Red Campion

I have seen Red Campion (Silene Dioica) in flower every month of the year but it is really a common summer plant and grows in hedges, woods and on road verges. It is popular with insects, bees and butterflies although this year I have yet to see any butterflies on mine in the garden.
 Silene, the genus name, is a reference to the Greek woodland god Silenus the foster father of Bacchus, who was often depicted covered in a sticky foam and whose name in turn comes from the Greek word for saliva; the female flowers of Red Campion secrete a frothy foam that captures pollen from insects that come to the flowers to gather nectar. The specific epithet dioica means 'two houses', and signifies that separate plants bear the male and the female flowers.
Apparently “wanton maids’ wore it under their bodice to entice young men!”  but it was more commonly used in washing. It contains saponin which was released by simmering the roots in hot water and then used as a soap substitute.  Fortunately I don't have to dig mine up in order to do any washing.

(I think yesterday's boots probably had been worn by children on a summer activity day and were drying out)