[JennyS]

There are many wildflowers that can be included when planting an informal pond to attract wildlife. Native plants provide a vital food source for many insects, which then encourages more birds to your pond and garden. One of the first butterflies to be seen in the spring is the Orange Tip, and though it will feed from a range of plants it only lays its eggs on Ladys Smock.

As native habitats are threatened it becomes more important to provide alternative 'safe havens' for insects, birds and native plants within gardens. Irish-grown wildflower seed is available for many species,
www.wildflowers.ie have an online catalogue, and I think they also supply plant plugs for some species.

Below from left to right are: Ragged Robin, Brooklime , Yellow Flag Iris




Above from left to right are: Water-lily, Water Avens and Ladies Smock

There are many native wildflowers that can add colour and diversity to a natural or constructed pond and its surrounding area, and more can be seen by following this link: www.irishwildflowers.ie/habitats/waterside

There is a clump of Marsh Cinquefoil about to flower just down the road from me, and when it does I'll put some more pictures up - strange reddish-purple flowers that must have been there last year but I never noticed them!

If you've got pictures of wildflowers from your garden or elsewhere please post them up as it would be great to see some photos other than just mine up here! And if theres something you'd like to know the name of I'll do my best to identify it.
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Irish wildflowers

[shefra]

Hi JennyS you have done it again, great pics. I planted Ladies Smock in my garden last year and its blooming right now, a great archectural plant, I thought it was Wild Iris or is that just a common name for it?

[JennyS]

hi Shefra
I think you might have got a bit confused between Ladies Smock (also known as Cuckoo Flower) and Yellow Flag Iris, also known as Wild Iris so heres a couple of smaller pictures for id:
Ladies Smock Wild Iris, Yellow Flag
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Irish wildflowers