The Living Church

Talking about the Holy Spirit at Pentecost:

Killodiernan Churchyard - 23rd May

Here are some photos of Killodiernan Churchyard taken toward the end of May, with a few old friends and some new.

Killodiernan Church nestles in its churchyard, with the flowering meadow edged by a tightly mown border separating it from the gravel path.

A Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) rests on a flower of Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata). 

Its food plant, Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus), grows nearby.

Early Purple Orchids (Orchis mascula) continue to flower - they have chosen a spot close to the gravel path, so the mower has to take special care to allow them to flower and seed.

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) joins Bugle (Ajuga reptans) in a shady spot, promising a delicious treat in a few weeks.

Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) has put in an appearance.

Dozens of Twayblade orchids (Neottia ovata) have begun to show their green spikes, with individual flowers looking like tiny green men.

Common Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris) starting to show.

A late Primrose (Primula vulgaris) still hanging on.

Lady's Smock or Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) in a damper spot, among leaves of Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) which likes the same conditions

To my delight flowering stems of Common Quaking Grass (Briza media) were just beginning to appear, but unfortunately my photos were out of focus - we'll see more during June!