WILDFLOWERS

Rich and fertile,

Rough and ready,

Wild and free,

Tough and steady.

 I love the luxuriant profusion and mad scatter of a meadow swathed in wildflowers. A beautiful tapestry of colour and scent, swaying harmoniously together in the breeze, trying their best to invite pollinators but also symbolises unity.  After the first full moon of May, also known as a flower moon, there will be a bounty of flowers, and by late summer they will be releasing their precious seed, the potential heirs of the next generation.  We too can learn from the way wildflowers grow, accepting whatever comes their way, a powerful reminder to slow down and tune into the language of nature.

 You too can enjoy the sound of the buzzing bees gathering their sweets, dragonflies hunting for food, and a plethora of butterflies, ladybirds and insect life which will attract all manner of birdlife into your garden helping the gardener in their quest to irradicate pests.

 No matter how small your garden, you too can enjoy the luxury of wildflowers by following these steps.

 Creating a Wildflower Meadow

 Seeds and plant plugs can be bought from specialist seed suppliers and wildflower nurseries.  Some garden centres sell specially prepared wildflower mixes which incorporate annual seeds.  The internet is also a good platform to buy approved plants and seed mixes.

Never take seeds from the wild.                      

 The best sowing times are early spring or late summer to autumn; however, most wildflower seeds will germinate during the summer months if you’re 

able to keep them moist.

·      You need to:   Scrape off the topsoil as it is full of weed seeds, resulting in a lush growth that will swamp the wildflowers as they only need a frugal diet. Preparation is key.

·      Create a fine seed bed and lightly sow the seed, mixed with barley meal or fine sand to encourage even distribution of the seed.

·      Rake in thoroughly and firm down to ensure your seeds have good contact with the soil.

·      If sown in topsoil, keep on top of weeds, stay vigilant, and thin out the grass periodically.

·      Mow the area at least three times in the first year at a height of 5 cms. Remove the cuttings as this will increase fertility.  Treat the area as you would a lazy lawn, i.e. Cut when it looks untidy.

·      In two years’ when the meadow begins to flower cut this only once, (make sure your flowers have all set seed and the seeds have fallen before you cut your meadow) this will usually be by mid-September then remove all cuttings to the compost heap,

·      Do not scatter your seed onto existing lawn/grass as this will be futile and your seeds will not grow. Do not apply fertilizer to your meadow as this will encourage weeds and grass to grow stronger.

·      Lightly turn over and rake the area the following spring.  This promotes germination of the seeds that have fallen the previous year, as these species need the soil to be disturbed annually.

 I hope you follow these simple steps to enjoy the meditative charm of these beautiful flowers in May.