JUST at the moment this delightful flower is looking its best and thrives on the damp fields overlooking streams and rivers.

The scientific name is Cardamine pratensis, but over the years there have been lots of common names for this species.

Lady's smock is a name which dates from the days where ladies living on farms wore smocks. When these were hung on the line to dry the garments had the same shape as the flowers. These have four petals arranged in the form of a cross.

This means that the species is a member of a family called Cruciferae.

The cross is also a crucifer and all are rich in Vitamin C which meant that they could be eaten in the old days when there was a shortage of fresh vegetables.

Another old name was Cuckoo Flower so-called because the flower blooms at its best at a time when the migrant cuckoo arrives.

Yet another old name for the mayflower was bog flower and this is a very accurate description but mayflower is still the most accurate and I will therefore stick to this name.