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Rosedale Community News

Welcome to the Rosedale blog. This is where we share news and information about events in Rosedale and the wider community throughout the year. You’ll also find news about the village timetable, our micro enterprises, school events, clubs, and lively socials.

Posts Tagged ‘Wild Flowers’

Breathtaking heather

The heather is out and the moors are adorned with every shade of pink and purple. And it will only get better from here as the intensity increases. The wildlife continues to flourish. This little wren, with its siblings, flitting about on a moor wall, it’s parents filling the air with their powerful song. Tiny bird, big voice. Updale Natural History Recorder

Wren

Wren

Heather-clad moor

Heather-clad moor

 

Small but perfectly formed

Moschatel or Townhall clock (Adoxa moschatellina) is in flower now. However, it is very small and easily overlooked except for its mass of leaves which carpet the ground. It likes shade and is found in woodland edges and under hedge rows. It is hard to spot as its petals are green and curiously each flowerhead consists of five flowers forming a cube, four facing outwards and one upwards. It’s flowerhead is about the size of the nail of your little finger. It has a faint musk scent. Well worth seeking out. Updale Natural History Recorder

Oh so sweet

The sweetest violets of all are now in bloom in Rosedale. These deep purple sweet violets are on the verge below Hill Cottages at Rosedale East. Sweet violet is one of five violets found on the North York Moors and an early flowerer. They can be white, deep purple or tinted but the spur is always purple. They truly do smell so sweet. Updale Natural History Recorderimage

Winter heliotrope

 This plant is welcome colour during the winter months and certainly one of a very few that flowers at this time.  Flowering from December through until March it is in full flow now.  It is more common nearer the coast but grows in a few places in the National Park.  We have two sites here in Rosedale, the roadside verge opposite the north entrance to the church in the village and the lay-by between the Orange Tree and Brick cottage on Daleside Road in Rosedale East.  Also known as fragrant butterbur it has a distinct smell of vanilla.  It’s large round leaves are easy to spot but look closely for the pinkish white flowers.  A real treat before spring.  Updale Natural History Recorder
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Sweet cicely

The warm weather has really brought the flowers on after a slow start.  This Sweet cicely is a lush addition to our verges.  It is similar to Cow parsley but is much more luscious and prefers damper ground but it is it’s aniseed smell that really gives it away.  This picture was taken on the approach to Farmhouse Fodder Tea Garden.  Updale Natural History Recorder
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Primroses or are they?

 Great showing of primroses right now but look closer and some are not what they seem.  Primroses are quite short with open pale yellow flower heads.  A close relative is cowslip, upright on longer stems with almost closed deep yellow flower heads which droop.  And where the two grow together they hybridise and you will find false oxlip, best described as a primrose on a long stalk.  Some great examples on Moor Lane verges south of Hartoft.  image(9)
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Colt’s Foot – a true sign of Spring and here at last

 One of the first signs of Spring is Colt’s Foot and today it has finally made an appearance.  It has a flowerhead like a chimney sweep’s brush and reddish scales along its stem.  You won’t find any leaves though as it is one of the few plants where the leaves appear after it has flowered.  And it is the shape of the leaves, hoof-like, that gives it its name.
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