Comments on: Cowslips: once common, now a lovely surprise! http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/cowslips-once-common-now-a-lovely-surprise/ Corfe Mullen : A Disappearing Dorset Village Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:38:04 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Katherine Willson http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/cowslips-once-common-now-a-lovely-surprise/#comment-2372 Katherine Willson Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:03:19 +0000 http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-2372 Cowslips in the new world - There is a small and specific spot on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario Canada where is a great abundance of cowslips (also a lot of sweet violets where there are lawns. I have assumed that this was just a coincidence of flowers borught by the Scottish settlers to the area (very late 19th centuty) and the relatively moist, dolomitic limestone environment, but probably not unique. However, my husband told me recently hta the met a plant botanist who has been making a study of these particular cowslips. Apparently this is one of the most abundant collecitons of cowslips anywhere! Another unique feature of htis very unique place, Hopeness, which is fortunately mostly protected by Ontario's Niagara Escarpment Plan. If anyone's curious I can provide photos. And, yes, they are more abundant where cattle grazed in the past but not currently. Cowslips in the new world – There is a small and specific spot on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario Canada where is a great abundance of cowslips (also a lot of sweet violets where there are lawns. I have assumed that this was just a coincidence of flowers borught by the Scottish settlers to the area (very late 19th centuty) and the relatively moist, dolomitic limestone environment, but probably not unique. However, my husband told me recently hta the met a plant botanist who has been making a study of these particular cowslips. Apparently this is one of the most abundant collecitons of cowslips anywhere! Another unique feature of htis very unique place, Hopeness, which is fortunately mostly protected by Ontario’s Niagara Escarpment Plan. If anyone’s curious I can provide photos. And, yes, they are more abundant where cattle grazed in the past but not currently.

]]> By: Jane http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/cowslips-once-common-now-a-lovely-surprise/#comment-1071 Jane Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:03:05 +0000 http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-1071 Hi Janet. A great spot. I will look out for them next year. Thanks for the tip off! Jane Hi Janet. A great spot. I will look out for them next year. Thanks for the tip off! Jane

]]> By: Janet Healy http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/cowslips-once-common-now-a-lovely-surprise/#comment-1070 Janet Healy Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:24:13 +0000 http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-1070 I am sure I am not mistaken in thinking I saw a whole host of cowslips going over Christchurch Road towards Parley, just outside the Golf Club. I am sure I am not mistaken in thinking I saw a whole host of cowslips going over Christchurch Road towards Parley, just outside the Golf Club.

]]> By: Jane http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/cowslips-once-common-now-a-lovely-surprise/#comment-953 Jane Mon, 12 May 2008 07:28:09 +0000 http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-953 Dragonstar. What on earth were you doing on a ring-road??? I'm curious now! Glad you saw some, they have been very pretty this year. Jane Dragonstar. What on earth were you doing on a ring-road??? I’m curious now! Glad you saw some, they have been very pretty this year. Jane

]]> By: Jane http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/cowslips-once-common-now-a-lovely-surprise/#comment-952 Jane Mon, 12 May 2008 07:27:12 +0000 http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-952 Hi Sara. Lots of people seem to have seen them this year. Maybe it's a good year for them or maybe we are seeing a return of our native flowers? Lets hope so. Jane Hi Sara. Lots of people seem to have seen them this year. Maybe it’s a good year for them or maybe we are seeing a return of our native flowers? Lets hope so. Jane

]]> By: Dragonstar http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/cowslips-once-common-now-a-lovely-surprise/#comment-946 Dragonstar Sun, 11 May 2008 20:15:40 +0000 http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-946 Just last Tuesday I saw my first ever cowslips in our local "big" town. I was walking (by mistake, but that's another story!) along a sort of ring-road and past the tourist information place. Part of the grass outside had been cut, but the rest was long and un-manicured. In the uncut grass were cowslips! No, I've no photos I'm afraid. Just last Tuesday I saw my first ever cowslips in our local “big” town. I was walking (by mistake, but that’s another story!) along a sort of ring-road and past the tourist information place. Part of the grass outside had been cut, but the rest was long and un-manicured. In the uncut grass were cowslips! No, I’ve no photos I’m afraid.

