I spent a while out in the garden yesterday searching for anything new and, really, trying to take bird pictures. But I noticed a flower actually out in bloom. A tiny four-petalled delicate blue flower with about six deep purple veins down each petal and rounded scalloped leaves. I have been aware of the plant for a while but haven’t been able to identify it from just the leaves.
As usual, it turns out that there are several types of speedwell. This is the common field-speedwell because of the leaf-shape and the petal markings. Also, the flowers are singular and on stems that grow out further than the leaves.
In identifying this speedwell, I have now confirmed the identity of a similar flower that I noticed back in August. So, a bit out of sync, here is the thyme-leaved speedwell. You will notice the flowers grow in clusters which do not extend beyond the leaves and the leaves themselves are slender, the shape of thyme leaves. In the picture there are some common field-speedwell leaves (and dock and grass). So that’s what confused me. The flowers themselves were paler and not all petals were stripy.
