At the moment, the roadsides where I live are crowded with flowers.
Whether it’s a single wildflower that creates a drift of colour…
…or self-seeded domesticated plants creating a pretty jumble, personally I think that right now my local verges are as beautiful as any garden.
Sometimes there’s a totally unexpected surprise, like this powder blue flax,
…or a flower that’s determined to rusticate itself like this clematis that’s scrambled up a telegraph pole.
Perhaps I should create a guide to the loveliest verges in East Anglia.
Whilst I was photographing these dog daisies someone walked over to me and whispered about the holy grail of roadside flowers…
…one of Britain’s rarest and most exquisite, a bee orchid, just a mile from my house.
I think the recession has had a fantastic impact on our verges, the council aren't cutting them back and just look beauty they bring 🙂
I couldn't agree with you more – we've just had the exact same conversation on the way home from Cambridge. There's a verge on the M11 slip road at Trumpington that is quite astonishing at the moment.
Wow! Never had the privelidge to see a bee orchid in the flesh. What a stunning specimen!
Can't beat poppy fields tho'.
Z xx
What a lovely post! We are lucky to have all the wild flowers in the verges, truly beautiful, especially the Clematis.
These are fantastic – the poppy field particularly amazing! Are all of the flowers growing wild or are some of them commercially planted? If wild then surely one or two or ten wouldn't be missed….. they will always come again.
I have never seen a bee orchid before – wild or otherwise. Looks like a rare flower and should stay where it is.
Wow I don't think the verges around here are anywhere near as lovely as yours – yours are like little wild gardens at the side of the road – so much colour! Those poppies are gorgeous too! x
Oooh, orchids in the verge – you know how I love those! There were so many lovely ones in France.
The fungi in the soil need to be just right for them to grow, which is why they are so rare. Oak trees help to get the soil balance correct, so often where there are oak trees, there are wild orchids. And orchids do really love to grow on verges.
I had been thinking the very same only yesterday! Perhaps it is all the heat and drought followed by the rain which has made the flowers pop up so well this year. You do a guide for East Anglia and I will do one for the Somerset/Dorset borders!
How special to see the bee orchid…it almost looks like a made up flower. Juliex
This year really has been verge heaven. And your photos truly capture it.
Now those are truly gorgeous verges and if Chris Packham should come to visit your bee orchid I do hope you will yell loudly for me to get my ass there asap !! x
The flowers are so beautiful lately. I especially love a field of poppies, but we have nothing like that around me. Your photographs are lovely to look at.
The verges here in Suffolk are gorgeous at the moment too – but I haven't ever seen a bee orchid, lucky you!
Loving the scabious and the flax….. how very, very beautiful. What a tip off re the bee orchid too.
A delightful post Emma. x
Bee orchid. Wow! All the other flowers are beautiful too.
Wow, just beautiful!
I especially love the flax and the dog daisies.
As for the orchid, it is stunning!!
Vivienne x
Wow! What a stunning orchid! Beautiful photos Emma and I love to see all the wildflowers in the fields just now.
That bee orchid is really something special isn't it? But then all of the more humble flowers that you've captured here are beautiful in their own special ways. Aren't we lucky to have such rich variety just growing by our roadsides.
What a joy to see these photos of wild and wonderful nature Emma – a guide to the verges of East Anglia is a must! Lesley x
Wow Emma , your pictures are so stunning . I'm loving the verges too but I think yours are even better than ours . That orchid is amazing and I love the flax .
Jacquie x
Oh wow! I have never seen a bee orchid. Love your verges. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the whole country was like that?
How beautiful! And what a treat at the very end.
I love that bee orchid, it looks amazing.
I declare myself utterly mitten with this verge business. Bee Orchid has won my heart.
Ooooh, that orchid is gorgeous. And it grows wild? Beautiful photos Ms. Emma!
What a beautiful little orchid. I have recently read 'The Orchid Thief', so orchids have been on my mind. I think the little wild ones are so much more beguiling than the cultivated, more showy specimens.
we don't have these type of flowers where I live so what a treat to see your wonderful poppies and a bee orchid – I had never seen one before – so fabulous. Bettyx
Gosh Emma – that is so pretty. I dream of wild flower meadows.
Nina xxx
ps. they drooped yesterday. N x
And to think they used to spray the verges "to keep the weeds down"!
wow.
the simple poppies are my favourite… they ARE summer to me.
The bee orchid is fab! Are you sure you didn't just invent it, and photoshop a version up to fox us?
