May: the meadow month

The meadow grows from strength to strength. Pulling out the Perennial Ryegrass and False Oatgrass in the autumn has paid off, and the dominant grass is now Upright Brome - which is allowing the flowers more air to breath.

The Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon (Tragopogon pratensis) is really taking off...

...as are the usual suspects:

Really impressive is the Yellow Rattle I planted as seeds last autumn on the west side - they now carpet the area, and you can clearly see the reduction in grasses

Here is the meadow in the village from which I collected the seeds - note how the flower diversity is concentrated among the Yellow Rattle

And for a display of the difference in management between semi-natural and improved grassland - look no further than the view from my terrace