Cuckooflower or Lady’s Smock

I rarely see these pretty flowers when I garden or walk – this is because they like to grow in damp areas of fields or in ditches along lanes. So I was surprised to see a great swathe of them in St Nics graveyard. I suppose that’s because the soil is deep and moist.

They also go by the name Milkmaids which I think is the best. Cuckooflower I suppose because it flowers when the cuckoo starts singing. 

The flowers have just four petals and range in colour from pink to completely white