The wildflower, Leopardsbane, lays a golden carpet on the understorey of the Birchwood woodland during May and June. The flowers and root stock are used in the herbal preparation, Arnica, for the relief of muscle pain, wounds and bruises. This info was gleaned from an American website which showed a picture of the flower which, to my untrained eye, looked identical to the one shown here. However Penny Maes (no, I don't know either) has emailed me advising that this is rubbish and that Leopardsbane and Arnica are two distinct species. So apologies to those of you who have smuggled some Leopardsbane from our woods and found it does not perform as advertised!
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The Clematis which has long graced one corner of the house seemed to have succumbed to over-enthusiastic pruning two years ago but fought back and produced a scattering of blooms last year. This year it has recaptured its rightful position.