Before refrigeration it was common for country people to wrap butter in the large soft pliable leaves of butterbur, hence its name. (extra) The pink Common Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) can be seen growing beside streams or in damp places with its flowers among the first in the year appearing long before the leaves which can sometimes grow to almost a metre in width. More unusual is White Butterbur (Petasites albus) with its five narrow white petals and long pale green sepals.  It is mainly found in central and eastern Scotland and today I found only a small area although there were many of the common pink butterbur flowers which I think are more attractive of the two.


I have been having a great deal of trouble with the internet for the last couple of days so apologise for not commenting on blips.   This has taken me nearly an hour to load
........    The internet provider is trying to deal with the problem.  Possibly mice have have nibbled the cables again.