Goosey

A good walk of about 4.5 miles this morning, as Malcolm and I found another, previously unseen, footpath around Shipley Park and up towards Mapperley Village. As we approached the reservoir, below us on the waterside, was a very contented-looking Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), sitting on her nest waiting for something to happen beneath her.

Some more flowers now, found growing along our route. Firstly a Wood Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), flowering in the shade among the trees.

A taller, smoother and greener plant next, this one is a member of the Cabbage family and is called Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata). This plant has a number of Old English names including Jack-by-the-hedge, Garlic Root, Hedge Garlic, Sauce-alone, Jack-in-the-bush, Penny Hedge and Poor Man's Mustard.

Lastly, another Cabbage family member and another with several common names. The Lady's Smock (Cardamine pratensis) is also known as Cuckoo Flower and Culpepper says of it "...they are excellently good for the scurvy, they provoke urine, and break the stone, and excellently warm a cold and weak stomach, restoring lost appetite, and help digestion..."