I found my first Velvet Pax buttons in the first week of July – several on my old reliable nurse stump that sends them out early and usually grows three or four over the season.

I’ve been keeping my eye on them, and they’re growing quite big in this hot weather, but I had to pick this one today because it’s being gnawed on by a little creature (I’m thinking a squirrel because of the tiny teeth marks).

I’m going to try keeping several of these in the freezer this year, then having a large dyebath once I have a good quantity – just to see what it does to the colour.