Yellow rattle

Today's the day ...................... to discover

This blip is most definitely for Claire to let her know that excitingly, we found this yellow rattle flower in the garden today.

It's a wonderful annual plant that thrives in grasslands, living a semi-parasitic life by feeding off the nutrients in the roots of nearby grasses.  In so doing, it eventually allows more delicate, traditional species to push their way through - which is just what we want.  Claire was asking if we had any when she dropped in for a visit at the end of last month.  So now we can say we do.


Unfortunately - it does seem to be the only one at present?! - but perhaps there are others on the way.  We'll certainly have to watch this one carefully and make sure that its seed is scattered around - hopefully to carry on doing what it does best .....................