Last day of the month

What a day! Almost into autumn, summer is going out with a splash. There’s been steady rain for a couple of hours now and it looks as if it will continue for the rest of the day.
Rain is problematic for the Bees that need to feed frequently, and may starve if they cant get a nectar boost in a day. Here are some bees from a few days ago when the Echinops ritro, otherwise known as Globe thistle, was in flower. The Globe Thistle is a rich source of nectar and so makes a valuable presence in the wildlife-friendly garden.

Bees on Globe thistle

The round-shaped blue flowers are rather like miniature moons and reminiscent of the blue moon that appeared low in the sky last night,
Tonight may be the peak for the rare event in the lunar calendar, a Blue Moon has cameras clicking around the world. With mainly clear skies it put on a good show last night as many will attest.
https://news.sky.com/story/blue-supermoon-stunning-pictures-capture-lunar-event-around-the-world-12951165
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_moon

Wildflower driveway

This is an interesting driveway in the middle of town, the wall is a remnant of farm buildings.
The wildflowers form a carpet down both sides of the drive, among the species there consists an abundance of Plantain, Prickly Ox-tongue and Hawkweed. Unlike the grass verges of the town’s roadways, there is no grass growing. Further investigation is required.

Planting hyssop

I planted these three Hyssop plants to join the others in the curved flowerbed in the front garden. It was just a few minutes after planting that the Bees found it and came for a feed on the nectar these plants are richly endowed with.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyssopus_officinalis

Absolutely! Instead of trying to write a paragraph about Hyssop from scratch, we can turn to the wealth of information available on Wikipedia. By doing so, we can ensure that you receive the most comprehensive and well-researched content imaginable. In the meantime, let’s take a moment to appreciate the joy of watching busy bees as they visit the beautiful Hyssop flowers. It’s a delightful sight to behold!

Pollarded

21.08.2023

27.08.2023

23.09.2023

I want to document the progress of regrowth of this pollarded Lime tree. It was cut back in Mid July as the first image shows. The second image was taken near the end of August. The branches are showing new growth and there’s a great bowl of regrowth from the suckers at the foot of the tree. I will take more photos as the regrowth expands. This is just one of an avenue of Linden trees, three quarters of them were pollarded and left in the same bare branched state. Formerly the tree’s canopy had grown to such an extent maybe they were blocking out the light, this might have been the reason for the work or maybe to reduce the amount of leaves falling into the road at autumn time, or that there is some other kind of health and safety issue, I can think of no other reasons. I have written an email to the Adur & Worthing council to enquire about the justification for the work on the trees.
When we saw what they had done, the first thought when the shock had subsided, was for the invertebrate life that depended on the trees, insects such as the Lime Hawk moth and its larva may have been destroyed in the process and possibly many other species.

23.09.2023

Something is taking bites out of many of the leaves that have resprouted since the pollarding of the avenue of trees. I looked for the culprit and there must be many of them to no avail. All the trees in regrowth have the same holed leaves.

Gardening

It’s taken a great effort but I have just about managed to weed out some of the rogue ornamental grass that had invaded the pathside flower bed in the front garden. The task was made rather easier because of the light crumbly soil in the bed. The space then became available for planting. I dropped in the three oxeye daisy plants, three foxgloves, five sweet rocket and about a dozen wallflower plants, all of which had been grown from seed, and then I gave them all a good drink with water from the rain barrel.

It’s been quite a long while since I have regularly had my back bent almost double for any length of time in aid of tidying and maintaining a garden. It used to be much easier, but time has taken its toll on my strength and flexibility. The time has gone when I could stay folded as it were for long periods. I may have been in that position continuously for fifteen minutes or so. My back told me it had had enough and that I should stand straight which I gladly did so.

In another part of the garden, I noticed an unfamiliar species of a very small bee taking nectar from flowers of the golden marjoram. I fetched my camera and attempted to get the bee in the frame. Whenever I got close, it moved on to another flower, this wasn’t going to be easy. I persisted and after a while of trying to keep up with the bee’s movements, I finally got my shot.

Honey bees and Bumblebees were visiting nectar-rich flowers of chives, and my favourite Caryopteris shrub that tumbles over the low front wall. It’s definitely a plant for a spot in full sun. I have another one grown from a cutting that sits in a pot mostly in shade and so far has chosen not to flower. One day I will find a place to grow it in the garden.

