Meadow

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vessca) Flowers and Berries

The Wild or Woodland Strawberry is similar, in appearance to the well known garden strawberry although still edible it is overall much smaller. In the UK they can often be found growing in many dry grassy places, from Woodland rides, Meadows and Gardens to Road side verges, often sending out long runners and colonising any available ground.

The leaves of the strawberry plant are made up of three oval leaflets, the small flowers have 5 white petals and a rich yellow centre and appear April to July.

Wild strawberry fruit or berries, may be found from June through to October, although small size they are stronger tasting and are often used commercially in jams and medicines.

Wild Strawberry Plant with Red Berries

Wild Strawberry Plant showing leaves and yellow and white flowers

Wild Strawberry Plant in Flower

Quick Info

Type: Perennial Herb
Also Known As: Woodland Strawberry
Where: Commonly found through-out Britain
Habitat: Often found on well drained – Meadows, Road side verges, woodland Clearings, Gardens and tracks.
When does it flower? April to July.
Fruiting: June through to October.
Height around: 20-30cm.
Larval Food Plant: Grizzled Skipper Butterfly (Pyrgus malvae)

Visit Thompson & Morgan to get Woodland Strawberry seeds

Black Medick (Medicago lupulina) Wildflower

A generally common wildflower, with many small yellow oval-round flowers, and trifoliate leaves, (3 leaflets) mostly found on fertile or calcareous soils, in sunny areas on short grazed or cut grassland like garden lawns and verges.

Flowering May-October, each Black Medic plant may have around 40-50 yellow flowers that emerge from the leaf axils of the short stems, which despite their small size, attract many pollinating insects, such as bees, moths and butterflies.

Despite the abundance of small yellow flowers Black Medic gets its name from the small black kidney shaped seeds which can be found late August – September.

Black Medic Wildflower seeds and yellow flowers September

A mixture of the Black Medick seeds and the small yellow flowers seen together around September.

Black Medic (Medicago lupulina) Wildflower with small yellow flowers

Black Medic (Medicago lupulina) small yellow flowers

Black Medic Information

Group: fabaceae (Pea Family)
Type: Annual – perennial
Similar appearance to: Clovers – Hop Trefoil (Trifolium campestre)
Flowering: May-October
Habitat: Meadows, Tracks, Roadside Verges, Garden Lawns
Height: around 35-50cm
Larval food plant: Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)
Nectar plant: Common Blue butterfly, Brown Argus butterfly, Gatekeeper butterfly, Meadow Brown butterfly, Wood White Butterfly (leptidea sinapis), Moths and Bees
Photograph: 5th September 2012- South Lincs

Scabious – Flowers that Attract Butterflies and Bees

about

Well known as a native wildflower, Scabious with its range of cultivated varieties and colours also makes it a traditional garden favourite. Its constant flowering throughout the summer months, makes it the perfect plant for when little else is flowering, such as in late July.

Scabious is a great choice for any wildlife garden, or meadow, its steady supply of nectar rich flowers will attract pollinating insects, like Butterflies and Bees.

Native Varieties

Wild native varieties like the common “Field Scabious” (Knutia arvensis) or the less common “Small Scabious” (Scabosa columbaria) can be found throughout England and Wales, flowering June-September they may be found on dry calcareous (lime or Chalk) grassland. Similar looking the two sometimes confused. Devil’s-Bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) has smaller rounded flowers around 15-25mm across and is found in much damper conditions, than the Field or Small Scabious.

Field Scabious flower head

Scabious Information

Also Known As: Pincushion flower
Light: Full sun or partial shade
Sow seeds: February, March, April, May, June
Flowering: May – September or until the first frost
Height: Around 50-60cm
Soil: Well drained Lime-Chalk /Alkaline.

Well known varieties

Two of the most well known varieties are possibly Scabious ‘Blue Jeans’ and Scabious ‘Butterfly Blue’, their abundance of flowers throughout the summer makes these real garden favourites.

These and many more colours and varieties of Scabious are available Visit “Thompson & Morgan” here, to take a look

Scabious “Butterfly Blue Beauty”

General Plant care

New Scabious plants when large enough can be put out from April in a frost free position, always allow about a week for them to acclimatise and the risk of frost has passed before planting out 30-40 cm apart, varieties with large blooms may need light support if the weather is particularly wet or windy. Remove dead flowers (dead heading) during the growing season every week or so, new blooms will soon take their place.

In Autumn or when the Scabious plants have turned brown and died back they can be cut down to ground level, this can also be done in the spring, when plants can be propagated by division.

Propagation

To keep a stock of healthy plants, Scabious requires some propagation this is best done March-April by root division, this requires lifting and dividing young plants into one or two divisions and replanting, or replacing the older less vagarious growing plants.

Field Scabious in Meadow

Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa atalanta)

Habitat

A regular visitor to the gardens, the Red Admiral may be seen throughout the British Isles, often attracted in numbers by nectar rich flowers such as Buddleia and Rudbekia around July to August.

