Food for Free by Richard Mabey is available for the Kindle or as a printed book. Gathering and recipes for wildflower plants, (as well as fungi, seaweeds and shellfish) of the UK are presented for the following months:-

January

Common Chickweed

February

Common Chickweed
Common Sorrel
Jack-by-the-hedge
Nettle

March

Alexanders
Common Comfrey (c-arcinogenic)
Cow Parsley
Goosegrass
Hairy Bittercress
Hop shoots
Jack-by-the-hedge
Nettle
Sweet violet
White Dead-Nettle and Red Dead-Nettle

April

Alexanders
Bistort
Dandelion flowers
Hairy Bittercress
Hawthorn leaves
Hop shoots
Nettle
Ramsons
Sea beet
Sea Kale
Sweet Cicely
Sweet violet
Tansy leaves

May

Bog myrtle
Dandelion flowers
Good King Henry
Ground elder
Hawthorn leaves
Hop shoots
Milk Thistle
Nettle
Ramsons
Sea beet
Sea Holly
Sweet violet

June

Elder flower
Fat hen
Fennel
Goosegrass
Ground elder
Ramsons
Marsh Samphire (Gl-asswort)
Nettle
Reed
Sea beet
Watercress
Wild cherry
Wild dog rose flower
Wild strawberry
Wild Thyme
Yarrow

July

Blackcurrant
Common Mallow
Common Sorrel
Cowberry
Crowberry
Gooseberry
Green walnut
Lime blossom
Marjoram
Marsh Samphire (Gl-asswort)
Raspberry
Red currant
Rock Samphire
Sea beet
Silverweed
Sweet Cicely
Water Mint
Wild dog rose flower
Wild strawberry
Wild Thyme
Wood Sorrel

August

Black mustard
Blackberry (Bramble)
Cloudberry
Common Mallow
Common Sorrel
Cranberry
Elder berries
Gooseberry
Hazel nut
Heather flowers
Marjoram
Marsh Samphire (Gl-asswort)
Raspberry
Silverweed
Wild dog rose rosehip
Sea beet
Wild strawberry
Wild Thyme
Wood Sorrel

September

Beech nuts
Bilberry
Black Mustard
Blackberry (bramble)
Corn Poppy
Dandelion roots
Elder berries
Hawthorn berries
Hazel nut
Heather flowers
Hop fruits
Horse-radish
Jack-by-the-hedge
Juniper
Marjoram
Marsh Samphire (Gl-asswort)
Pignut
Raspberry
Wild dog rose rosehip
Sea beet
Sea Holly
Wild service tree
Wild strawberry

October

Beech
Blackberry (bramble)
Common Chickweed
Elder berries
Hazel nut
Jack-by-the-hedge
Juniper
Medlar fruit (after first frost)
Oak
Wild dog rose rosehip
Rowan
Sea beet
Sloe (Blackthorn fruit)
Sweet chestnut
Ripe walnut

November

Common Chickweed
Hazel nut
Wild dog rose rosehip
Sweet chestnut
Ripe walnut

December

Common Chickweed

Family Pages
The wild flowers are also split into their respective Wild Flower Family Pages with a table listing in alphabetical order - of all the Wild Flower Plants for that Family - by the Common Name with the Botanical Name, Flowering Month Period and Habitat is given; together with following colour pictures for each plant - single flower, flowers, foliage and form. The Family Pages have been assembled into the following 23 Wild Flower Family Gallery sections:-

Wild Flower Family Page (in CAPITAL LETTERS indicates photos in Family Page) with their respective Wild Flower Plant Description Pages (preceeded by Number (o) indicates has Number Plant Description Pages with colour photos in that Gallery in the next column)

(succeeded by (o) Number indicates that Family's Page has colour photos for Number Plants in that Gallery in the next column)

Site Map for Wild Flower Section Name

(o)2 Adder's Tongue Family - Ophioglossaceae
Amaranth Family - Amaranthaceae
(o)3 (o)Arrow-Grass Family - Juncaginaceae
(o)4 (o)Arum Family - Araceae
1 (o)1 BALSAM FAMILY - Balsaminaceae
Bamboo Family - Bambusoideae
2 (o)2 BARBERRY FAMILY - Berberidaceae
(o)10 Bedstraw Family - Rubiaceae
(o)7 Beech Family - Fagaceae
(o)12 Bellflower Family - Campanulaceae
(o)5 Bindweed Family - Convolvulaceae
(o)4 Birch Family - Betulaceae
(o)1 Bird's-nest Family - Monotropaceae
(o)1 Birthwort Family - Aristolochiaceae
(o)2 Bogbean Family - Menyanthaceae
(o)1 Bog Myrtle Family - Myricaceae
(o)23 Borage Family - Boraginaceae