While I was weeding out that invasive grass I dislodged a small rather drab-looking moth that had been resting in among the leaves. I took a picture (it’s a little fuzzy, it’s not your eyes) and then using the Google Lens function, I was able to identify it as a Square spot rustic.

Perked up

Have you noticed how the wildflowers in the roadside verges have perked up after a rain soaking?

Just been for a walk around the block with amber the dog and noticing the changes to the wildflowers amongst the grasses. While they had been looking a bit parched they now are standing taller and more erect having taken up some of that precious rain water.

The hawkweeds, sometimes mistaken for Dandelions, were mostly asleep, the flowers closed up for the night. The Plantains looked refreshed, the Knotgrass looked especially perky, I’ve been waiting to see if they flower, it looks as if they may do soon. I’m not expecting much to be honest but it will be a first time actually paying attention and noticing their life cycle fulfilled.

The Yarrow plants continue to flower well into late summer, their white umbelliferous flat topped flowers positively radiate in the evening light just before sunset and all the better for a good soaking.

It’s good to be open to those little changes in a well known green space. There is something new to see if we are willing to look deeper.

18.08.2023

Yesterday’s weather was dry, bright, and sunny for the majority of the day, light cloud drew in later in the afternoon. However, today is entirely different with overcast clouds and drizzling rain. The rain is much needed to hydrate the dry soil, especially in the many pots scattered throughout the garden. However, pots are rarely properly wetted from a shower of rain, They really need a plunge into a large bucket for a complete wetting occasionally where its practical to do so. Some pots a little too heavy to be lifted with ease.
Bees are still actively gathering nectar from the Buddleia and Echinops flowers. Butterflies are choosing not to fly and are hiding away, hopefully somewhere dry.
end of note

The road to mental health

24.08.2023

Monday: The weather was fine and sunny.
Tuesday: Weather was also fine and mostly sunny, with high cloud
Wednesday: Bright sunshine for most of the day
Thursday: Rain at first remaining overcast with occasional rain showers some heavy. Quite warm and humid.
Friday: The forecast is for Sunshine all day.

On Tuesday Stephen and Nikki from Glebelands, the mental health team came to see me about planning next week for further graduated exposure therapy. We decided this would entail taking a car trip to a local nature spot, probably McIntyres Field, where I went with Andrew Smith a week ago. (see previous article ‘Graduated Exposure’)
McIntyres Field is a section of Lancing Ring Local Nature Reserve on its easternmost side. It measures approximately 5.7 Hectares or 14 acres, which includes a wooded fringe on three sides. Within that are 10 acres of grassland with a wide variety of wildflowers. It is home to butterflies and other invertebrates. Whilst I was there it reminded me of times I had visited before, sometimes alone, sometimes with my wife Jan. It had been a long time since I had been there, two or maybe even three years, as I told this to Andrew
Stephen asked me about my general health, and I replied that it was okay but still have feelings of being disassociated from the surrounding world. He thinks it’s the effect of the medication that I’m taking. I have no way of knowing if this is true or whether it’s a fault in my brain. Whichever it is, the consequence of it is that it is hard to do anything while feeling apart from my interpretation of the world before me. I had problems before the current set of medications but it did not result in the level of strangeness I now experience. It is hard to try and live normally when I can’t trust the input my senses give me.
It is with this that I approach the next phase of rehabilitation. Perhaps nature can help, While there it did make me feel good to be in that field, I could feel close to the vibration of the wildness and briefly forget my troubles. So next week is an event to look forward to, not knowing what is coming my way beforehand gives some cause for concern or mild alarm even.

The Day

It’s been a disappointing second half of summer. Early days of sunshine gave way to days being overcast and windy. Some rain came on a few days, with light and occasionally heavy showers. It’s been the same today, halfway through the day, there’s a blanket of cloud over us, with a feeling of dampness in the air. It may rain later; it seems possible but maybe not until this evening. It’s not ideal for the bees and butterflies that have visited the garden. A pair of Speckled Woods have played chase during spells of sunshine when it rarely came through. Bees are finding the Buddleja bushes and Caryopteris flowers that are cascading over the front wall. White Phlox flowers have been appealing to a Hummingbird Hawk-Moth which we watched with wonder as it hovered around the flower head, dipping its long proboscis into the tube of the flower. Red Admirals always find sunny spots in the garden and patrol the airspace, defending it from rivals then coming back to the same place and settling.

