Last year I took part in Plantlife's "Say No to the Mow" campaign where you leave about a metre squared (or more) in a sunny area of the lawn unmown to see what wildflowers appear. I decided to carry on with the idea again this year as there are far more wildflowers appearing in this area than elsewhere in the lawn.
The area this year is slightly smaller than last as my husband got carried away with the lawn mower :(
Dandelions have appeared together with the following species:
I've struggled over id of the plant showed in the next 2 photos. Amanda (from The Quiet Walker) I seem to remember suggested it might be Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) and the exceedingly useful website i-spot have now confirmed this id - so thanks Amanda. It would be rather nice if it attracted some Cinnabar moth caterpillars!
Herb Robert (Geranium robertanium)
Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) - I've just learnt that this is also a food plant for Cinnabar moth caterpillars.
Common Cat's Ear (Hypochaeris radiocata)
Lesser Trefoil (Trifolium dubium)
Upright Yellow Sorrel (Oxalis stricta) - where the No Mow Zone meets the border.
Cut-leaved Dead Nettle (Lamium hybridum)
Sadly, there doesn't appear to be any of the more exciting species such as orchids, bugle or cowslips but its still interesting to see what appears especially if its beneficial to insects.
Compared to the rest of the lawn which just contains daisies, clover and ribwort plantain there are definitely more wildflowers in the area where the grass is left to grow until late summer.
A few interesting grasses are also appearing - I put photos of these on i-spot as I am hopeless at identifying grasses and I wanted to try and get a few more species for the Garden Bioblitz last weekend. It appears the grasses include a Meadow Grass sp, possibly a Fescue sp. and Perennial Rye Grass (Lolium perenne).
Blue Tit Update
All eggs have now hatched and there are six young birds :)