]]> By: farmingfriends http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/cowslips-once-common-now-a-lovely-surprise/#comment-936 farmingfriends Fri, 02 May 2008 15:54:26 +0000 http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-936 They are very pretty. I think I have some in my garden. I love the yellow petals. They are very cheery. Sara from farmingfriends They are very pretty. I think I have some in my garden. I love the yellow petals. They are very cheery.
Sara from farmingfriends

]]> By: Jane http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/cowslips-once-common-now-a-lovely-surprise/#comment-910 Jane Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:51:10 +0000 http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-910 Doug. I thought they were rare as well... glad I'm not the only one under that misconception. Or is it just that without all the pesticides these flowers are making a comeback? I'm sure that I've not seen them in such numbers before. The same with wood anemone and sweet and common violets. Maybe I just haven't been paying attention to "mere" wild flowers before.... and this I've actually got my eyes open! Jane Doug. I thought they were rare as well… glad I’m not the only one under that misconception. Or is it just that without all the pesticides these flowers are making a comeback? I’m sure that I’ve not seen them in such numbers before. The same with wood anemone and sweet and common violets. Maybe I just haven’t been paying attention to “mere” wild flowers before…. and this I’ve actually got my eyes open! Jane

]]> By: Jane http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/cowslips-once-common-now-a-lovely-surprise/#comment-909 Jane Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:37:57 +0000 http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-909 Hi Kate. Funny you should say that. I've seen lots of violets this year. Not white ones though mine were purple... guess yours must be sweet violets (perennial herb of woods and hedgerows). I got very "up close and personal" with the cowslips... I've found it's the only way I can get a half decent photo. Stand too far back and wild flowers just seem to merge into the background. It's the same with bluebells. Jane Hi Kate. Funny you should say that. I’ve seen lots of violets this year. Not white ones though mine were purple… guess yours must be sweet violets (perennial herb of woods and hedgerows). I got very “up close and personal” with the cowslips… I’ve found it’s the only way I can get a half decent photo. Stand too far back and wild flowers just seem to merge into the background. It’s the same with bluebells. Jane

]]> By: Doug http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/cowslips-once-common-now-a-lovely-surprise/#comment-908 Doug Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:08:20 +0000 http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-908 Heh heh! I got bollocked by Anna for telling her that Cowslips were rare these days and now a nice surprise, when we came across a few in a local Berkshire nature reserve. Then we drove to the Cotswolds along the A417 and A419 (Swindon - Gloucester) and there were half-mile banks of the yellow bleeders all down that very long road! I've certainly never noticed that before, but that (personally anyway) has probably something more to do with the fact that I've never really noticed ANY flowers apart from Bluebells, being an anmial-man (or zoologist if you want me to be precious about it), rather than a botanist. I'm only really starting to properly notice plants and flowers now... Lovely pictures (as always!) Jane... Heh heh!
I got bollocked by Anna for telling her that Cowslips were rare these days and now a nice surprise, when we came across a few in a local Berkshire nature reserve.
Then we drove to the Cotswolds along the A417 and A419 (Swindon – Gloucester) and there were half-mile banks of the yellow bleeders all down that very long road!
I’ve certainly never noticed that before, but that (personally anyway) has probably something more to do with the fact that I’ve never really noticed ANY flowers apart from Bluebells, being an anmial-man (or zoologist if you want me to be precious about it), rather than a botanist.
I’m only really starting to properly notice plants and flowers now…
Lovely pictures (as always!) Jane…

]]> By: Kate Long http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/cowslips-once-common-now-a-lovely-surprise/#comment-907 Kate Long Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:56:54 +0000 http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/?p=364#comment-907 Wow, Jane. There's a wonderful bank of white violets near me, and I stood and looked at them for ages. Tried to take some photos, but either the scale or the detail was lost. You manage to get both. Wow, Jane.

There’s a wonderful bank of white violets near me, and I stood and looked at them for ages. Tried to take some photos, but either the scale or the detail was lost. You manage to get both.

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