Latest articles from Ed Dolphin

OPINION: Summer flowers to make you smile

Spring has given way to mid-summer and nature’s floral display has moved on. One group of plants that come into flower at this time of year are the Hypericum species, St John’s-wort. There are about a dozen UK species living in habitats from woodland to heath and even bogs. They all have five petalled yellow flowers with clusters of orange tipped stamens. They range from the Rose of Sharon shrub with its 7-8cm flowers down to the tiny 1cm stars of Trailing St John’s-wort.