The pasque flower is one of the most fabulously curious plants I have. It earns that title over a relatively short life but from the moment it pokes its hairy alien-looking head out of the ground to the beautiful nodding bell shaped flowers with vibrant yellow crowns to the iridescent spiky teasels after the flowers have gone - it 's continually engaging and intriguing.
Here are some photos of the pasque flowers in my garden this year to show you what I mean.
They first made an appearance in mid March - like little hairy aliens crawling out the old leaves that still litter the ground
But less than two weeks later the first elegant bell shaped flowers have already appeared on finely dessicated leaves covered in wispy fine hairs.
During April they continue to flower
And by May the flowers are passing to reveal wonderful softly spiky teasle heads
Pasque flowers go by many names (prairie crocus, wind flower, Easter Flower and meadow anemone are a few of the more common). It's called the Pasque flower because it flowers around Easter (passover). It's proper name is Pulsatilla and its one of the first perennials to flower every spring. It's highly toxic but used dried and in dilution in many homeopathic treatments.
There are a number of wildlife reserves and places of special scientific interest around the country that have rare pasque flower meadows. You can fine one near you on the Natural England website
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