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.
Scented Sweetpeas says
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 🙂
dottycookie says
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.
Pennyblossoms says
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
Toffeeapple says
What a lovely post! We are lucky to have all the wild flowers in the verges, truly beautiful, especially the Clematis.
Bella Bheag says
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.
Jenny says
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
The List Writer says
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.
marigold jam says
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!
Julie says
How special to see the bee orchid…it almost looks like a made up flower. Juliex
Ali says
This year really has been verge heaven. And your photos truly capture it.
periwinkle says
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
Lace hearts says
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.
Su says
The verges here in Suffolk are gorgeous at the moment too – but I haven't ever seen a bee orchid, lucky you!
Menopausalmusing says
Loving the scabious and the flax….. how very, very beautiful. What a tip off re the bee orchid too.
A delightful post Emma. x
Sue says
Bee orchid. Wow! All the other flowers are beautiful too.
greenrabbitdesigns says
Wow, just beautiful!
I especially love the flax and the dog daisies.
As for the orchid, it is stunning!!
Vivienne x
Julie says
Wow! What a stunning orchid! Beautiful photos Emma and I love to see all the wildflowers in the fields just now.
julie says
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.
sea-blue-sky & abstracts says
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
Jacquie says
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
elizabethm says
Oh wow! I have never seen a bee orchid. Love your verges. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the whole country was like that?
zephyr says
How beautiful! And what a treat at the very end.
petal says
I love that bee orchid, it looks amazing.
Tania says
I declare myself utterly mitten with this verge business. Bee Orchid has won my heart.
Thimbleanna says
Ooooh, that orchid is gorgeous. And it grows wild? Beautiful photos Ms. Emma!
shadygrey says
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.
Betty says
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
Tabiboo says
Gosh Emma – that is so pretty. I dream of wild flower meadows.
Nina xxx
ps. they drooped yesterday. N x
Rachel says
And to think they used to spray the verges "to keep the weeds down"!
Monica says
wow.
the simple poppies are my favourite… they ARE summer to me.
The Coffee Lady says
The bee orchid is fab! Are you sure you didn't just invent it, and photoshop a version up to fox us?
Jenevieve says
Lots of beautiful flower photos! I love wildflowers too and poppies are definitely one of my favourites! 🙂 x
Suse says
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.
Magic Cochin says
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
Madelief says
How beautiful your verges look. I wish they were as beautiful in Holland!
Happy new week! Madelief x
andamento says
Wow, fantastic flowers you have there, our verges never look like that. Lovely photos, as ever.
potterjotter says
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!
lilylovekin says
What lovely flowers you have along your road sides. That bee orchid is a stunner, although the red poppies are my favorites.
monda-loves says
wow – just beautiful.
I wish I had a big enough garden to have a wild flower/meadow area. Wild flowers are massively underrated.
Poppy says
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
Naturally Carol says
No wonder England is likened to a garden..they are better than some gardens as you don't have to worry about the weeds!!
Locket Pocket says
Far more beautiful than my garden at the moment! lucy x
Tara says
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.
Twiggy says
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
Lynn says
So very, very pretty.
I miss "talking" to you – maybe someday soon life will settle down…
Cottage Garden says
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!
sbmillefeuilles says
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.
Lola Nova says
Oh my goodness, what an abundance of beauty you have around you! Thank you so much for sharing.
nicole says
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
Handmade in Israel says
Wow! Stunning! I would stand and stare each time I passed by…
underatopazsky says
The simple flatness of the Fens background really throws the riot of flowers into relief.
do you mind if i knit says
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
Adaliza says
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.
small catalogue says
Wildflowers are such a joy!
Indigo Blue says
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.
Moogsmum says
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)
Jackie says
No wonder this post has so many comments. a bee orchid…my goodness. as if the verges weren't spectacular enough!! Beautiful. Thank you.
Little Blue Mouse says
What a great array of flowers. It's lovely to see them at the roadside.
Anonymous says
I did love those flowers, all of them. Stunning! How lovely to see them growing naturally. Thanks for sharing the pictures.