Yarrow.
Walking along different lengths of the Wharfe recently, the wild flowers have been showing in some abundance. Lythe flush is always an interesting spot. Walking across the long open pasture after the end of Mill lane, if walking to Hebden from Grassington, the flush is immediately through the first gate. At this time of year the Fool’s Watercress is rampant.
I assume it is so-called because its leaves resemble those of Watercress and they are similar, but it is in a different family to Watercress which commonly grows in many streams. The photo shows the flower of the Fool’s Watercress to be an Umbellifer while the four petalled white flower of Watercress is a member of the Brassica family. Should you make a mistake and eat the wrong Watercress, no harm would come to you. It was good to see a good number of Grass of Parnassus in flower and bud.
Knapweed, Devilsbits Scabious, Meadowsweet, Water Mint and Monkey flower made a very colourful picture in a small area
Another day I walked from Kettlewell to Starbotton on the fellside and in the first field saw an abundance of three species – Harebell, Yarrow and Mouse-ear Hawkweed.
Later I was pleased to find Agrimony, Wild Marjoram and Bloody Cranesbill.
My most recent walk was from Starbotton to Buckden which did not provide many wild flowers but did give me the most memorable view. Entering the last field before the road, the path is on a slight embankment. The slope was carpeted with a white flower which at a distance I couldn’t recognise, but, getting nearer, it was Yarrow.
There were no other flowers , just Yarrow with many pinks blooms amongst the white. Still a lot to see if you are interested in wild flowers.
Text and photos Christine Bell