Lots of beautiful flower photos! I love wildflowers too and poppies are definitely one of my favourites! 🙂 x
Wow. Just, wow.
I have tried and tried to grow a clematis but with no success (spent a fortune), and you have them growing up telegraph poles! The poppies are just exquisite too.
Sigh. And wow.
What stunning pictures! Thank you for showing off what a lovely part of the world we live in 🙂
There should be Bee-Orchids along the verges and on the greens of our village – sadly I haven't yet persuaded the Parish Council to leave some areas of grass un-cut 🙁
Some very lucky people I know have Bee-Orchids come up in their lawn!
Great to see you at the fete!
Celia
xx
How beautiful your verges look. I wish they were as beautiful in Holland!
Happy new week! Madelief x
Wow, fantastic flowers you have there, our verges never look like that. Lovely photos, as ever.
They are stunning this year – trouble is I can't drive and look at them at the same time; that way lies disaster. Will have to find time for some long walks!
What lovely flowers you have along your road sides. That bee orchid is a stunner, although the red poppies are my favorites.
wow – just beautiful.
I wish I had a big enough garden to have a wild flower/meadow area. Wild flowers are massively underrated.
Stunning pictures Emma! If I'm a good girl I'm hoping to get some of your beautiful jewellery for my birthday. I'm working on it anyway! 😉
I hope you have had a lovely weekend…
Lou xxx
No wonder England is likened to a garden..they are better than some gardens as you don't have to worry about the weeds!!
Far more beautiful than my garden at the moment! lucy x
Beautiful photos, Emma! And to think all those flowers grow on the side of the road. The orchid is absolutely stunning. My resolve to one day visit England is further strengthened by these photos.
The surrounding fields up here are currently blazing with poppies, so beautiful. I have never seen a bee orchid isn't it gorgeous?
Twiggy x
So very, very pretty.
I miss "talking" to you – maybe someday soon life will settle down…
Our Suffolk hedgerows are looking stunning at the moment, but they can't beat a bee orchid. What an incredible find. Just beautiful Emma.
Sorry for my lack of visits recently. I know what you mean about the funny old world of blogging but I agree – what a wonderful way to meet so many lovely, creative friends. Just wish there were more hours in the day!
Jeanne
x
PS Happy anniversary to you both!
Your photos are stunning. Whilst I bow my head in respect to the bee orchid I must confess that orchids are not my favourite flowers. All the others though are just beautiful. However, snowdrops are a cut above the rest….. 😉
Have a great week, from Gardenmania.
Oh my goodness, what an abundance of beauty you have around you! Thank you so much for sharing.
I dream of one day seeing the English countryside in person! Especially poppy fields!
Thank you for taking us on this lovely tour. And thank you too for leaving such a sweet comment on my blog. It gave me a chance to discover your lovely blog.
Nicole
Wow! Stunning! I would stand and stare each time I passed by…
The simple flatness of the Fens background really throws the riot of flowers into relief.
Those Poppies! I love your photos, so simple, but so well, 'there'. I can hear the birds singing. Your cotton reel and scissors necklace is just beautiful! I've been meaning to let you know that it was my sister's Birthday recently, and I gave her the necklace I bought from you last year, and she loves it! I have to say, this is a triumph, because she is extremely picky, and has no hesitations about saying she doesn't like a gift, so I was waiting for her response with baited breath. She loves it, isn't that great!!!!!!!!!!! Love Vanessa xxx
I'm off to Wales soon, and the verges there are magnificent. Those orchids are absolutely wonderful – lucky you.
Must try to take some photos of my walks.
Wildflowers are such a joy!
I agree with Scented Sweetpeas. i have always thought it a crying shame when councils cut back verges which are not casuing any obstruction, so yes one good thing about not afforeding to cut them, gorgeous flowers for us to look at. I come from East Anglia (Not far from you I think) and the range of flowers is marvellous. I have never seen a flax flower though. As a Textiles teacher I would have loved that you lucky thing. Excellent pictures thank you for sharing.
On my way to a very gloomy meeting last week I was treated to a verge full to bursting with bright red poppies, thanks to recent road works and the seeds being woken up. Those bee orchids are amazing – what a fabulous thing to have so close to home!
Lovely post Emma :o)
No wonder this post has so many comments. a bee orchid…my goodness. as if the verges weren't spectacular enough!! Beautiful. Thank you.
What a great array of flowers. It's lovely to see them at the roadside.
I did love those flowers, all of them. Stunning! How lovely to see them growing naturally. Thanks for sharing the pictures.