Dry Meadows & Waysides of Istria

Whether it was steeply sloping meadows of Orlaya grandiflora, the brilliant blues of Salvia pratensis and Nice milkwort, or Dittany dotted grasslands there was always something to keep me interested. Lanes were lined with starbursts of Dianthus carthusianorum, the deadly poisonous Swallowwort was deceptively attractive and the flowers of wild lettuce looked much nicer than the bitter taste of the somewhat narcotic leaves. Among the plants I would happily have in my garden was the large-flowered Austrian flax, the lovely purple-flowered Jurinea and a rather fine cerise-flowered clover. Of course, the chances of them growing in a coastal garden in the south-east of England are remote, but I can dream.

Salvia pratensis

Wild lettuce in flower

Trifolium medium

Jurinea

Dittany – despite its pretty looks it is phototoxic and can cause nasty blisters if touched

Dianthus carthusianorum

Nice milkwort (Nice the place, not a judgement)

Orlaya grandiflora

A dittany dotted meadow

Austrian flax

Poisonous swallowwort