Similar Posts

  • Laburnum – Golden Rain Attracting the Bees

    It’s great to hear the Bees at work in the garden. The Laburnum tree is in full flower with its long trails of golden yellow flowers, a sight to behold. More important is the hum of the Bees busily collecting the pollen and pollinating the plants in the garden and surrounding area.

    The Laburnum, is a member of the Fabaceae family, also known a legume or peas and beans. However, it’s important to remember that all parts of the tree are poisonous, so due care is required.

    Any plant that can attract the Bees is so important because they will ensure our food supply as well as that of many other creatures. To learn more about Bees visit The Wildlife Trusts.

    Laburnum-close up with Bee
  • Cosmos – Garden Stars That Shine

    The Daisy family, Asteraceae, is the second biggest and provides some of the best loved flowing plants we have. Cosmos are well ordered flowers with fine featherlike leaves that stand tall. The name Cosmos comes from the Greek for ‘ordered world’.

    They are well ordered and keep their form, even when massed together, giving a super colourful display in any border. Colours range from chocolate, through orange, magenta, pink and white. All with a yellow centre with radial petals, like little solar systems or galaxies in perfect synchronisation. A very apt name, Cosmos.

    Cosmos - multi-coloured

  • Calendula – Pot Marigold a Tenacious Sunny Bloom

    Coming across a brightly coloured flower, standing out in a harsh stoney environment does bring a smile. This Calendula or Pot marigold, is a member of the Asteraceae family and has the typical daisy flower head. Native of southern Europe it now cultivated for gardens across the world and has uses other than its obvious ornamental value.

    It has uses in the kitchen as parts are edible, such as the petals can be used in salads. It has uses in medicine as an anti-inflammatory and has skin healing properties. Compounds from Calendula can be found in cosmetics too, but can cause an allergic reaction. 

    Calendula - lone yellow flower by pavement curb
  • Manna Ash – Fraxinus ornus

    I came across an unusual tree that in the cold north wind was depositing fluffy chaff. Not recognising it, I used the Seek app to see what it was. Evidently it is called the Manna Ash, or Fraxinus ornus. Obviously the manna refers to the Biblical manna that the Israelis fed on in the wilderness. However, the link I made was from all the white chaff falling on me. Rather, the reason it is called the Manna Ash is more to do with the sweet sticky sap that comes from the bark. Anyway an interesting part of the Ash family.

    Fraxinus ornus - Manna Ash

  • Mayflower for May Day

    May 1st opens with the flower that is often referred to as ‘May Blossom’ or simply, ‘May’. Found extensively in Europe the Common Hawthorn or Crataegus monogyna is part of the Rose family, Rosaceae.

    Whilst the Hawthorn can grow into a tree of some 30+ feet, it is often used in hedges and trimmed annually to keep its size and shape. However, when allowed to grow into a row of trees, you get the wall of white blossom that looks so impressive. Hawthorne is good for the ecology providing for birds and insects alike.

    Crataegus monogyna - Common Hawthorn - May Flower
  • Populus alba Tree – Alternative Name White Poplar

    In a local water meadow the White Poplar, populous alba, has come back to life. The air is heavy with fluffy white ‘cotton’ that covers the ground nearby. This is the seed dispersal method of a lot of similar trees in the Willow family, Salicaceae. Once pollinated they blow off in the breeze to find space to grow. 

    The White Poplar is not native to the UK but has been naturalised over most of the UK. It loves water and can grow in the salty winds of coastal areas, too.  The leaves are silvery underneath and darker green on the top. Unlike the long slender leaves of it cousin willows, these leaves broader and crenate at the edges.

    Populus alba with fluffy catkins