On Common Ground

The hills have been turning purple over Hartlebury Common throughout July and August

An area of mixed heath and woodland, has more recently become a battleground, between locals and the council over its heatland restoration plans

Nothing will stir up the emotions more than the thought of losing our trees, and Hartlebury Common is set to lose upto 90% of its trees

Breathtaking swathes of purple, or our majestic trees. It would seem we can't have them both.

And I always thought it was 'nature knows best'

Nimble Fingers and Hedgerow Posies

A hedgerow abundant in buttercups, cow parsley, vetches and seed heads, makes a perfect combination for an impromptu mini posy

Exquisite little flowers, invite closer inspection

Nimble fingers are required to tie the bunches, using only grass stalks and leaves.

A cheery way to fill a cold, cloudy, country walk.

Unfurling Spring

A lazy blog post, almost no words, just a few snapshots of spring arriving in the garden.

Cherry bark and buds

Cowslip

Willow

Acer buds

Southernwood

                                      
                                         And an old enemy returns.



The cold frame is now emptied of overwintered rooted cuttings, all now potted up. Seedlings can be transfered to the cold frame for hardening off, leaving windowsill space for new seed sowings.

Let the season roll gently on.

What Do You See.

You see a tree, We see a playground

We found, We climbed, We hung from sturdy branches. We even fell, but, We climbed back up again.

                                                    So, how do we get back down ?

Bracing air, challenging exercise, a healthy dose of peril, mixed with a spark of wonder at the brilliance of trees.

You have Outdoor Play.

                                          Sturdy branches for the biggest of bottoms !


And all watched over by the 'Old Man of the Tree'.  Do you see ?

The Wildling

Nature is always throwing up surprises, and a mature apple tree was one such lovely surprise find. Found as it was amongst the more familiar oaks and willows ( and telegraph poles)  of the marsh.

The thick, gnarled trunk  reached up over 30ft high. Supporting a sweeping curtain, of gracefully bowed branches offering up their bounty of fruit.

Into the 'Apple Grotto' beneath the tree we walked. The floor was thick with fermenting windfalls, yielding with a soft crunch underfoot.

The fruit gave no clue as to its identity. It was a jumble of reds and greens, little and large and pitted and smooth fruit. Every one crisp and juicy with just enough tart 'real apple' taste, to make them a delight to eat.

We pondered its origins, a lone apple tree all out of place on the edge of a marsh. Was it planted there as a young tree, or had it survived against all the odds, growing from a pip, from a once discarded apple. A Wildling.

I much prefer the latter, and as we left we thanked the tree for its fruit, promising to return in spring to see it dressed in fragrant blossom.

                                     
                                          The ones that got away.

Banana Jam

We are probably well past the jam making season now, but I happened upon a recipe for Banana Jam. I like to look for something a bit different, so I thought I would give it a go. This is only my second attempt at jam making, so I am by no means an expert.

I altered the recipe slightly to allow for my love of cinnamon, I'm sure better cooks than me could think of other lovely flavours to enhance it.
6 very ripe bananas, 1lb sugar, 3tsp lemon juice, sprinkle of cinnamon.

Mash bananas, add all ingredients together, stir. Bring slowly to the boil, and then boil rapidly till it reaches setting point. Pour into sterilised jars.
It seems to boil away to nothing so I only really got one and a half jars full. Which might be plenty depending on how it tastes when cool.

Weasel's Snout and Goat's Beard.

Country lanes filled with the froth of cow parsley, woodlands carpeted in bluebells and cornfields ablaze with poppies. All evocative of the British countryside and recognised and loved by many people as they create a huge visual impact when in flower.
Spare a thought for the smaller more overlooked wildflowers or 'weeds' that pop up amongst our flower beds, lawns, waste and farmlands. Beautiful to some, boring to others, many even a nuisance. I covert a lawn full of daisies, of the sort my Grandpa would ruthlessly mow out in favour of neat stripes.

Having a love of gardening from an early age, encouraged by my Mum, {who is always to be found with a little book on wildflowers, trees or seashells tucked in a pocket somewhere} I now find I am developing a new appreciation for even the most insignificent of wildflowers, and with this the intricacies of the wildlife they support.

Lucky to live close to two nature reserves, my first forays over them appeared to reveal nothing of interest, and I was rather struck by the seeming lack of wildlife. However, taking children with you, and looking through their eyes, suddenly opens up a whole new Lilipudlian world of wildplants and creatures.  Encouraged [bored] from an early age to look for interesting things "aww not MORE plants mum", I am always happily surprised when they point out little gems. Soon this empty reserve was revealing many secrets.

I have had lots of little wildflowers coming up in the garden again this year, and how could I not love them with quirky names such as 'Weasel's Snout' and 'Goat's Beard'. I have happily mown round clover and little plantains and even the odd daisy. The hoe has been retired and campanulas have self seeded through the cracks in paving, naturally softening the edges. I am sure I will never get round to planting enough creeping herbs to do the same job. I may regret it, but dandelions can never be a weed when you have guinea pigs, who love the green leaves, and I almost encourage them by leaving the fluffy clocks for the children to blow about the garden.

The plant nursery I am planning [ mostly in my head] drifts on a whim between dazzling annuals, hardy perennials, aromatic and medicinal herbs,  and now surely, dainty wildflowers. As many plants cross happily  between all these boundaries it wouldn't be difficult to incorporate them all.

Lucky really, as I have to do something with all this Wildflower seed I have sown.