Nature note for June

by David Tidmarsh - 13:46 on 09 June 2012

June Nature Notes

The Ash trees have finally decided that it is safe to unfold their leaves, this is a good sign that we should be getting some warmer weather, I did say should!
The Cow Parsley is growing like mad in all locations, these are tall, about a metre high, with white umbrella flowers. I keep pulling the flower heads off as I walk along the paths, this I hope is slowing the growth down, because once we have a shower of rain, I know this doesn’t happen often, then they fall across the paths either blocking them or making it difficult to pass. I took a photograph of one of these plants and the stems were almost purple. The Butterbur is also out in force, these have large Rhubarb like leaves with small cone clustered pink flowers. Thankfully they mainly grow where it is damp, near streams, they can be a problem on paths where they can soon block your way. The yellow oilseed flowers are starting to drop, now that the fruit has been pollinated  to enable the production of the seed, this process is enabling the lower plants to enjoy a little sunshine to help them grow, field poppies that have escaped the sprayer are starting to flourish now and are giving a lovely contrast of red against the few yellow flowers that are left on the Oilseed
Fresh new cones are now visible on the Scotch Pines, succulent green, a far cry from the old grey cones from last season and fresh new growth on their branches to compliment the cones.
There is a “sticky” weed growing in most areas and hedges at the moment, I noticed if you gather it and crush it in your hands it gives off a smell of freshly picked peas. June has looked this weed up in our books and she has identified it as Cleavers or Goosegrass, it clings to your clothes with a Velcro like habit and this obviously helps it smother hedges etc. June has a Herb book and it states that it can be eaten as a spring vegetable and Goosegrass broth was once used to cure overweight, now I might give that one a try..
I was nettled last week weeding amongst the willows, and it is strange that nearly everywhere you find nettles you will find the Dock growing and if you rub the Dock leaf on the stung area you usually get relief from the sting, I always use this method, of course prevention is always better than being stung in the first place.
We have some smashing ornamental poppies coming into flower in the garden at the moment one is a lovely blue the other is a dark red , we just hope the rain doesn’t spoil them before they flower.
I have been intrigued by the three different blossoms on the Hawthorns in the area, from the usual white and onto pink and one that is full red. Some think it is unlucky to bring it into the house, have you any memories of this?
I planted out some Foxgloves last week into the plantation, these were grown from seed from a plant in my garden, I cannot remember if it was a cultivated one or a natural plant, time will tell. What intrigues me is that the seed from the foxgloves are like a pinpoint, so small, yet they grow into such a magnificent plant some  well over six foot tall. 

There is a wonderful array of wild flowers and blossom out at the moment so try and see what you can find.
Ken


 

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