Wakefield Museums and Castles

Week 19 volunteer update

Another scorcher today! Dave and Kaiden watered all the planters on site. Carole introduced the Medieval Herb Garden to two new volunteers, Caroline and Louis. There was the necessary admin and health and safety instructions to cover. Some of the plants are poisonous and thorny and the garden is on an uneven slope.

Then Caroline and Louis got to grips with deadheading the cowslips and lungwort. They also did some general weeding.

Carole tackled the over-abundance of hound’s tongue seedlings that had sprung up around the golden rod.

Plant of the week - Lily of the Valley (convallaria magalis)

The source of the name 'lily of the valley' is unknown. European herbalists have been using it since late the 1400s or 1500s. It is also known by other names such as: conval lily, lady's tears, May bells, May lily, mayflower, muguet, and Our Lady's tears.

Lily of the valley is from the Northern hemisphere of Europe and Asia. It grows to a height and spread of 12 inches. It is a perennial, deciduous and herbaceous plant. This means it blooms over spring and summer then dies back each winter, without leaving any stems above ground.

It has paired, broad, oval, green leaves, 4 to 10 inches long. It has erect stems of up to 12 nodding, bell-shaped, fragrant white flowers. Each bell comprises six purest white tepals (sometimes pink), fused at the base. The edges are turned back with six small scallops. In September the plant may produce small berries that are orange-red.

Lily of the valley usually prefers to grow in full or partial shade and not south-facing. It will grow in any soil as long as it is moist. However, in the MHG it is surviving in full sun, dry soil, and facing south!