Wildflower meadow © Paul Hobson
Daisies © Lauren Heather
Daisies are ingrained in our culture and have often played a big part in our childhood. Who doesn't remember making daisy chains and wreathes of daisies or plucking the petals while saying the familiar "He loves me...he loves me not..."? But did you know that the name daisy comes from the "day's eye", as it opens with the sun and closes when the sun goes down?
Where to find: Everywhere
Red dead-nettle © Amy Lewis
The red dead-nettle with its crimson flower is a welcome food source for long-tongued insects such as red mason bee; the caterpillars of garden tiger, white ermine and angle shades moths like to feed on the leaves. It's called dead-nettle because even though it looks like a stinging nettle, it doesn't sting.
Lesser celandine © Philip Precey
Part of the buttercup family, this popular yellow flower is one of the first heralds of spring. Its name comes from the Greek word chelidon which means swallow and they emerge at the same time as swallows return from their winter quarters. In some places, it is known as pilewort, as it was traditionally used to treat hemorrhoids (wort = treatment; piles = hemorrhoids).
Wood anemone © Philip Precey
It is named after the Greek wind god, Anemos, who sent his namesakes, the anemones, in early spring to herald his coming. This legend gives the flower its other common name of 'Windflower'. For the Romans, wood anemones were considered a 'lucky charm' to ward off fever.
Dog's mercury
Mercury is a common name for the plant Good King Henry which can be eaten as a vegetable, a bit similar to spinach or kale. Dog's mercury has nothing to do with our beloved pets. The name refers to it looking similar to Good King Henry but being poisonous. It produces a foul and rotten smell.
Dandelion © Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
Loved by children for their ability to blow off in the wind, disliked by many gardeners as a weed, dandelions grow throughout the year and thus make a good food source for our pollinators, particularly early in spring when other flowers are rare. The name derives from the French dent de lion or tooth of the lion due to the jaggedly toothed shape of the leaves. During the Second World War, when coffee was almost unobtainable, a substitute was made from the roasted and ground roots of dandelions.
We want to help everyone enjoy wildlife and connect with the wild places around them. Our #WildAtHome project aims to help bring you closer to wildlife in the safety of your home. Each week we'll be sending you ideas and inspiration on how to stay wild whilst remaining safe at home.
