Hoary Plantain Plantago media (Fr. Plantain moyen)
visited by Buff-tailed Bumble Bee Bombus terrestris (Fr. Bourdon terrestre).
For the second time this year, due to lack of municipal resources, the little triangular park at the end of our street is looking wonderful. It is full of summer wild flowers that have sprung up and flowered because no one has mowed. The members of the new local council, even the ecologically switched on ones are apologetic, but I think it's fantastic. I photographed some of the most attractive species.
Meadow Clary Salvia pratensis (Fr. Sauge des prés).
Earlier in the year we had a splendid display of Pyramidal and Lizard Orchids, now we have Greater Plantain, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Red Clover, Meadow Clary, Vervain and Hawkbeards. I counted six species of wild bees busily working over their choices.
Chapelle de tous les saints in one corner of the park,
with an expanse of wild flower rich grassland in front.
I hope the council gets its head around less frequent mowing of this small area. It could be managed with a much lighter touch to benefit all.
A rare wild white form of Meadow Clary.
Close up of the white Meadow Clary.
French version here: Les Fleurs sauvages du parc.
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7 comments:
Very interesting post as usual. I checked the French version and it is very good. Congratulations!
However, in Qui sommes nous? I have a problem with your location which is still not clear. Personnaly, I understand that you live either in Poitou or further south.
au and dans are not interchangeable.
Au sud de la Touraine means outside the boundaries of Touraine, whereas dans le sud means within Southern Touraine. QED It is not because you heard it on TV that it is good and proper French!
Thanks. Fixed now I think.
I have to believe that you either have or will put in a word with the council about mowing less frequently. Perhaps showing them these photos of individual flowers will sway them. I think most people glance at an area like that and think "overgrown with weeds."
Does that bumblebee have a white bum as a result of the plantain pollen?
LOL! Susan. Yes, the Touraine is fixed, but what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Now, it should be dans le Nord-Est de l'Australie.
You should be commended for making the effort to assimilate the French language. Keep up the good work!
Gah!
I'm giving the council a short pause before I contact them about the mowing. I've only just been in touch with them about the swimming pool.
The white bum is not pollen. Confusingly, both buff-tailed and white-tailed bumble bees have white bums in France.
Could you perhaps ask them to mow pathways through the flowers and around the edges.... what I call mowing attractively....
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