Out of the Garden, a sunny sheltered spot with flowering Ivy or Hemp Agrimony, may also attract Red Admiral butterflies, although they are rarely seen in numbers before June.

They may even still be seen on the wing till late October – November on sunny days if a nectar source is still available.

Description

With a large 60mm wingspan the Red Admiral is a strong flying butterfly, able to glide and manoeuvre after a small number of quick wing beats. The mainly black or brown colouration, broad red bands and white spots on the fore-wings and broad red band on the hind-wings make it easy to identify. The under-wings are a mottled black-brown .

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) wings closed on Ivy flowers

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on Ivy flower

Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa atalanta)

The Red Admiral is seen as a migrant butterfly from Europe, arriving in Britain and Ireland from May-June. It is believed that with the milder winters of recent years, some are managing to hibernate during short cold periods, creating a resident population mainly across the south of England.

Quick Information

Family Group: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Status: Migrant
Caterpillar food plant: Common Nettles.
Adults nectar plants: Buddleia (davidii), Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Wingspan: around 60mm

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)

Widespread in mainland Britain and parts of Ireland, the Common Blue is considered as its name suggests the most commonly found species from the 20 Lycaenidae (blue) group of butterflies in the UK.

Seen from April-September emerging in several broods.Common Blue Butterflies are found in a wide rage of habitats including, grassy meadows, bridleways, roadside verges, heathland and on urban waste ground, most often seen, perched up off the ground, on a tall wild flower or grass stem.

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) Female in sunshine

Quick Info

Family Group: Lycaenidae
Wingspan approx: 32mm
Caterpillar Food Plants: Birds-foot Trefoil, Greater Birds-foot Trefoil, Black Medic (Medicago lupulina), Common Restharrow (Ononis repens)
Nectar Plant: Knapweeds, Wild Marjoram, Daisies, Common Ragwort, Sow Thistle
Photographed – 23 June 2010
Location – Barnack Hills and Holes.

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) Male in sunshine

The upper wings of the male common blue are violet blue with narrow black margins and white fringes unlike the female’s which are brown, tinted with blue scales with orange crescents on the outer margins of the fore-wings and orange crescents with black spots with on the margins of the hind-wings.The under wings of both the male and females are brownish grey with black and orange spots.

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) wings closed underside

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) wing undersides

Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io)

Possibly the most striking and well known of all British Butterflies, the Peacock with its red velvet colours and bright distinctive eye-spots, can often be seen in gardens, mid to late summer often attracted by plants and shrubs like Rudbekia and Buddleia.

As well as being a garden visitor, Peacock butterflies can be found in a broad range of habitats from woodland clearings to urban parks and waste ground, where they may be seen around plants and shrubs like, Blackthorn, Bramble Flowers and Hemp Agrimony or just bathing in warm sunshine.

Peacock Butterfly nectaring on Hemp Agrimony in woodland showing under-wings

Peacock Butterfly showing dark brown and black under-wings

Quick Info

Family Group: Nymphalidae – Browns
Subgroup: Nymphalinae.
Wingspan: Around 60mm.
Habitat: Gardens, Open woodland clearings, Urban parks, Waste ground, and others
Adult Nectar Plant: Blackthorn, Bramble, Buddleia, Common Ragwort, Hemp Agrimony, Rudbekia, Teasels, and others.
Caterpillars feed on: only Common Nettles (Urtica dioica).
Photographs: Top – Peacock butterfly 15/8/10, – Left – Peacock showing dark Under-Wings 24th July- bottom right – Peacock in Spring 9th April

Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io) showing eye spots on wings

The Peacock Butterfly hibernates through the winter months, in places like old tree trunks out buildings and wood stacks, emerging around March – April although on occasions they may be seen earlier.

The Upper-Wings are red-brown velvet coloured with bold and distinctive eye-spots especially on the hind-wings, the eye-spots, on tips are less bold.

The Under-Wings are dark brown or black.

Peacock in Spring on Blackthorn Blossom

Wild Marjoram for a Wildflower or Butterfly Garden

about

Wild Marjoram or Oregano is an attractive aromatic herb, with clusters of purple/pink flowers that appear June to September. The leaves are oval shaped and in pairs on upright stems they can grow up to 40 cm high.

Wild Marjoram (Origarnum vulgare) may be found growing in meadows, along woodland rides, roadside verges and other sunny places mainly on dry calcareous soils in Southern Britain.

Planting Marjoram

Planting Wild Marjoram can make a great addition to any Wildflower or Butterfly Garden, the nectar rich blooms are attractive to many species of Butterfly, as well as Moths, Bees, Hoverflies and many other pollinating insects.

