Plant-Lore

Collecting the folklore and uses of plants

Yorkshire fog

1.  I’m originally from the Midlands (Wolverhampton).  We used to play ‘Tree or Bush’ with Yorkshire fog, alternatively ‘Cock or Hen’.  Basically you’d pull off a grass flowerhead, grasp it at base, say to someone ‘Tree or bush’ (‘Cock or hen’).  Then after they’ve guessed you would quickly slide your fingers upwards forcing all the flowers to the top.  The resulting shape would resemble either a tree or a shrub [Darlington, Co. Durham, May 2017].

Image, St John’s churchyard, Bemerton, Wiltshire; May 2017.