Flowers On The North Norfolk Coast

A stroll along the Norfolk coast on a sunny day in June. What could be better?
It wasn't long before I was investigating the dunes and more specifically the dips in between the dunes - the "slacks" as they are known. Here the walking is easier as the sand has become compacted, there are paths and, at this time of year, there are flowers too.

Birdsfoot Trefoil

My knowledge of botany is, to say the least, patchy. It was mostly gained through walking in the company of my friend Pete, aka Environmentally Friendly Pete. So, while I can occasionally pick out some rare and hardly noticeable plants, I can struggle over things which Pete thought too obvious to bring to my attention. That's the trouble with experts.

Biting Stonecrop

That's not a problem you'll have with me! Though you might have the problem of false information creeping in from time to time.

Sea Holly

If you're near the sea and see something vaguely familiar but a bit different you can try adding the word "Sea...." in front of the name. Sometimes that works.

Southern Marsh Orchid (I think!)

Then you encounter a scene as wonderful as this. You simply can't ignore it. Orchids of some sort, but there's no such thing as a "Sea Orchid" so I'm struggling. Mmmm...might be.....lets have a closer look...

or Early Marsh Orchid perhaps

....closer still...

no...right first time (probably)

Well, I think I'm right. Lets look around for something unmistakeable.

Fox-And-Cubs

Orange Hawkweed, Devil's Paintbrush or Fox-And-Cubs, is just that - unmistakeable - because it's bright orange. It's actually an introduced plant from Alpine Europe that was grown in gardens. In some parts of the world it has become a real nuisance. 

Viper's Bugloss

A little further along I found the fine specimen above. And about a mile after that I remembered what it's called. 

Sea Campion

Then, glancing into the grass at the side of the path, I spied the curious plant which you can also see by glancing down a little....

Bee orchid

It's called a Bee Orchid for the very obvious reason that its flower resembles a bumble bee. Orchids are some of the most interesting and ingenious plants in the world and this particular one has come up with a particularly cunning plan to get itself pollinated. Have a flower that looks enough like a bee to fool other bees - at least enough like a bee to fool a randy male bee - then when he comes to "investigate" he'll transfer the pollen for you. 

Pyramidal Orchid

And then another orchid. This time one that's easy to identify and remember - the Pyramidal Orchid. Dozens, if not hundreds, of these were growing just a short distance from the Coast Path.

And everybody knows these....

Poppies!

Only a few days ago we were remembering those who had landed on a similar stretch of sandy coastline some 70 years ago, just so that we can wander in joy and freedom.

And if you think I was exaggerating about my incomplete and haphazard knowledge of the plant kingdom then that's because you haven't been shown all those pictures that linger on my hard-drive unidentified. Until next time I see Pete, that is.

Take care.