tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4424260981286785642024-02-07T03:58:23.819+00:00Nature In LondonJulian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-81954145009837314222011-08-09T20:43:00.000+01:002011-08-09T20:43:43.955+01:00Black Mulberry (Morus nigra)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gnarled lumpy bole</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edible fruit</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">These photos are of the large Mulberry tree in the walled garden in Brockwell park. I thought it was a nice thing to write about after the riots. This tree is well worth a look at it’s been in the walled garden since Victorian times and it should be there long after this current group of criminal looters are dead. Seeing our live in the context of the natural world is a powerful leveler. One of the gardeners in the park told me that Victorians would often plant these trees in their walled gardens to use as an indicator of spring; they shoot very late so once they shoot it’s a supposed guarantee that Spring is well underway. I can’t vouch for the accuracy of this but I like the story. There are many members of the genus Morus. The White Mulberry and Black Mulberry are most common in Britain and are quite easy to tell apart as the black has heart shaped leaves and the white has long oval shaped leaves. This is a stunning tree brimming with edible fruit at the moment well worth a visit.</span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-5075294493817638122011-08-02T21:49:00.000+01:002011-08-02T21:49:52.016+01:00Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><style>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Ash berries, Herne Hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Also known as Mountain Ash although they are not related to true Ash. This is a small to medium sized tree that can be seen quite commonly round London and is easy to recognize at the moment as they’re brimming with bunches of red berries. These trees are able to survive at high altitudes, hence the name but are also popular in towns. The berries are a very important winter stable for birds as they persist even after the leaves have fallen, they even attract migratory birds like Waxwing into town. The berries are edible but are said not to be very pleasant on their own. I’ve heard they can be made into a pleasant conserve to eat with game. Be very careful that you’ve made 100% correct identification there are lots of dangerous berries about!</span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-24763122250229216402011-07-26T21:18:00.000+01:002011-07-26T21:18:57.675+01:00Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dalberg rd, SW2</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I took this photo on Dalberg rd between Brixton and Dulwich rd. The very pleasant owner was very happy for me to take a photograph. There is another house a few doors down which is also growing sunflowers but they are not quite as high. The one in this photo looked around 8ft. It reminded me of class competitions at infant school to see who could grow the highest plant. What is commonly referred to as the flower on a fully grown plant is actually known as the flower head. The plants are famed for Heliotropism (where a plant turns to track the sun) but this is not actually true of fully grown flower heads, which will usually face east and remain doing so for their lifespan. The young buds and leafs will turn to face the sun. Great plants and easy to grow with lots of well known uses. They are native to America.</span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-54124339425225547832011-07-21T12:04:00.001+01:002011-07-21T12:04:28.053+01:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Nature is going to be published twice a week on Tuesday and Friday for the foreseeable future due to work commitments but it will be returning to daily posting at some point. </div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-22060923079277456042011-07-19T20:27:00.000+01:002011-07-19T20:27:33.048+01:00Ivy-Leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis)<style>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spenser rd, SE24</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">It’s nice to be looking round town and writing about bits of nature again after having been away for so long.