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Plant of the Day
Monday 22 July 2024
The only tree seen growing on the abandoned island of Swona, Orkney, was this Sambucus nigra (elder, elderberry) sheltered by a barn. This small native tree develops few branches and has flat sprays of fragrant cream flowers in early summer followed by small black berries.
Jill Raggett
‘People washed up here, and remained.’Cal Flyn visits the abandoned island of Swona.
(( @legendary-ladies this is for u
Plant of the Day
Wednesday 24 July 2024
In the meadows of the abandoned island of Swona, Orkney, the Trifolium pratense (red clover) was flowering. The roots have the ability to fix nitrogen, enriching the soil for the grazing feral cattle. The flowers are popular with bumblebees for their nectar.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Saturday 3 August 2024
In the damp meadow pasture of the abandoned island of Swona, Orkney, the Lychnis flos-cuculi (ragged robin, crow flower, crow soap, cuckoo flower, cuckoo gilliflower, Indian pink, marsh gilliflower, meadow lychnis, meadow pink, wild William) was flowering. The blooms are enjoyed by a range of pollinators.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Monday 12 August 2024
While on the island of Swona, Orkney, we walked around the coast and found a great colony of the wildflower Mertensia maritima (oyster plant). This plant is a distinct coastal species with a northern distribution in Scotland as the seeds need a sharp winter’s chilling before they will germinate.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Tuesday 30 July 2024
An annual or short-lived perennial Tripleurospermum inodorum (scentless mayweed, scentless chamomile, Baldr's brow, Mary's herb) has branching stems and finely-divided, thread-like foliage with daisy-like flowerheads. This plant is native to Eurasia and North Africa, and introduced to North America where it is considered an invasive weed.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Monday 29 July 2024
In this wild, coastal ‘rock garden’ the short-lived perennial or biennial, Silene dioica (red campion, adder’s flower, Robin Hood, cuckoo flower) was flowering in a range of deep to pale pinks. The species has male and female flowers on separate plants with seed capsules having toothed edges as they open to disperse ripe seed.
Jill Raggett