ad borage

1 (o)1 Box Family - Buxaceae
(o)11 Broomrape Family - Orobanchaceae
2 (o)2 Buckthorn Family - Rhamnaceae
(o)1 Buddleia Family - Loganiaceae
(o)1 Bur-reed Family - Sparganiaceae
29 (o)30 BUTTERCUP FAMILY - Ranunculaceae
(o)6 Butterwort Family - Lentibulariaceae
(o)2 Cornel (Dogwood) Family - Cornaceae
(o)1 Crowberry Family - Empetraceae

box crowberry

57 (o)58 Crucifer (Cabbage and Mustard) Family - Cruciferae

cabbages

Cypress Family - Cupressaceae
(o)4 Daffodil Family - Amaryllidaceae
(o)23 Daisy Family - Compositae
(o)17 Daisy: Catsears and Hawkbits Family - Compositae
(o)16 Daisy: Chamomiles and Mayweeds Family -Compositae
(o)21 Daisy: Cudweeds Family - Compositae

cypress cud

(o)5 Daisy: Hawkweeds Family - Compositae
(o)5 Daisy: Hawksbeards Family - Compositae
3 (o)22 Daisy Thistle Family - Compositae
(o)2 Daphne Family - Thymelaeaceae
(o)1 Diapensia Family - Diapensiaceae
(o)10 Dock: Bistorts and Persicarias Family - Polygonaceae
(o)7 Dock: Docks and Sorrels Family - Polygonaceae

hawk dock

(o)4 Duckweed Family - Lemnaceae
(o)1 Eel-Grass Family - Zosteraceae
(o)2 Elm Family - Ulmaceae
6 (o)6 Clubmoss Family - Lycopodiaceae and Selaginellaceae
2 (o)2 Filmy Fern Family - Hymenophyllaceae
5 (o)5 HORSETAIL FAMILY - Equisataceae
26 (o)27 Polypody Fern Family - Polypodiaceae
Quillwort Family - Isoetaceae
1 (o)1 Royal Fern Family - Osmundaceae

duckw fern

(o)24 Figwort: Mulleins Family - Scrophulariaceae
(o)21 Figwort: Speedwells Family - Scrophulariaceae
(o)4 Flax Family - Linaceae
(o)1 Flowering-Rush Family - Butomaceae
(o)3 Frog-bit Family - Hydrocharitaceae
7 (o)7 Fumitory Family - Fumariaceae

figwort fum

1 (o)10 Gentian Family - Gentianaceae
(o)16 Geranium Family - Geraniaceae
(o)4 Glassworts Family - Salicornia
(o)2 Gooseberry Family - Grossulariaceae
(o)13 Goosefoot Family - Chenopodiaceae

g goosefoot

(o)9 Grass Family 1 - Gramineae
(o)10 Grass Family 2 - Gramineae
(o)9 Grass Family 3 - Gramineae

grasses123

(o)25 Grass: Soft Bromes Family - Gramineae

g brome

(o)2 Hazel Family - Corylaceae
(o)15 Heath Family - Ericaceae
(o)1 Hemp Family - Cannabinaceae
(o)1 Herb-Paris Family - Trilliaceae
(o)1 Holly Family - Aquifoliaceae
(o)7 Honeysuckle Family - Caprifoliaceae
(o)1 Horned-Pondweed Family - Zannichelliaceae
2 (o)2 Hornwort Family - Ceratophyllaceae
(o)9 Iris Family - Iridaceae
(o)1 Ivy Family - Araliaceae
(o)1 Jacob's Ladder Family - Polemoniaceae
(o)17 Lily Family - Liliaceae
(o)7 Lily: Garlics Family - Allium
(o)2 Lime Family - Tiliaceae
(o)2 Lobelia Family - Lobeliaceae

h lobelia

(o)1 Loosestrife Family - Lythraceae
(o)5 Mallow Family - Malvaceae
(o)4 Maple Family - Aceraceae
(o)1 Mare's-tail Family - Hippuridaceae
(o)1 Marsh Pennywort Family - Hydrocotylaceae
1 (o)1 Melon (Gourd/Cucumber) Family - Cucurbitaceae
(o)2 Mesembryanthemum Family - Ficoidaceae
3 (o)3 Mignonette Family - Resedaceae
3 (o)3 Milkwort Family - Polygalaceae
(o)1 Mistletoe Family - Loranthaceae
(o)1 Moschatel Family - Adoxaceae
Naiad Family - Najadaceae
4 (o)4 Nettle Family - Urticaceae
(o)7 Nightshade Family - Solanaceae
(o)1 Oleaster Family - Elaeagnaceae
(o)3 Olive Family - Oleaceae