<span> </span>I saw the Ivy-Leaved Toadflax on a wall when I was dropping off my car at a garage. It’s in flower at the moment (as you can see) and will be until around November having started in around April. This is edible and is often used in salads in smart restaurants. I’m told the per kilo price is quite high. It predominantly grows in brick walls and is very common. A lot of the brick work in the area doesn’t seem to have it growing but interestingly this small area that was painted had quite a lot growing which makes me wonder if the paint has some positive effect. I quite like the taste, bitter and sharp, I think it is good for adding a bit of spice to a salad. Please be sure of Identification before you eat it. </span></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-513435663640981842011-06-29T20:21:00.001+01:002011-07-04T21:23:39.154+01:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Due to work commitments, Nature in London will start posting again on Monday 18th of July. </div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-80786930118588311652011-06-27T22:07:00.000+01:002011-06-27T22:07:54.723+01:00Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmYNDxPOdfEaKAPMwqSzSDQb15gS65iRq1qWPv6yv8-emBI-jJ7NuMAHT_MMWSchZr9ZnmzoHGD3pv1-qJ4LMlJhszz5Zu-oaK6QACRFZxLDtFht5fiv1nwqr8j2ujjPgYWo03p6GI0gh/s1600/Sedge+Warbler.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmYNDxPOdfEaKAPMwqSzSDQb15gS65iRq1qWPv6yv8-emBI-jJ7NuMAHT_MMWSchZr9ZnmzoHGD3pv1-qJ4LMlJhszz5Zu-oaK6QACRFZxLDtFht5fiv1nwqr8j2ujjPgYWo03p6GI0gh/s400/Sedge+Warbler.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sedge Warbler</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</style> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">This is a common summer visitor to Britain. It is well worth stopping and spending a bit of time watching this bird if you come across one. They are extremely lively characterful little birds that sing very powerfully. The one in the photograph taken in Hertforshire let me get very close whilst he belted out powerful, virtually non-stop song for five minutes or more. They migrate from Africa, where they spend the winter and may be found in Britain from around mid April to mid October. They feed mainly on insects and their numbers are healthy, in fact The inhabit a massively extensive range of countries from Asia through Africa to all over Europe.</span> </div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-20902433862871996822011-06-24T22:21:00.000+01:002011-06-24T22:21:55.409+01:00Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brockwell Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> <span style="font-size: small;">This thistle is in bloom at the moment, which always reminds me of Scotland who’s national emblem is the spear thistle which has larger flowers. There are over a dozen species of thistle in Britain and it’s a common group of plants well known for their spines which the plant has developed to discourage animals from feeding on it. Thistles are male and female and grow near one another to breed. They are notoriously hard to get rid off, so consider embracing their presence in your garden, when flowering they’re very popular with several species of rare butterfly and once they go to seed there’s a good chance of seeing goldfinch feeding on the seeds.</span></span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-34728063407559315702011-06-23T19:55:00.000+01:002011-06-23T19:55:30.233+01:00Meadow crane's-bill (Geranium pratense)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvfS-bAQg5qfn7ANRmxYN5Cwm4R_TSxjJUUJ2tNjAP3hJDIOc4L9CDL69B_TGJsWLV-ablxMi765D03SBPGyNFnhL32Ney0K20b7835xU6RfmxXlGnG0NE44XE-ERS4OIvFoVsSPSwEd-/s1600/MC2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvfS-bAQg5qfn7ANRmxYN5Cwm4R_TSxjJUUJ2tNjAP3hJDIOc4L9CDL69B_TGJsWLV-ablxMi765D03SBPGyNFnhL32Ney0K20b7835xU6RfmxXlGnG0NE44XE-ERS4OIvFoVsSPSwEd-/s200/MC2.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shakespeare rd, SE24</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38LPKzsIaI-pDM8Wn_zNF6jmjpF_lYxNlCQLEMVWHG4RlnrKJNhCGOyDaYjx6BuY3TKLSiYwToGQqPxdxsXchW3q_AXlyM4qctL8SJ8ZMR360CLgghre__Yaa0kvWb0hz-xJra14BKQJs/s1600/MC1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38LPKzsIaI-pDM8Wn_zNF6jmjpF_lYxNlCQLEMVWHG4RlnrKJNhCGOyDaYjx6BuY3TKLSiYwToGQqPxdxsXchW3q_AXlyM4qctL8SJ8ZMR360CLgghre__Yaa0kvWb0hz-xJra14BKQJs/s320/MC1.JPG" width="212" /></a><br />
