One of my favourite flowers on the reserve is bugle (Ajuga reptans). It’s been flowering since April but is now coming to an end.

The flower head is made up of a series of beautiful deep blue flowers stacked on top of each other to create a spike, sort of like a mini foxglove. They are fantastic for insects, with white-tailed bumblebees, green-veined white butterflies and silver y moths finding it a favourite.

At only 10 to 30 cm tall this flower doesn’t blow its own trumpet. It’s a low growing, creeping plant, with runners that take root allowing it to spread across the floor.

An alternative name for this flower is carpenter’s herb due to its ability to reduce bleeding. Some claim when drunk as an infusion it can help cure a hangover!

Bye for now,

Rhian – Seasonal Ranger