Speedwell no. 2

Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica seryllifolia)

Right now, the low(ish) turf in the back garden is a carpet of little Thyme-leaved Speedwell blossoms. The white flowers with their lilac veins stand atop upright stems, but they're only 10 cm (3–4 inches), so they wink among the equally tall grass. Rumour has it that the plant can reach 25 cm (about 10 inches) tall; presumably ours don't only because the grass gets cut occasionally. The flowers themselves are tiny, only measuring 6 mm (less than a quarter inch). This native perennial is widespread right across the UK, and is equally common elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere. It's also been widely introduced elsewhere, and is now found on every continent except Antarctica. It generally prefers in grassy or disturbed places and is particularly common in lawns, churchyards,  and forest rides, but is also found on lakeshores and scree slopes. It forms creeping mats, flowering from March until October, so we'll have plenty of time to enjoy them.