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</style><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">This a really lovely wild meadow and garden plant which is in bloom now and should remain so until the end of September. This plant is best distinguished at this time of year by it’s large violet blue flowers with crimson veins. As you can see from the Latin name it’s part of the Geranium family of which there are over 400 species. Crane’s bill is the translation of the Greek Geranium. It’s so called because of the seed dispersing area of the plant, which is a column that opens to reveal a seed, looking like a beak, Not all geraniums have this. <span> </span>The only suggested herbalist use I’ve found for it is to use the leaves, placed on cuts to help bind the wound but I’m sure there are more. I don’t know the remedy I’ve mentioned to be certain and I’d always recommend seeking specialist advice before you try any herbalist remedies. </span> </div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-43825609323625667542011-06-22T22:22:00.000+01:002011-06-22T22:22:28.798+01:00White water-lily (Nymphaea alba)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0N2ieyktOAOpIQAb6tOHoikLtXE_-B3jkEJQaKeUwv86DEE_b7NInpbHjx0Zc139J10ph5MIXaKzoDHmHr0bQXRkk36Qy0Z0tNrrUj6ZVglUvZ_KXzck_6-0GrRBIeVKeMfZMRGH6HXlP/s1600/WaterLil.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0N2ieyktOAOpIQAb6tOHoikLtXE_-B3jkEJQaKeUwv86DEE_b7NInpbHjx0Zc139J10ph5MIXaKzoDHmHr0bQXRkk36Qy0Z0tNrrUj6ZVglUvZ_KXzck_6-0GrRBIeVKeMfZMRGH6HXlP/s400/WaterLil.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <style>
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</style> <div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">This plant produces the widest flower of any wild British plant. They can grow up to around 10 inches. The plants grow in relatively shallow water not liking water much deeper than a couple of metres. The flowers are well known for only opening when the sun comes out. There are about 50 species of the genus Nymphaea. The white water-lily has lots of herbalist uses, through history, different parts of the plant have commonly been used for their sedative and aphrodisiac properties. This picture was taken by the same pond that I found the newt in yesterday, in Dulwich. </span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-4538104654201279102011-06-21T20:50:00.000+01:002011-06-21T20:50:28.542+01:00Common or Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Newt - Dulwich</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I took this picture today, next to a garden pond in East Dulwich. I saw at least half a dozen newts in this pond which was great as they have been in decline for sometime. It just shows how valuable gardens and garden ponds are as mini ecosystems. I’m very fond of newts, a fondness somewhat developed by Gussie Fink-Nottle a ‘Newt Fancying’ character in Jeeves & Wooster novels. So it was rather nice to photograph this specimen in Dulwich close to where Woodhouse went to school; Dulwich College. Unlike Lizards, Newts do not bask in the sun, nor do they have scales but they do both hibernate. Newts should start to appear at the end of February depending on temperature at this point they will travel to water to breed. During breeding season the male displays to the female with tale vibrations then leaves a pod containing sperm in the water for the female to collect. The female gives birth to tadpoles which are carnivorous throughout their lives. Newts have been recorded living up to 20 years but their average life span is far shorter than this.<span> </span></span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-5796335291200067422011-06-20T19:17:00.000+01:002011-06-20T19:17:10.787+01:00Hawke Binoculars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQGudBh105tkjfDn_BVgH0mdpvx2vjyvwIBzxaC_YeaExTHJuzbYcwSZcyWHN7JPIbsfRJcGAj5Ya7Smajbw4AvjLzgm5cwD07mIz2RObfpiPWtrGGoI9B2qeE56zxR7fs2jYZ4vokL5Z/s1600/Bins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQGudBh105tkjfDn_BVgH0mdpvx2vjyvwIBzxaC_YeaExTHJuzbYcwSZcyWHN7JPIbsfRJcGAj5Ya7Smajbw4AvjLzgm5cwD07mIz2RObfpiPWtrGGoI9B2qeE56zxR7fs2jYZ4vokL5Z/s400/Bins.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><style>