It is also a Caterpillar food plant for the rare British butterfly the Large Blue

Wild Marjoram Flower Head pink and white petals

Close-up of Wild Marjoram Flower Head

Wild Marjoram a wild flower with many small pink and white flowers in July

Wild Marjoram flowering in July

Plant Information

Name: Wild Marjoram (Origarnum vulgare)
Family: Lamiaceae, inc Mint, Deadnettle
Type: Perennial
Also Known As: Oregano, Pot Marjoram
Where: Common and widespread through-out Southern Britain.
Habitat: Often found in – Meadows, woodland rides, Roadside verges and Gardens.
When does it flower? June to September.
Height around: 40cm.
Nectar Plant: Small White (Pieris rapae), Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album), Brown Argus, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, and others, plus Moths and Bees
Caterpillar Food Plant: Large Blue Butterfly (Maculinea arion), Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata)
Photographed: 1st July 2012

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages)

Small and fast flying, the Dingy Skipper Butterfly with it’s brown and cream mottled markings, is well camouflaged into the grassy surroundings. It can often take flight and blend in so well, at times can be difficult to spot.

Widely spread across the southern half of Britain, Dingy Skippers are most often found on open chalk or limestone grassland, and are on the wing from the last week of April into June.

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages)

Quick Info

Family Group: Hesperiidae – Skippers.
Where: A Native Butterfly widely spread across England and Wales in small pockets.
Habitat: A meadow butterfly that also be found on old waste ground, Disused quarries, disused railway sidings and open grassy woodland rides.
When: Flying where found in largest numbers from May-June.
Adult nectar plant: Buttercups, Bird’s foot-trefoil, Dandelions, Speedwell, Plantains, Hawkweeds.
Size: Wingspan 24mm.
Larval Food Plant: Mainly Bird’s foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) but will also use Horseshoe vetch (Hippocrepis comosa)
Photographed: Top and Left, Ketton Quarry, Rutland 25th May 13. Right, Cribbs Meadow, Leicestershire, 25th May 12.

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages)

The Dingy Skipper often shares the same habitat and a similar flight period to the Grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae), although nether butterfly shares the same larval food plants.

Seen from a distance both butterflies may be mistaken for day flying moths such as Mother Shipton, (Callistege mi), which also shares similar flight times and habitat.

During sunny weather, Dingy Skipper Butterflies enjoy basking in warm sunshine, perching up on the old flower heads of Knapweed, or on tall dry grasses, if it is overcast or a cool breeze, they may choose a more sheltered position on the ground.

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages) Cribbs Meadow on Buttercups

Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages) on Buttercups

Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)

Brief Description

A small meadow butterfly with orange and dark brown margined upper-wings and buff under-wings, native to the British isles.

On the wing in July and August the Essex skipper is sometimes found in the same habitat along side the, small skipper in meadows and other grassy places although it does prefer sunny embankments and chalky hill sides.

Being almost identical to the Small skipper, and sometimes sharing the same habitat, identification can often be difficult, one main difference is the underside of the antennae tip is black.

Essex Skipper Butterfly (Thymelicus lineola)

Quick Info

Family Group – Hesperiidae.
Where – Across Southern and Eastern England and Wales.
Habitat- Coastal areas, to inland sunny embankments, chalky hillsides meadows and grassland.
When– July – August.
Size– Wingspan 26 – 30mm.
Larval Food Plants – Cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata), Couch Grass (Elymus repens)
Adults nectar on – Ox-eye daisy, Birds-foot Trefoil (Lotus uliginosus), Thistles, Ragwort.
Population Status – Spreading steadily Northward reaching Parts of Central England.
Photographed – July 2011. (will be updated)

Small Heath Butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus)

The Small Heath is a widespread butterfly, it can often be found in many open areas such as meadows, railway embankments, heaths and other rough grassy places across the British Isles. It is also the smallest of the ‘brown’ group of Butterflies found in the Britain.

Small heath butterflies are well camouflaged in the grassy places where they are found, always resting with wings closed tilted towards the sun on a warm patch of ground or low down on grass stems. Easily disturbed they will often fly low to the ground, always landing with wings closed they may also tuck down the orange fore-wing if danger is close.

Quick Info

Family Group: Nymphalidae – Browns.
Wingspan around: 30mm.
Habitat: Meadows, Disused quarries, embankments, Waste ground, Hills and downs.
Adult Nectar Plant: Common Daisy (Bellis perennis), Buttercups. (others will be added).
Photographed: June 16 2010.
Location: Barnack Hills and Holes (NNR)

Small Heath Butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Small Heath butterflies are double-brooded and can seen flying in greater numbers May-June and August-September, the caterpillars feed on grasses.

The under-side of the wings are always seen when landed, the fore-wing is most noticeable, being mainly orange with a prominent eye spot and a grey margin, the hind-wing is mainly brown with a grey margin . The upper-side of the wings are rarely seen except in flight and are orange-brown with grey margins with a small eye spot on the wing tips.

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