1 English Bluebells are very beautiful, have a purply tinge (usually, though one can find white and pink ones), dark stems and bend over gracefully because the little bells all come on one side. Spanish Bluebells are the invaders! They are stronger, have thicker stems and have the little bells all around the stem so they don’t bend over but stay upright. I see both on my walk up from town and they are both pretty and the two can cross pollinate. Sadly, if the spread of the Spanish Bluebell is not halted we will lose our delicate English bluebells.
Beautiful English Bluebells
Spanish Bluebells
English bluebell
Pink English bluebell
2 The Camellias over the road have been hit by the forst but actually, I think they are even more beautiful with the edges in that lovely soft sand colour, especially with the sun shining through.
Frosted camellia
3 I love Purple sprouting broccoli!
Purple sprouting broccoli
P.S. I’ve just learned this too from The Natural History Museum
“Pollen colour
The easiest way to tell the difference between native and non-native bluebells is to look at the colour of the pollen.
If it is creamy-white then the bluebell is a native. If it is any other colour, such as pale green or blue, then it is definitely not native.
When the pollen is shed, the empty anther can be a pale cream colour, so make sure you look at the most recently opened flowers at the top of the spike, to find the true colour of the pollen.”
greenbenchramblings
May 15, 2013 at 7:53 pm
I always think it a pity that the English and Spanish Bluebells cross as they are both beautiful in their own way. Malc
mybeautfulthings
May 15, 2013 at 7:56 pm
I agree. 🙂
on thehomefrontandbeyond
May 15, 2013 at 2:32 pm
glorious pics!
djdfr
May 14, 2013 at 2:28 pm
A pinkbell? 🙂
mybeautfulthings
May 14, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Much better name! 🙂
valeriedavies
May 14, 2013 at 4:38 am
Oh oh – how to stop the invaders… the English bluebells are so delicate and beautiful… I had wondered what the difference was…
mybeautfulthings
May 14, 2013 at 9:24 am
Glad to be able to help! 🙂
babyjill7...Marilyn Griffin
May 13, 2013 at 10:19 pm
I could live in a field of Bluebells…They have to be my favorite …because of their color…How interesting about the two kinds…
mybeautfulthings
May 14, 2013 at 2:33 pm
They smell so lovely too -well, the English ones do! 🙂
Shelagh
May 13, 2013 at 8:18 pm
Thanks for the clarification of bluebells species. Hope I remember!
mybeautfulthings
May 14, 2013 at 2:33 pm
It’s taken me years to finally get it in my head! 🙂