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</style> <div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Having recently been parted from my binoculars for a week I realised how much I use them in day to day life. I’ve not written about any kit for a while so I thought a few sentences on my binoculars would be fitting. Bar the clothes on your back and the shoes on your feet I don’t think there is a more important piece of equipment to interact with nature. They make any walk so much more fruitful and interesting. Sometimes I look at what appears to be blank pieces of sky or landscape then I put my bins to my eyes and a multitude of birds are often revealed. What to buy? I favor something mid size for walking like the pair pictured. They are 10x42 magnification, which gives me good viewing range without being too cumbersome. I also really like this brand, Hawke these ‘Nature Trek’ binoculars were around £90 and I think the optics compare well with other brand models in the £200/£300 bracket a view which is shared with some professionals in the industry that I’ve asked advice from. For the price these are excellent waterproof and robust binoculars.You can feel quite odd walking round London with binoculars but I do it all the time and it's well worth it.</span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-24045282823627953632011-06-17T23:32:00.000+01:002011-06-17T23:32:42.236+01:00Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><style>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canal System N1</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dulwich Rd SE2</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I’m writing briefly tonight on Common Mallow as I’ve had a seriously busy week. I always see this plant around Herne Hill on lawns and in the park but today I noticed it in abundance whilst walking between Haggerston and Angel along the Canal where the wide shot was taken. It took me some time to identify this plant, it’s been in flower for a couple of months now and will remain so for a couple more. The flowers are stunning and the plant is related to hibiscus and hollyhock. It is edible but be careful that it isn’t growing in too nitrogen rich soil and also that it’s out of ‘dog pee’ range which a lot of it is not. The round fruits it bears may contain little edible nuts. I’ve had a brief look for herbalist uses and like many things, diuretic properties were one of the first that came out. Today I saw it growing in tall wide clumps but often you may just see a few leaves and a flower in a lawn. I think the flowers are particularly attractive and I look forward to tasting the nuts. This is an easy and useful plant to identify. </span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-2457435682508256792011-06-15T23:07:00.000+01:002011-06-15T23:07:34.000+01:00Moonshine yarrow (Achillea)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyBijx9txYIIAIzqNiD4c-TB0CD2i102rfAHZN16-_CqCgz6A97gJ9i5E3eh37MwHDo98zm3FUGoAIpX-4qHUqQMvF0WGrkC4VzmedH09Zj195DJD8X9fn_0hqra2jme9rsQHhXj3hQCA/s1600/Yarrow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyBijx9txYIIAIzqNiD4c-TB0CD2i102rfAHZN16-_CqCgz6A97gJ9i5E3eh37MwHDo98zm3FUGoAIpX-4qHUqQMvF0WGrkC4VzmedH09Zj195DJD8X9fn_0hqra2jme9rsQHhXj3hQCA/s400/Yarrow.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The yellow flower in the photograph belongs to Moonshine Yarrow. The Latin genus above contains just under 100 flowering plants, many of which are used decoratively in Gardens like this one. The name comes from Greek mythology where it’s said Achilles soldiers used Yarrow to treat wounds. I find this fascinating as the blood clotting qualities of Yarrow are well documented by herbalists. Only a few months a go a herbalist in the Natural History Museum garden was telling me to put yarrow up my nose for a nose bleed. These properties give yarrow some of its other common names like blodwort and allheal. This is one property of many that Yarrow has been scientifically proven to have, it has antiseptic properties and is often used as a carminative and to treat colds and flu. Usual warning…be certain about identification to the untrained eye, there are some nasty plants this may be mistaken for especially as there are such a range of species flowering in a multitude of colours.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">PS: Please would someone identify the moth for me?</span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-10973047352299339762011-06-14T22:44:00.000+01:002011-06-14T22:44:44.118+01:00Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzAkKRE-E4lz_UtNQ5T6RwyHdeRU2p8Ga6s69vfBGTv4vrzOHtEtJsvpHUR6GfYoB1TfMBQlFYiiPXX8eFP6yTv-tCTKI-el6-aiX2Sw4UUOPyBq37uyg5NZHgz0GR78aVCOnsXbLT9GF/s1600/BlackB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzAkKRE-E4lz_UtNQ5T6RwyHdeRU2p8Ga6s69vfBGTv4vrzOHtEtJsvpHUR6GfYoB1TfMBQlFYiiPXX8eFP6yTv-tCTKI-el6-aiX2Sw4UUOPyBq37uyg5NZHgz0GR78aVCOnsXbLT9GF/s400/BlackB.