No Mow May - my wildlife garden

With the rain, constant, in May, we weren't able to do more than the side of the house bit of lawn, and everything else was left.  Back lawn now cut, but HERE is the "bit out front" that was abandoned and we will claim is due to No Mow May.  Just shows you what may be in your lawn (this is LONG established) if you can bear to let it go feral . . .  This is an absolute delight, but the farmers up the lane probably think we are idle devils!!

Lots of Rough Hawkbit (the yellow flower), Red Clover, Fox and Cubs and Common Sorrel (you can just see the out-of-focus tip of one on the bottom left.  This was once grown to be eaten as a vegetable, but is high in Oxalic acid, so probably quite bitter.

Fox and Cubs - the country name for this Orange Hawkweed.  I have it in the lawn in the main garden too and will mow around it.

Mouse-ear Chickweed and Black Medick (the wee yellow flower), are the low level plants.  The latter is beloved of bees and bumble bees. We have it throughout our lawns.  The leaves and seeds are edible and in Europe, the foliage was cooked and eaten.  However, this plant is a laxative and can also cause blood clotting.  Not a pot herb for this household methinks!

A purple thistle in the making perhaps?  But no, I've just gone to do an ID two days on from the photo, and it is another Fox & Cubs!  You'd never guess from that reddish-purple bud!

This is one pair of the Bullfinches who live here. We have another pair who visit the front feeder too. We see  these on the lawn regularly - the cats prefer to hunt meeces, fortunately.

Below: here's the female Bullfinch, much duller colouring.

It is the most amazing garden for wildlife.  Have I said, I love it here?  As I write, Swifts are screaming over the house (and have been inspecting a nest site by the House Martins).  Will have to put up a Swift Nest Box for next year . . .