The threat of rain came true as I write this, I’m seeing the splashes on the windows. It’s useful to have rain where we have a lot of small potted plants that tend to dry out quickly if left in the sun for any length of time. It’s well known that rainwater is far superior to tapwater and so collecting it in rain barrels is essential for gardeners with many pots to keep hydrated. There are four such barrels in the garden, three of them interconnected so that as the first one in line becomes full the overspill empties into the next barrel alongside and that over-spills into the the third by way of a short length of flexible pipe
The fourth barrel stands alone on the corner of the large shed. The shed stands in the shade of the Hawthorn and that shades the roof from much of the rain. Guttering and pipework channel the rain from the lowest edge of the roof down to the barrels.

Now it’s the evening and as the sun sank low it reappeared beneath some menacing dark rain clouds and then we were treated to a spectacular low golden light. The light shining into the rain produced a perfect colourful rainbow.
Extend the article..

Walk..

As I walk down the pavement I observe all the plants growing in the grass verge and from the small crevices in the pavement. I recognize them by their names and recite them quietly to myself as I come across each one.. For many individuals, these plants are simply regarded as unwanted weeds that need to be eliminated. I can imagine them saying ‘Why hasn’t the council taken action to spray them with weed killer?’ In my opinion, it’s actually a positive thing that they’re not using chemicals like Glyphosate, which is a known carcinogen despite some claims to the contrary.*
To me, they simply add to the diversity of nature and do not impede my progress along the path in any manner. Some of the names are as amusing as they are fascinating…
Bristly Ox-tongue, that’s a reference to the leaf surface which has tongue-like pimples that are rough to the touch.
Shepherds purse; that’s a reference to the seed pods which are small and heart-shaped capsules.
Common Knotgrass… this one I had trouble remembering as much as I stared at it the name eluded me. I think it will stick now that Im writing it out here.
The Doves-foot Cranesbill is a plant of the geranium family that comprises two distinct parts: the dove’s foot leaf and the cranesbill seed pod.
Fat Hen, alternative names include lamb’s quarters, melde, goosefoot, wild spinach, is an edible ‘weed’ that was originally grown to feed chickens and other farm animals. Its name is clearly derived from its appearance. On farmland, the seeds of Fat Hen are typically taken by Yellowhammers and Greenfinches.
Hawkeed, alternative names , devil’s paintbrush, golden lungwort, mouse-ear, rattlesnake weed, and shaggy, orange, or narrow-leaved hawkweed. It is thought that the common name derives from the writings of Pliny the elder, who believed that hawks sprinkled sap from the plants into their yellow eyes to dispel dimness. Another source says that Hawks ate it to strengthen their vision.1 Believe which you like best.
Ribwort Plantain otherwise known as Narrow-leaf plantain, black plantain, ribgrass, ribwort, tinker-tailor grass, windles. Rather than something connected to ribs, the health benefit has been ascribed to improved digestion, it may even help in the treatment of stomach ulcers
Common Dandelion the name itself means ‘tooth of the Lion’ The Gallic Normans who conquered England in 1066 called the plant “dent-de-lion. its sometimes called Lion Tooth other names are cankerwort, Irish daisy, monk’s-head, priest’s-crown, puffball, blowball, and milk-, witch-, or yellow-gowan. The Chinese called it “earth-nail” in reference to its sturdy taproot. It has been called “clock flower,” because children `tell time’ by blowing at the seed head, and “piss-a-bed” (in France, “pissenlit”) in honor of its diuretic qualities.²
Common Groundsel is another plant I often have had diffficulty remembering the name, so maybe the act of recording it here will make it stick forever. Its name has other alternatives: staggerwort, stinking Willie, groundsel, grimsel, simson, bird-seed, ragwort, chickenweed, common ragwort, garden groundsel, grand mouron, old-man-in-the-spring. As its names suggest it is related to larger flower known as Ragwort but would not be confused with it. Further details here:
https://cals.cornell.edu/weed-science/weed-profiles/common-groundsel

*https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/09/spray-pray-is-roundup-carcinogenic-monsanto-farmers-suin1.https://www.wnps.org/blog/hawkweeds#:~:text=Bailey%20says%20that%20the%20ancient,Hieracium%20albiflorum%20Hook.
2.https://wssa.net/wp-content/themes/WSSA/WorldOfWeeds/dandelion.html