l olive

(o)44 Orchid Family - Orchidaceae
(o)1 Parnassus-grass Family - Parnassiaceae

orchid parn

(o)20 Peaflower Family - Papilionaceae
(o)10 Peaflower Clover Family 1 - Papilionaceae
(o)12 Peaflower Clover Family 2 - Papilionaceae
(o)9 Peaflower Clover Family 3 - Papilionaceae
(o)18 Peaflower Vetches/Peas Family - Papilionaceae

peaflowers

Peony Family - Paeoniaceae
(o)2 Periwinkle Family - Apocynaceae
Pillwort Family - Marsileaceae
Pine Family - Pinaceae
21(o)21 Pink Family - Caryophyllaceae
27(o)26 Pink Family - Caryophyllaceae

peony pink

Pipewort Family - Eriocaulaceae
(o)1 Pitcher-plant Family - Sarraceniaceae
(o)6 Plantain Family - Plantaginaceae
(o)4 Pondweed Family - Potamogetonaceae
8(o)8 Poppy Family - Papaveraceae
16 (o)16 Primrose Family - Primulaceae
3 (o)3 Purslane Family - Portulacaceae
Rannock-Rush Family - Scheuchzeriaceae
2 (o)2 Reedmace Family - Typhaceae
4 (o)4 Rock-rose Family - Cistaceae

p rockrose

(o)15 Rose Family 1 - Rosaceae
(o)12 Rose Family 2 - Rosaceae
(o)12 Rose Family 3 - Rosaceae
(o)14 Rose Family 4 - Rosaceae

rose12

(o)4 Rush Family - Juncaceae
(o)2 Rush: Woodrushes Family - Luzula
9 (o)9 Saint John's-Wort Family - Hypericaceae
Saltmarsh Grasses - Puccinellia
(o)1 Sandalwood Family - Santalaceae
(o)13 Saxifrage Family - Saxifragaceae

rush saxi

Sea Heath Family - Frankeniaceae
1 (o)3 Sea Lavender Family - Plumbaginaceae
(o)10 Sedge: Rush-like Family - Cyperaceae
(o)1 Sedge: Carex Family 1 - Gramineae
1 (o)4 Sedge: Carex Family 2 - Gramineae

sea sedge2

(o)4 Sedge: Carex Family 3 - Gramineae
(o)2 Sedge: Carex Family 4 - Gramineae
(o)1 Spindle-tree Family - Celastraceae
(o)12 Spurge Family - Euphorbiaceae
(o)8 Stonecrop Family - Crassulaceae

sedge3 crop

(o)3 Sundew Family - Droseraceae
1 (o)1 Tamarisk Family - Tamaricaceae
Tassel-Pondweed Family - Ruppiaceae
(o)4 Teasel Family - Dipsacaceae
(o)21 Thyme (Mint) Family 1 - Labiatae
(o)18 Thyme (Mint) Family 2 - Labiatae

sun thyme

17 (o)19 Umbellifer (Carrot) Family - Umbelliferae
13 (o)15 Umbellifer (Carrot) Family - Umbelliferae
(o)5 Valerian Family - Valerianaceae
(o)1 Verbena (Vervain) Family - Verbenaceae
11 (o)11 Violet Family - Violaceae

umb violet

1 (o)1 Water Fern Family - Azollaceae
2 (o)2 Water-Lily Family - Nymphaeaceae
1 (o)1 Water-Milfoil Family - Haloragaceae
1 (o)3 Water Plantain Family - Alismataceae
2 (o)2 Water-Starwort Family - Callitrichaceae
Waterwort Family - Elatinaceae
(o)9 Willow Family - Salicaceae
(o)17 Willow-herb Family - Onagraceae
(o)5 Wintergreen Family - Pyrolaceae
(o)6 Wood-Sorrel Family - Oxalidaceae
(o)1 Yam Family - Dioscoreaceae
(o)1 Yew Family - Taxaceae

water yew

Lady Bird Johson Wildflower Center in the University of Texas in the USA:-

"Lady Bird Johnson, our former first lady, and actress Helen Hayes founded an organization in 1982 to protect and preserve North America's native plants and natural landscapes. First as the National Wildflower Research Center and later as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, this special place exists to introduce people to the beauty and diversity of wildflowers and other native plants. Every day, the Wildflower Center brings life to Mrs. Johnson's vision in its public gardens, its woodlands and sweeping meadows as well as in internationally influential research. In 2006, the Center became an Organized Research Unit of the University of Texas at Austin.

Decades ago, Mrs. Johnson recognized that our country was losing its natural landscapes and its natural beauty. As much as 30 percent of the world’s native flora is at risk of extinction. The Wildflower Center was intended to help preserve and restore that beauty and the biological richness of North America. Since then, the Center has become one of the country’s most credible research institutions and effective advocates for native plants.

