Looking back at my photos, it turns out that we visited Fountains Abbey on the same day as Jervaulx Abbey – that was a fab day out! Fountains Abbey is another ruined Cistercian monastery in North Yorkshire.

June wildflowers at the Abbey

The river Skell runs through the Fountains Abbey grounds and on into Studley Royal Water Garden. This means that there was a range of habitats for the local flora: wet by the river or dry in the stone ruins.

Russian comfrey – Symphytum x uplandicum

As you can see from the main image above, the Comfrey was doing very well, especially near the river. It was in lovely shades of lavender and purple.

Plants enjoying dry conditions in the ruins

Wallflowers and Willowherb were enjoying the good drainage in the stone walls.

More water loving plants

Monkeyflower and Bistort were both growing right by the river. Apparently Mimulus species are hard to ID and can hybridise.

Lady’s mantle in the grass

I haven’t seen Alchemilla outside a garden setting in the South East, but saw it a few times in Yorkshire and Derbyshire. I have read that the different British wild species can be confused with the garden escape Alchemilla mollis, so won’t venture a species name.

On the same trip: Kirkby Moor nature reserve in Lincolnshire   |   Solomons Temple Buxton in Derbyshire

Pilsbury castle in Derbyshire   |  More about this trip