It’s the time of year when English woodlands come alive with Spring flowers. Bluebells of course and another indicator of ancient woodland, Wild Garlic. White starry globes carpeted the ground admist a sea of fresh green leaves when Hugo and I visited a local woods.
A tweet by Nature Writer Robert McFarlane ~ “Buckrams” — one of many common names for Allium ursinum, aka wild garlic, bear-leek, ramsons; filling forest floors with millions of white stars & forest air with garlicky scent. Ancient woodland indicator, bluebell co-conspirator, soup-maker…
Wild Garlic is a foraging food. I did in fact once collect the leaves to make some Wild Garlic & Cheese scones. Click Here for a baking post. It doesn’t happen often. ..
The plants Latin name is Allium Ursium. Ursium is Latin for Bear. Brown Bears once roamed our forests and wild garlic bulbs were a favourite meal of theirs. Wild Boars love them too and the flowers are popular with pollinators.
I adore Bluebells of course, Woodlands of Wild Garlic are a little bit special too.
Which woodlands do you like to visit for their floral displays?
sunshine and celandines 
I like the wild garlic flowers, i think they are very pretty, but I just can’t stand the smell of the stuff 😦
It was quite subtle luckily that day. 🙂
One of the delights of woodlands.
I am with you there. 🙂
Interesting to hear how wild garlic got its latin name. What lovely photos.
Thanks Judy. 🙂
I love the smell of wild garlic, though I realise not everyone would agree! I’m sure I recall reading about a piece of ancient woodland down South referred to as “Stinking Wood” on old maps which was choked with wild garlic…no guesses as to how it got its name!
I love that. I have posted about Wild Garlic before and someone knew of it as Stinking Nelly, I think…
Yes, that was me!
There’s loads of it in bloom out in the Plantations near home down by the Dougie! And the woods have been filled with beautiful, extensive displays of bluebells too (dying back now, though). The buttercups are out in the meadows, though. I love this time of the year and really appreciate having the Plantations almost on my doorstep,
Yes it’s a beautiful time of year. The plantations must look gorgeous right now. 🙂
They do 😊
I had a lovely woodland walk at the weekend and all the wild garlic was out. I don’t like the smell but I do enjoy cooking with the leaves! I made a delicious vegetable crumble and put layers of garlic leaves between the veggies (mainly carrot). I think the wild garlic made all the difference.
Ohh sounds good. It’s nice that we can use wild plants when cooking, should be brave enough to do it more.
Opinion is obviously divided about the smell! I like it, though I prefer bluebell woods.
It didn’t smell too pongy. 🙂 Yes I love bluebells. Hopefully see some this weekend.
Bluebell season is so pretty in the UK – at least where I see bluebells in Kent and East Sussex. I love when you turn a bend in the road and glimpse a woodland glade with a beautiful blue carpet! Wild garlic – oddly I never appreciated that which grew in the untamed part of my parents garden – thought it stinky if I brushed past as a child – now I admire it!
The flowers are very pretty when you look up close. 🙂
So true – and I never realised there are different types of bluebells until last year!
Both bluebells and wild garlic make a lovely combo at this time of year. I don’t mind the smell tbh, always think the taste is a lot stronger than a garlic bulb. But have never cooked with it
I only have once, I’m a bit of a Fairweather baker, lol. Yes it’s lovely to see bluebells and wild garlic together.
Glorious!
To eat, to sniff, to see – have a look this recipe, sent to me via another blogger – it is on my ‘to make list’ … nationaltrust.org.uk/prior-park-landscape-garden/recipes/wild-garlic-and-cheese-scones?campid
Thank you. X
Been dining off wild garlic leaves and flowers for the last few weeks, wonderful free food. (as well as fresh nettle leaves)
Should try your baking recipe.
If you do, maybe dont put as much wild garlic in, I think they were quite strong!
Wild flowers are beautiful at this time of year. There is an abundance of bluebells and wild garlic here and luckily I will be working in the woods tomorrow morning 🙂 Wild garlic pesto is on the menu this evening. X
Lovely Jules, enjoy. X
The woodlands look magnificent and beautiful! Thank you for sharing these photos!
Your welcome!
It always amazes me how heady the smell of the wild garlic is and it just spreads like crazy. I’ve never actually picked any and done anything with it, but I would love to give it a go. x
Let me know if you do. X
I love walking in the woods especially during spring time. My colleague has a little wood and we always go pick some wild garlic. I tried a lot of different recipes in soup, pesto, tart etc.
I didn’t know the story about the wild garlic and the bear. The french translation is “Ail des ours” which literally means bear’s garlic. Now I understand why. Thanks for that teaching.
Ah yes that does make sense then about the French translation, how interesting. My sister also owns a little wood but I don’t think she has ever picked any wild garlic yet. Pesto seems to be a popular wild garlic recipe.
Wild garlic reminds me of driving home from my old job as I used to drive through some woods where it was in abundance at the side of the road.