Lungwort (Pulmonaria) is now flowering well. This plant is much loved by bees especially the Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes)
We have another variety of this plant in the garden with white spots on the leaves which flowers later in the year. The foliage has given the plant country names such as "Virgin Mary's milkdrops" because of the ancient belief that drops of the Virgin Mary's milk fell on the leaves during the Flight into Egypt; "Mary's Tears" a Dorset name refers to the legend that the Virgin Mary's tears fell on the plant at the Crucifixion. Other country names include: "Spotted Dog", "Spotted Cowslip", "Beggar's Basket", "Joseph's Coat", "Adam and Eve" and "Hundreds and Thousands".