More Summer Flowers

One of the photos below is tansy. It is a stout aromatic perennial with pinnate leaves.  The flower heads are small, flat-topped, button-like and golden-yellow.  The leaves are finely divided and feathery.

It is widespread and frequent and often found along disused railway lines, on canal towpaths and other waste places.

Tansy is believed to have derived from the Greek "athanasia", immortality, which is reference to the flowers which are long-lasting when dried. Its other common names, which always refer to the flower-heads, are golden buttons, bitter buttons, bachelor's buttons, buttons and scented fern - the later being reference to the fern-like leaves.

Buddleia

Butterbur

Evening Primrose

Himalayan Balsam

Tansy

Woad

Barn Swallow

No summer would be complete without one of our most graceful hirundines - barn swallow (Hirundo rustica).

The adult swallow is steel-blue above with greenish gloss on the wings and tail; most of the tail feathers have an oval white spot.  The forehead and throat are rich chestnut.  The bill and legs are black and sexes are similar.

The twittering song is heard throughout the summer stay with us and birds sing on the wing and when perched.

Flies and other winged insects are its food of choice and even large butterflies and day flying moths will be taken.  The best time to observe their feeding behaviour is, ironically, when it is wet and windy because birds will come down low to catch their prey.

Swallows can be found almost anywhere from farms to the suburbs and often over water.  Late summer is the best time to see them as they gather on telephone wires and fences in large groups, young and adult birds, getting ready for the departure to warmer climes.

High Summer Flower

Just a few more high summer flowers, one of which is comfrey (Symphytum officinale).

Comfrey is a robust hairy perennial, 60-90cm. high, with broad lanceolate leaves.  Flowers are bell-like and may be white, cream, blue, mauve, purple or pink.

The habitat is widespread and common along river banks and streams. 

"Symphytum" is derived from the Greek "sympho", to heal or unite, and alludes to the plant's use in medicine in the past in the treatment of healing bones.

Other names for comfrey are boneset, knitbone, blackwort and ass ear, the later from the shape of the leaves.

Alder

Bindweed

Bramble

Comfrey

Summer's silent beauty.

The countryside is ablaze with wildflowers this time of the year and you can feel spoilt for choice where to look next. There is one, though, that sits back from the crowd and can go unnoticed, and is the opposite of its cultivated cousin which adorns gardens up and down the country and is the prime focus of attention at flower shows. What is this enigma of flowers?  Wild rose (Rosa canina) or dog rose as it known in parts of the country.

The dog rose is the most commonest wild rose in Britain with pale pink or white flowers and fragrant. It is not, though, as sweet-scented as the cultivated ones which again adds to its mystic. It is a tall, stout shrub, 1-3m high, with large curved thorns.  The fruits are typically red and egg-shaped.

The common and scientific name comes from the Latin "Canis", dog, which is thought to be alluding to the plants inferiority - others think it may be referring to the plants use in veterinary medicine.  Other common names are common brier and dog brier.

Dog Rose

Dog Rose

Dog Rose thorns

Yellow Flag

This time of year yellow flag is in flower and looking resplendent with its bright yellow flowers.

Iris, the mythological Greek messenger, who came to the earth via a rainbow, gives our wild iris - yellow flag - its scientific name - Iris pseudacorus.

Yellow flag is easily identified when in flower by its rich yellow flowers, which are similar to the garden iris so popular as border plants. There are three outer petals (sometimes called falls); three erect inner petals (standards); and three large stigmas.  The leaves are long, sword shaped and flat.

They occur in large numbers by fresh water and in marshes.  The flowering time is June-August.  They occur throughout the British Isles.

Some, with many an anxious pain,
Childish wishes pursue,
From the pondhead gazed in vain
On the flag-flower's yellow hue;
Smiling o'er its shadow'd bloom,
While the flood's triumphing care
Crimpled round its guarded home.  ("Recollections after a Ramble". J Clare).

The name, flag, is from Middle English "flagge", sword, referring to the sword-shaped leaves.  These leaves can be between 60-120cm long and 2cm across, sharp-edged and pointed.

When you do come across yellow flag think of the poem above which well describes the yellow flowers smiling and gazing out from their guarded pondhead home.

Other names given to yellow flag include Jacob's sword, fliggers, daggers and fleur de lys.  The later is reference to the role taken by iris in heraldry.  The "fleur-de-lis, heraldic lily, has long been associated with the royal arms of France.  Even today, it is popular with heraldic designs.

More Spring In South Shropshire

Bank Holiday Monday got off to a good start with a visit to the Wyre Forrest.  I had hoped for wood warbler, but I didn't see or hear one.  I did, though, connect with garden warbler and blackcap singing their heads off which made a good exercise in comparing their songs - which can be difficult at the start of the year until you get your "ear in".

I soon moved on to Clee Hill where there were lots of wheatears at the summit and a peregrine flew over.  Whilst there I was lucky enough to find a meadow pipits nest with young.

I moved on to Bridges and saw two iconic summer visitors - pied flycatcher and redstart. Also got some more photos of spring flowers - red campion, forget-me-not, dandelion and kingcups.  The kingcups looked fantastic and the dandelions looked more like chrysanthemums! - see photo below.

The highlight of the day, though, was a visit to the Hollies.  The holly trees are the oldest in Europe, some 400 years old!  The are located on the north-east edge of the Stiperstones.  Because of their age they are cracked and gnarled and even rowan trees are growing up through them.

Dandelion

Forget-me-not

Kingcups

Kingcups

Red Campion

Holly Flowers

Holly Tree with Rowan growing through it

 

Spring Woodland Flowers

Just a few photos of spring flowers that I took on a recent walk in a local deciduous wood.  Greater Stitchwort, Bluebell and Wood Anemone are some of our most evocative spring woodland flowers.  No spring would be complete without them.  But I was inspired by the wild crab apple tree I came across and couldn't resist taking some shots of the blossom. As you may have noticed (I say you, that's probably myself as I don't get that many hits on this blogg) I love spring blossom and catkins - see silver birch catkin photo.

Crab Apple Blossom

Greater Stitchwort

Silver Birch Catkins

Wood Anemone

Bluebell