The Center’s gardens display the native plants of the Central Texas Hill Country, South and West Texas, while the Plant Conservation Program protects the ecological heritage of Texas by conserving its rare and endangered flora. The Native Plant Information Network is a database of more than 7,200 native species available online.

The Land Restoration Program applies knowledge of ecological processes to restoring  damaged landscapes. The Center’s education programs for children and adults teach people about their natural surroundings and how to grow native plants in their own backyards."

Comparison Pages
Marjorie Blamey's Wild Flowers by Colour by Marjorie Blamey (ISBN 0-7136-7237-4. Published by A & C Black Publishers Ltd in 2005) has illustrations of each wild flower of Britain and Northern Europe split into the following 13 colours.

Instead of colour illustrations, this plant gallery has thumbnail pictures of wild flowers of Britain in the same colour split system:-

• White
• Cream
• Yellow
• Orange
• Red
• Pink
• Mauve
• Purple
• Blue
• Green
• Brown
• Multi-Coloured
• Shrub and Small Tree

Below the thumbnail pictures, the text box provides the Wildflower Family name, the Wildflower Common Name (with the colour of the text indicating

• Soil Moisture Blue for Wet,
• Green for Moist and
• Brown for Dry Soil)

and the Height of the Plant (

• Blue for 0-2 feet,
• Green for 2-6 feet and
• Red for over 6 feet high)

as the colour of the Text Border. If you click on the Wildflower Family Name, then that Wildflower Family Page will be shown. Scroll down that page until you find that Wildflower Common Name to see the following colour pictures for that plant - single flower, flowers, foliage and form in the next table row.
If you click on the thumbnail picture in this Gallery or the Common Name in the Wildflower Family Page, then the Wildflower Plant Description Page for that Wildflower will appear alongside with up to 9 photos and description.

This plant gallery has thumbnail pictures of wild flowers fruit or seed with its colour:-

• fruit or seed

This plant gallery has pictures of flower beds with Wild Flowers with description.

Together with the Plants, Companion Planting, Offbeat Glossary and future Wild Flower Habitat sections of this website, these photographs should aid your choice of wild plant for your garden. The individual Page for each wild flower will be in one of the Wild Flower Habitat Galleries with indication of which nursery legally supplies its seed or plant.

Most of these gallery photographs were provided by Christine Foord and they were photographed by Christine and Ron Foord.

Each Site Map of pages with content (o) in the above table gives you access to the above 4 larger images and following description for each of the plants in that Wild Flower Family in alphabetical order - by the Common Name with the Botanical Name, Flowering Month Period and Habitat.

The rarity of each plant as a wild plant in Britain is shown preceeding the Common Name in its Plant Description Page by the following star system:-

• No Star indicates a common and widely distributed plant like Marsh Marigold
• * for a plant that is only locally common like Grass of Parnassus
• ** for a scarce plant, which usually grow in limited areas like Crested Cow-wheat, but may be thinly scattered over a wide area like Narrow Helleborine
• *** are for real rarities, growing in only a few places, and usually rare even there like Cheddar Pink.

"The Road Less Travelled" by Madeleine F. Williamson Pires:-

"The landscapes pictured here are all places in which I have lived at some point in my life. They are usually places of solitude where I have spent much time in reflection, contemplation, prayer, in "wishing and hoping". I have tried to bring out the way these scenes have a personality or "song" of their own. "

I am requesting the donation of the following colour photographs of plants for this section:-

• Flower - to show the shape and colour of the whole flower.
• Foliage - to show the shape of the leaf and its colour. If its colour changes in the year, then a picture of each changed colour.
• Form - to show the natural shape/growth habit of the whole plant. If the plant is deciduous, then one with foliage and one without.
• Fruit - to show the shape and colour of the whole fruit/nut/seed produced after it has flowered.
• Flower Bed - to show the overall effect of a group of plants together, preferably with the names of each of the plants displayed.

Each main photograph will be displayed in a 150 x 150 pixels graphic item. Each thumbnail photograph will be displayed in 50 x 50 pixels graphic item. Freeway allocates 72 pixels per inch. The photographs require to be in :-

• JPEG Format and can be sent via DVD
• 35mm slide or normal photograph to be scanned in (send to Chris Garnons-Williams at 1 Eastmoor Farm Cottages, Moor Street, Rainham, Kent, ME8 8QE England)

Please give the Latin name of the plant and your contact details (It would be preferable that it is either your website or email address rather than your phone number). These will then appear with the relevant photograph. If you happen to be a Nursery, then this link could provide a means for people to get that plant.