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen's Park - North Side</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</style> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">The above Latin name refers to the common blackberry. There are over four hundred species of blackberry. As you can see from the photo I took today amongst the railings at Queen’s Park, blackberry bushes flower in late spring/ early summer and are usually pink or white. This plants tolerance for poor quality soil is the main reason why it’s so common. We know and see them in thick tangled bushes with large thorns on the stems but certain agricultural species have been cultivated; thorn free. Dewberries look similar to blackberries and are part of the Rubus genus but they lack the woody fibers in the stem. Obviously they are very nutritious, containing lots of vitamins and fibre as well as anti-oxidants. The seeds are also high in fibre and nutrients. </span> </div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-6580706503118266992011-06-13T22:36:00.000+01:002011-06-13T22:36:11.211+01:00Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDygB4QfbXpGkvgzuAjfA5Jzo2g3OC8imHsDT6YcYyo4fK8LXbZ-c7QWIkZ_1f8p1Bnkl4wpaMthBeW36S-CsO4rUkqkM2ZwfkbTMxLQAnyYs5ifoTGV3rwPqQZWBLze418GToT8y4SKc/s1600/Teasel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDygB4QfbXpGkvgzuAjfA5Jzo2g3OC8imHsDT6YcYyo4fK8LXbZ-c7QWIkZ_1f8p1Bnkl4wpaMthBeW36S-CsO4rUkqkM2ZwfkbTMxLQAnyYs5ifoTGV3rwPqQZWBLze418GToT8y4SKc/s400/Teasel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teasel, - Lee Valley canal system.</td></tr>
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</style> <div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">This is another one of our common plants, which has lots of names. The scientific name above comes from the Greek ‘to Thirst’ because of the area which joins the leaf and the stem that collects water like a bowl. This is also why it was known as Venus’s basin by the Roman’s and Mary’s basin by the early Christians. Apart from being a really important source of food for birds and pollen for butterflies I have not found any uses herbalist uses for Teasel. It does get commonly used as an ornament (I’ve definitely seen my Mum dot the odd one around the house) and, more significantly a as a tool it was an is used by Fuller’s who would comb wool with it. Today it is still cultivated for use in the textiles industry.</span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-63084551081439216312011-06-09T21:51:00.001+01:002011-06-09T21:55:09.860+01:00Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDYAiQyv7ugDLK74cnc6gwtAl0yFpmHmqgaBlhVWNE3YhC-z0uaTkIRgMn45pMCxG_aFBe9y5pHt_huviw_XU1szLsl-fy_N4PfSMVhWpwmt0eIwLMfiUGXXBT2pKwgptZ7ZM8SQ8N11M/s1600/IMG_4647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDYAiQyv7ugDLK74cnc6gwtAl0yFpmHmqgaBlhVWNE3YhC-z0uaTkIRgMn45pMCxG_aFBe9y5pHt_huviw_XU1szLsl-fy_N4PfSMVhWpwmt0eIwLMfiUGXXBT2pKwgptZ7ZM8SQ8N11M/s400/IMG_4647.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> I’ve seen quite a bit of this on grass around London, it likes sandy soil, which makes sense as I took the above photo on a football pitch in the Sir Joseph Hood Memorial park. This plant is about the size of a buttercup and the common name Trefoil comes from the Latin trifolium meaning three-leaved plant. It is said to have a few herbalist properties but I’ve not had time to research it thoroughly enough to confirm that. This is easy to find all over London in parks and Lawns.</span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-52608528409349963642011-06-08T22:01:00.000+01:002011-06-08T22:01:15.631+01:00Eucalyptus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdI9_NIihJ4KZxmM0205mvDOK5Ot7B7zlU4Zwp0OXRsM737m-WVQdgziyVCeAgsah13jR6VX7DOh5DNJjY83JFdEctJv63hR2e4F5AUdky2rsMbUofWL6uDy_8dDN_iHTP4SBsQaM0Bs3/s1600/Eucalyptus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdI9_NIihJ4KZxmM0205mvDOK5Ot7B7zlU4Zwp0OXRsM737m-WVQdgziyVCeAgsah13jR6VX7DOh5DNJjY83JFdEctJv63hR2e4F5AUdky2rsMbUofWL6uDy_8dDN_iHTP4SBsQaM0Bs3/s400/Eucalyptus.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I took a photo of this beautiful Eucalyptus tree yesterday evening as I’m working long days at the moment and I was looking for something quick and easily identifiable to write about. Little did I know there are more than 700 species of Eucalyptus worldwide, in fact it’s a genus that could quite easily provide a life of study on it’s own. Most Eucalyptus are native to Australia. Some species are more commonly known as Gum trees, the sap that they contain is a very important natural substance that provides natural antiseptic and cleaning oil. To counter the positives their ability to drain huge quantities of water is obviously less popular.</span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-11408702622321063482011-06-07T22:50:00.000+01:002011-06-07T22:50:46.487+01:00Bindweed (Convolvulus)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCED_ubGIuPMNrLApn11XIJ6ni8DyGMM5HgVfrc1eN1ePwUnNyJLaLG-HCvmLs7QCOWVaKkT3mS3BSCGC6ndb1xMQGo4c-Gf_HjExOUqGvD4N6lpX1RdttmrzG6VrjreyeC7YLew37jh62/s1600/Common+Bindweed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCED_ubGIuPMNrLApn11XIJ6ni8DyGMM5HgVfrc1eN1ePwUnNyJLaLG-HCvmLs7QCOWVaKkT3mS3BSCGC6ndb1xMQGo4c-Gf_HjExOUqGvD4N6lpX1RdttmrzG6VrjreyeC7YLew37jh62/s400/Common+Bindweed.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> <style>
