Cuckoo Flower

Cuckoo flower, also known as Lady's Smock and Milkmaids, are found in damp grassy meadows, roadsides, ditches and river-banks. Cuckoo flower is so named as its flowers come out at the same time of year that one hears the first Cuckoo.  Well we have seen lots of flowers but are still waiting to hear our first Cuckoo in Gloucestershire!  Unfortunately Cuckoos seem to be much less common around here than they were.  When we first moved back to the Cotswolds thirty years ago they used to call morning, noon and night during the springtime, but we have hardly heard them around here for last few years.  Let's hope we are lucky again this year.

Cuckoo flowers are apparently edible, a rich source of Vitamin C and can be eaten raw in salads.  We only just read that so will be trying it soon!