Lilacs and Lily of the Valley

I’ve been out and about with my camera so much lately. Florography is my absolute favourite, and the combination of overcast skies and it being late spring are just so inspiring…

Wildflowers are at their best right now. Cow parsley, red campion, water avens, forget me nots, bluebells: all are out in pastel profusion and are softening the edges of the countryside. The graveyard on the hill - a place I frequent because it’s so peaceful and wild - is currently dotted with dandelions. Little glowing moons illuminating the mown paths, they have a fairyland magic all of their own.

The bluebells are still in full bloom, deep shades of cobalt, indigo and amethyst with the occasional pink flower in between.

But to me the smallest, most subtle and sometimes difficult to spot - lily of the valley - are also the most appealing. I know of a secret patch but it took me a while to relocate it this year. The leaves are very similar to those of wild garlic, which is prolific in April and May. But the tiny white bells are unmistakable once they appear. They have a sweet, delicate scent too.

Of course, I take care not to step on them and would never pick any. Instead, I crouch down and am able to study and appreciate them through my lens…

And not so much a wild or native species (but still beautiful to behold) is the lilac. They’re at their best this month, cone-shaped panicles of dainty flowers which have a rich, heady fragrance. I see them in gardens and the park but rarely growing anywhere uncultivated. I think every garden should have a lilac tree (they can be grown in containers) - a few stems indoors are a prefect way of bringing a little bit of spring into the house.