Dog Violets (Viola riviniana) are tiny but lovely despite the unlovely name. Yesterday I saw a sunny hedgebank in a village dotted with V. riviniana nestling among the nettles. Usually the flowers of Dog Violets are of a purple hue but these were the less common white form.

 Today I saw a shimmering haze of colour on a grass verge next to a main road. On closer inspection I saw that nature had laid on a lovely display of diminutive wildflowers: the pinks of Red Deadnettle, the yellows of Lesser Celandine and a drift of Dog Violets in rich plum purple...