Primulaceae is the collective name for the members of the Primrose family, and I was delighted, during the several hours today when there was no rain, to find the two most common Primulaceae species in flower.

I found Primroses (Primula vulgaris) in several locations – in a local park where they may originally have been planted or may be wild (the park is mostly wild so it’s difficult to be sure); along the fence line of a horse paddock; on the edge of a small woodland, and under trees in another park.

And it was a very nice surprise to also find Cowslips (Primula veris) in bloom, growing on a grassy, south-facing slope behind a local hospital. I only spotted three plants there today, where once Cowslips and Primroses were abundant. I’m fairly certain the diminished numbers can be attributed to the mismanagement of the green spaces around the hospital (in the wildflower area one of those generic signs has appeared, saying the cutting regime has been changed to benefit the flora and fauna, which seems to mean they completely abandon the area, when they should really be cutting and removing the clippings in the autumn). Still, it was a wonderful treat today to see the sun in the sky and these little drops of sunny yellow at my feet.