Common

We start the new month, with some 'common' flowers from our recent walks around Shipley Park. Starting with an exceptionally pretty little flower to be found along the old railway lines - Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea).

Small and rather delicate to look at, this is a common plant (as the name suggests), found growing in fairly dry, gravelly conditions and is a member of the Gentian family.

I have mentioned the Common Spotted Orchids several times in recent days and have posted a few pictures of them growing in the meadows around these parts. A couple of these delightful plants have taken root in our front garden, one of which had started to flower. Unfortunately, this flower spike was broken off  recently - we think by a passing cat or dog. Disappointing as this was, it did give us a chance to get a closer look at the individual flowers as it stood in a glass of water on our windowsill.

Lastly, a plant which is easily overlooked but is still rather common. The English Stonecrop (Sedum anglicum) is a succulent plant which hugs the ground closely and grows among stones and pebbles, making it even harder to spot.

The succulent leaves are often tinged with red as in this case, making them slightly easier to see, particularly when growing among the grey stones of this old car park.