring squill always takes my breath away. These little flowers, the colour of a Siamese cat's eye, thrust up through the  salt-sprayed turf of the cliff edge and the wind hammered coastal grassland  for a brief window in late spring. Catch it if you can. (I watched as two hikers sailed on by... did they not notice??)

Extra (a natural clump photographed in situ) shows the palette of blues that create the magical effect.The central six-lobed ovary is surriunded by six dark-tipped anthers.

More about Scilla verna - which suggests that it should be the county flower of Pembrokeshire but Thrift was voted for instead leaving County Down to claim Spring Squill.

Better pictures here.