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</style><span lang="EN-US">There are five fused petals on this common plant that I photographed today on Wimbledon park. It’s so called because it will bind around other plants in a parasitic way and smother them. They are usually rooted very deep and it’s worth consulting a specialist for removal <a href="http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=241" style="color: black;">the Royal Horticultural society</a> offer advice. There are lots of species of this plant and most are edible but don’t eat too much as it’s a purgative. I’ve read reports that it’s sweet and reports that it’s incredibly bitter but I’ve not tried it. I suppose it depends on the variety. Some bindweeds are massive and will provide a meal from their big starchy roots. Others, it’s claimed have psychedelic properties but that is specific to variety and not a property common bindweed has. </span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-12666286536425974522011-06-06T19:05:00.000+01:002011-06-06T19:05:00.413+01:00Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_Zbs6r7HQXucmFfxJdHLhPHZR1fh_-XXfonMxylPr_gYztKHH70tuTftvt7UH5Yfwle0_9Oww5QjrL2lWgxxSw5i8AnIHznW1nwy_e0_lSHx9Gcc2gW_kFYUn69mwVeSajH6fuEN29dS/s1600/oxrag3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_Zbs6r7HQXucmFfxJdHLhPHZR1fh_-XXfonMxylPr_gYztKHH70tuTftvt7UH5Yfwle0_9Oww5QjrL2lWgxxSw5i8AnIHznW1nwy_e0_lSHx9Gcc2gW_kFYUn69mwVeSajH6fuEN29dS/s640/oxrag3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><style>
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</style> <div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">This photo was taken on the street set of Wimbledon Studios and is one of the most common members of the ragwort family. It is poisonous to humans and livestock and I don’t know of any herbalist uses for this plant all though I’m certain their will be some. I’m really interested in these types of plants that few people take any notice of. Just over 200 hundred years ago this plant would have been considered the height of sophistication as it was imported from the volcanic soils of Sicily by the Oxford Botanic Gardens. We now know that it each plant can contain around 10,000 seeds, which have spread incredibly effectively around the midlands and the south. A fact which might have deterred the 18<sup>th</sup> Century botanist from importing it. </span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-56093568304360051022011-06-03T19:10:00.001+01:002011-06-04T13:39:26.482+01:00Common comfrey (Symphytum offcinale)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><style>
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</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I’ve read that this has sometimes confused with Foxglove which is a dangerous mistake Comfrey has some pleasant and useful herbal uses and Foxglove is deadly poisonous. Comfrey comes from ‘con firma’, which means made firm and it’s so-called for its ability to help heal bruises, sprains, fractures and broken bones. As always don’t attempt to use or ingest the plant unless you know exactly what you’re doing as it may cause problems, liver toxicity amongst them. The flowers are white, or pale pink when open and the droop over in clumps often below the leaves. The plant likes damp conditions and is often found lining river banks. this picture was taken on the canal between Ware and London. </span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-16141876487664848632011-06-02T19:00:00.002+01:002011-06-02T19:00:05.465+01:00Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><style>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foxglove, Dulwich.