Slow down a bit!

We are still in May, but at the nature reserve a number of our summer flowers are well out. And the last few days of rain have also triggered an enormous growth spurt in the grasses and shrubs. I want to tell the weather to relax and slow down - put your feet up in the sun for a couple of weeks - let us all catch up!

Here is one of our reserve specialities, Meadow Clary or Salvia pratensis, in full flower at least 2 weeks earlier than I normally see it. There is possibly one other native site in the county and it has been the subject of a national 'Back from the brink' project to safeguard colonies in other southern counties over the last few years.

It's lovely to see it again - just need the rain to ease up now so bumblebees will visit and pollinate the flowers.