Grass verges, i.e., the space between the pavement/sidewalk and the road, are critically important to our flying insects. In turn, our flying insects are critically important to our food supply.
When homeowners, land owners, and local authorities allow wildflowers to grow on our land, it creates food for pollinating insects, in addition to creating 'insect corridors'. Insect corridors are waypoints between natural green spaces in our towns and cities. They encourage insects to co-exist with us supporting our broader ecosystem and economy - without insects, our food supply would collapse.
I took my camera out to take some shots of these islands of nature by the sides of the road. These first shots are of a Blue Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), adding a great deal of colour to these verges.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Photographer |  @richardslater |
| F-Stop | f/20 |
| Focal Length | 70mm |
| Exposure | 1/60 sec |
| ISO | 100 |
| Camera | Sony A6600 |
| Lens | Sigma 70mm f/2.8 Art DG MACRO |
| Flash | Gdox V860IIIs |
| Taken | Sunday, 19 June 2022 15:44 |
Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) feature heavily in these grass verges because they grow readily in disturbed soil. They add a striking splash of colour and are fantastic for pollinating insects.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Photographer | @richardslater |
| F-Stop | f/11 |
| Focal Length | 70mm |
| Exposure | 1/60 sec |
| ISO | 100 |
| Camera | Sony A6600 |
| Lens | Sigma 70mm f/2.8 Art DG MACRO |
| Flash | Gdox V860IIIs |
| Taken | Sunday, 19 June 2022 15:48 |
This multi-petal cultivar of the Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum) has fascinating pleated petals that flow in the wind creating hypnotic sight.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Photographer | @richardslater |
| F-Stop | f/11 |
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Exposure | 1/100 sec |
| ISO | 100 |
| Camera | Sony A6600 |
| Lens | Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM |
| Taken | Sunday, 19 June 2022 15:54 |
The wildflower mix used in these wildflower islands includes a tremendous amount of diversity, including flax, cornflowers, poppies, and borage.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Photographer | @richardslater |
| F-Stop | f/11 |
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Exposure | 1/320 sec |
| ISO | 100 |
| Camera | Sony A6600 |
| Lens | Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM |
| Taken | Sunday, 19 June 2022 15:56 |
Of course, these planted areas also allow grasses and indigenous species to take root as they would in any unmanaged meadow.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Photographer | @richardslater |
| F-Stop | f/11 |
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Exposure | 1/160 sec |
| ISO | 100 |
| Camera | Sony A6600 |
| Lens | Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM |
| Taken | Sunday, 19 June 2022 15:58 |
Some of these flowers, while not native to the UK, have become naturalized as escapes from gardens or through a bit of guerilla gardening.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Photographer | @richardslater |
| F-Stop | f/1.8 |
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Exposure | 1/2000 sec |
| ISO | 100 |
| Camera | Sony A6600 |
| Lens | Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM |
| Taken | Sunday, 19 June 2022 16:05 |
There are, of course, flowers such as Daisies and White Clover (Trifolium repens), which grow even in heavily mown areas of grass. These flowers flourish in the presence of other wildflowers as the increased number of pollinators enables them to spread from season to season.
Clover is critical as it is a Legume (type of pea plant) which means it is nitrogen-fixing, creating natural fertilizer for the surrounding plants.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Photographer | @richardslater |
| F-Stop | f/2.8 |
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Exposure | 1/1000 sec |
| ISO | 100 |
| Camera | Sony A6600 |
| Lens | Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM |
| Taken | Sunday, 19 June 2022 16:11 |
Of course, the insects love these flowers including this male Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), who spent 10 minutes feeding on different flowers.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Photographer | @richardslater |
| F-Stop | f/2 |
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Exposure | 1/2500 sec |
| ISO | 100 |
| Camera | Sony A6600 |
| Lens | Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM |
| Taken | Sunday, 19 June 2022 16:18 |
One of the beauties of the cornflower is the variations in flower heads. Typically they come in blues and pinks and get lighter as the blooms age.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Photographer | @richardslater |
| F-Stop | f/1.4 |
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Exposure | 1/1250 sec |
| ISO | 100 |
| Camera | Sony A6600 |
| Lens | Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM |
| Taken | Sunday, 19 June 2022 16:20 |
I have to say that the Poppies are among my top favourite wildflowers; it gives me a sense of excitement when I see the bright blooms around me.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Photographer | @richardslater |
| F-Stop | f/1.4 |
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Exposure | 1/1250 sec |
| ISO | 100 |
| Camera | Sony A6600 |
| Lens | Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM |
| Taken | Sunday, 19 June 2022 16:23 |
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Photographer | @richardslater |
| F-Stop | f/1.4 |
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Exposure | 1/1250 sec |
| ISO | 100 |
| Camera | Sony A6600 |
| Lens | Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM |
| Taken | Sunday, 19 June 2022 16:23 |
I'm pleased that as a society, we are starting to realise the value of wildflowers in our towns and cities. When planted carefully and respectfully, they provide value without becoming a hindrance or a nuisance.
As ever, all photographs and words are my own. I hope you have enjoyed my words and photos; if you feel I have earned it, I thank you for your follow, comment or like!
