Can you see any in your Churchyard?
Depending on the weather, July can be a month full of grassland flowers, or one where many of them are now over, having peaked in June. It is certainly the month when you need to start to cut and rake your long grass, particularly if it did not receive a spring cut.
Have a look out for late flowering plants however, do you have Betony present? If so, then consider delaying the cut or cutting around the betony plants allowing them to flower, they are one of our most attractive wildflowers. Betony is a member of the woundwort family, close also to the dead-nettles. It has an angled stem, which if you were to cut it, would be square in cross section, has distinctive toothed leaves and lovely deep pink flowers.
Betony has long been prized for its curative powers, in the Medieval times it was viewed as an ‘all-heal’ or panacea. The Italians had a saying ‘Sell your coat and buy Betony’ and the Spaniards used the compliment ‘He has as many virtues as Betony’. Antonius Musa, chief physician to the Emperor Augustus, wrote a long treatise, showing it was a certain cure for no less than forty-seven diseases! It is still used by herbalists for a variety of ailments including headaches.
Betony is found in ancient woodland and undisturbed grasslands so its presence may indicate species-rich grassland, please look out for the many other species found in this special habitat. It was also planted in churchyards, in part for its medicinal uses and also because it was believed to be effective against sorcery, warding off ghosts, goblins and any other unwelcome spirits.
Prue Dakin
info@cfga.org.uk
www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk