garden photography: golden gorse

In May I’m looking for Wild flowers

(This month I want to see native wild flowers found in the hedgerows, woodlands, farmland, meadows, by the coast, up a mountain, on the heath and even in your own garden. Basically those plants that haven’t been planted, but occur naturally, although specifically planted wild flower meadows can be included. Wild flowers provide food for humans and wildlife and are usually hardy, resilient and well adapted to the climate and soils, and yes sadly often referred to as weeds.)

Gorse (Ulex europaeus): There are three types of gorse in the UK which are all very similar. Common Gorse is widespread and mainly flowers from January to June, Western Gorse flowers in later summer and autumn and is mainly found in western parts of the UK; whereas Dwarf Gorse, which also flowers later, is mainly found in the south and east of England and is absent from Ireland.

Gorse is a member of the pea family and can be found in all kinds of habitats from heaths and commons to towns and gardens. It provides a good habitat for many insects and birds, but can become dense and invasive. Many ‘wild’ landscapes are managed by traditional grazing animals such as Dartmoor or Exmoor ponies.

It is easily recognised with its needle-like leaves and distinctive, coconut-perfumed, yellow flowers.

If you would like to join in with Garden Photography then please take a look at my Garden Photography Page. No complicated rules 🙂

• Create your own post and title it May: Wild Flowers
• Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
• Add the tag “GardenChallenge” so everyone can find the posts easily in the WP Reader
• Get your post in by the end of the month, as the new theme comes out on the first Sunday in June.
• Please visit the sites in the comments to see what others are posting.