The very first fresh plant growth is starting to show. The green flowers of Dog's Mercury and daisy-like flowers of Winter Heliotrope are now open at Oakamoor. The Wild Garlic, the bright green spear-like leaves of which show in the bottom picture, is not in flower yet, but it soon will be. Unfortunately I could not smell the glorious vanilla-like scent that usually emanates from heliotrope flowers, perhaps the weather was too cold for them to produce scent, or perhaps my nose was too cold to smell it. These three plant species, along with others such as Lesser Celandine and Bluebell, undertake much of their life cycle early in the year before the trees become heavily leaved. This means they can take advantage of the spring light levels before the tree canopy begins to shade the ground. These early flowers benefit certain flying insects such as solitary bees and wasps that are active during March and the start of April; the plants provide nectar and pollen on which the insects can feed up after the long winter fast. Of course, the insects in turn pollinate the flowers, thus ensuring a supply of seeds over the coming year.
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| Dog's Mercury. |
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Winter Heliotrope.
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| Dog's Mercury and Wild Garlic emerging from last years leaf litter. |
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