Home – The Garden Bench

Eurasian Jay Feather – Garrulus glandarius

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Eurasian Jay Feather – (Garrulus glandarius, family: Corvidae). The Eurasian Jay is still a popular bird where I live along with its monochrome cousin the Magpie. It is not often you get close to these birds to see the exquisite, iridescent colours of their feathers. However, sometimes they leave one on the ground to admire. There is much more to these colours than meets the eye. As outlined in this video, they are very special and a model for future paints and dyes, Bird Colors That Never Fade Was It Designed?

Spear Thistle – Cirsium vulgare

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Spear Thistle – (Cirsium vulgare, family: Asteraceae), also known as Common Thistle. This tall flowering biennial plant has a very distinct shape and is commonly accepted as the ‘flower of Scotland’. Considered by many people to be a weed and certainly be called so if you get a prick from its spear shaped thorny leaves. One of the types of plant that was said to proliferate outside the ‘garden of eden’. In flower it is one of the best nectar providers in the UK and loved by the pollinators. Native to most of Europe, Western Asia but also naturalised in…

Hemp-agrimony – Holy Rope – Eupatorium cannabinum

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Hemp-agrimony – (Eupatorium cannabinum, family: Asteraceae), also known as holy rope. This tall hemp-like flowering perennial plant certainly makes an attractive sight but is also a favourite with the butterflies. Native to most of Europe, NW Africa and Central Asia it is part of the large Asteraceae or daisy family. Although called a ‘hemp’ and the Latin name suggests a link to the Cannabis plants they are not closely related and not used in the same way. They do have a history of medicinal use as anti-inflammatory and for healing wounds. Otherwise an attractive flowering plant.

Home of The Garden Bench

There is nothing that has more Therapeutic Benefits than sitting for a while on The Garden Bench. Our mental well being is being stretched to the limits at a time of unprecedented turmoil. Yet nature sits around us all as a silent witness to the endless possibilities of beauty and intricacy that give us hope and encouragement to carry on. Take a seat, sit for a while, and contemplate how it came to be, and what we can do to protect it.

Garden Plants to Consider

Pieris Japonica – Andromeda

Pieris japonica  is a hardy evergreen flowering shrub that has distinctive new red leaves early in the season. These new red leaves turn yellow then…

Crinodendron – Lantern Tree of Chile

Crinodendron is a genus of evergreen shrub or small tree native to the forests of Chile. They have crimson or pink lantern-shaped flowers that, unusually, hang…

Callistemon or Red Bottlebrush Plant

Callistemon is a genus of exotic flowering plant from the Myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Commonly called the bottlebrush plant for obvious reasons.  Currently, there is a debate as…

Calceolaria or Slipper Flower

Calceolaria are a genus flowering plant from the family, Calceolariaceae. Commonly called the Slipper Flower, Lady’s Purse and Slipperwort, due to unusual flowers that resemble slippers or…

Gardens to Visit