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Most important to know about this plant is that every part of it is deadly poisonous and the smallest morsel ingested is likely to kill you. It is equally dangerous for live stock. Elements of it are used in advanced medicine to treat various heart conditions but it is not suitable for the amateur herbalist to use. The only use I’ve heard of for it is as toilet paper as the leaves are large and smooth but knowing about its extreme poisonous qualities I’m rather worried about the leaves breaking up and conveying their poison in suppository form. I don’t know if that’s likely but I should stick to dock leaves. The plant it's sometimes confused with is Common comfrey which I shall be blogging on tomorrow. Foxglove may have as many as 80 single flowers that grow on one side, opening from bottom up. In the first year there is only a rosette of leaves viewable and in the second the tall stem grows up through the middle. There are twenty or so different species but this is the most common. </span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-60243373442042767212011-06-01T19:12:00.001+01:002011-06-01T19:12:00.821+01:00Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lee Valley canal system</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">This picture was taken on the canal between Ware and Hertford on Sunday morning. There was one chick and a mating pair, which I watched for sometime. According to a passing cyclist there had been two chicks initially, it could have been taken by a number of predators including Pike. This bird is no stranger to adversity in the mid 19<sup>th</sup> century the population was hunted to around 40 pairs because the skins were so coveted by the fashion industry. They are interesting birds; their displays of spring courtship are one of the spectacles of the mating season. The pair I saw was still mating and the male was displaying after completion which was rather entertaining as the head shaking and feather ruffling is such a blatant show of pride. The young are patterned rather like a zebra and will keep that plumage until the winter by which time they will be about the same size as the adult. When the chick is fully fledged the parents will either drive the juvenile away or the family will just split. It seems like a sharp contrast from the first few weeks of life when the parents carry the chick round on their backs. <span> </span><span> </span></span></div><br />
</div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-85890014969204823162011-05-31T18:43:00.000+01:002011-05-31T18:43:20.410+01:00Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><style>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Chaffinch - Barnes</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I particularly like this bird as it is one of the most colorful of the common species that you’ll see all over the countryside and in London parks. There are millions of breeding pairs in Britain whose numbers are swelled each year by winter migration. Usually the British based birds stay with in a few miles of their nest and are quite territorial but the migrating Chaffinches have been recorded traveling over 1000 miles to reach their winter destination. They eat a mixture of seed and insects but the former makes up the entirety of their diet outside the breeding season. They are one of the hardiest of our small birds and may live for 12 years or more.<span> </span>Cats and traffic are their main nemesis.<span> </span>Females, are as usual are a little duller in colour, less pink breasted. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
</div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442426098128678564.post-51997257996405457642011-05-26T19:10:00.000+01:002011-05-26T19:10:00.154+01:00Pochard (Aythya ferina)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Pochard - Barnes Wetland Centre</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The male is unlikely to be confused with any other species of duck but the female may require a little more study, both species have a dark bill marked with a grey band. The Pochard is a very common duck especially during the winter when it’s numbers are highest. They like well vegetated ponds and gravel pits as they are diving ducks as most of their food intake is plant material. There are infact comparatively few nesting Pochards in this country, most of those are found in Suffolk and Kent. They nest on the ground and may lay between 8 and 10 eggs. The Red-crested Pochard is quite different and is unlikely to be confused. The male Red-crested has an entirely red bill and the female a partially red bill.</span></div></div>Julian Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907554538184301188noreply@blogger.com0