This was the sight that caught my eye yesterday, it looked as if it had been snowing.
Now, I know we are all moaning about rain yet again but indeed this really is a very soggy June. After months of drought conditions, especially in the south east of U.K the skies are being over generous with the wet stuff, all sorts of sports and events across our many islands are being rained off and many businesses are suffering due to downpours. But as always, some plants thrive in conditions like these and one plant loves the wetness.
This fluffy headed pant is known by various names, Bog Cotton and Hare's-tail Cottongrass or, to give it it's Latin name, Eriphorium vaginatum and it thrives in wet conditions. I've been walking past this field for a few years now and have never seen it so covered with these lovely fine-haired heads of downy white. It looks like sheep's wool but is actually just a plant and in a sheep rearing area at this time of year it can seem confusing as so often tufts of wool can be seen clinging to various vegetation.
But this is a water loving plant and thrives in these boggy conditions though there is also an upside to this watering from the sky, the recently, closely grazed pastures are turning into this years hay fields and ... weather allowing over the next month, the harvest should be good. The recently closely cropped fields are being given a rest from hungry sheep and have been growing apace.There may be very little sun at the moment but the buttercups glow golden bright in profusion, a sight like this can cheer up an otherwise dreary day.
Meanwhile today, we are hiding from the almost persistent rain!
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