The cow-slobber plant

Cowslips, Primula veris, are low perennials that thrive in old grasslands, and are thus perfect for my badly neglected 'lawn". The common name cowslip derives from the Old English cú-slyppe (cú cow + slyppe viscous or slimy substance, i.e. 'cow-slobber' or 'cow-dung') probably because the plants are common around cattle dung in old meadows. The species name veris means "of spring".

According to legend, St. Peter dropped the keys to heaven when he found out that another set had been made. The keys landed somewhere in Northern Europe and the first cowslip sprang from that spot; the nodding yellow flowers are thought to resemble the Saint's bunch of keys.

Thanks to agricultural intensification wild cowslips are now relatively rare but, when I were but a lad, cowslips were so common in the fields that my grandfather used to make bottle upon bottle of cowslip wine. I think that we still have a bottle, vintage 1947!