Beasts

In common with many other back gardens in the UK, ours is under attack.  Not from any human-based intervention does this attack come, but from Dame Nature herself.  There are two main thrusts of attack in our garden at the moment.  The least of these comes from a small bug which we saw evidence of, earlier in the year.   A few weeks ago, everything seemed to be covered in Cuckoo Spit as Froghopper nymphs free with the sap of our garden plants.  These nymphs have now transformed into the adult form of the Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius), several of which are to be found living in our grape vines.

By far the most troubling creature however, has to be the caterpillars of the Small White Butterfly (Pieris rapae).  Having tried and failed to get a few Brussels Sprouts to grow against the overwhelming odds of snails, slugs and insects, we eventually managed to nurture three plants to rude health and just as things have started to look good for these three remaining plants, these little b****ers turn up and have their impertinent way with them.

Not wanting to destroy them (numbers of butterflies are dwindling dramatically), this pair of little 'darlings' were taken away and deposited in the wider countryside a long way away from our garden as I went back to searching for more attackers.

Summer Flowers

Fortunately, the temperature has dropped a little, making our walk this morning, far more comfortable. But, the sun is still shining, so we set out for Shipley Hill, to take in the views.  The wild flower meadows are being mown all around the area right now and the fresh, sweet scent of the resulting hay is quite heady at times.  The field edges are still standing and blooming despite the recent heat and among the more noticeable of the summer plants are the Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris).

Mugwort has a long association with the medical fraternity, having been used as stimulant, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial, antispasmodic, appetiser, diuretic, purgative and treatment for what used to be described as 'women's complaints'.

As if all that were not enough, Mugwort is a particular favourite with many of our butterfly and moth species. And it has to be said, it is a favourite of mine too.

The second of today's flowers, belongs to the Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Another useful plant for medicinal purposes, it too has been used as a stimulant, but also as a help to gardeners as a composting agent.  Its effectiveness as a liquid feed for garden plants is said to be matched in the hair salon as it has been used as a hair tonic for those follically challenged.

It too, is a great favourite with a host of insect species and a welcome sight in the hedgerows of high summer.

Shady

Another hot day today, so we set out to find some shade through the woodland around Mapperley Reservoir and Mapperley Wood.  Around the reservoir, the footpaths were deliciously shady and the trees were full of birds and squirrels which also seemed to be looking for some relief from the sunshine.

Some of the trees at the far end of the wood, are tall and stately.  One Pine tree in particular stretches itself skywards trying to beat its neighbours to the top of the canopy.  From this angle, you get some idea of the imposing quality of the tree.

Looking up through the canopy is always rewarding especially when you appreciate the shelter it's all giving you, from the sunshine above.

Emerging from the woodland to return home along Slack Lane, the heat was even more noticeable.  Along the lane, the Creeping Thistle plants are still flowering, but they are beginning to set seed too.  Their pink, pin-cushion flower heads are turning into soft, feathery powder-puffs of seeds.

Home to cool off under the shower and to get rid of the sun cream, so necessary in this weather.

Fine

Another warm and beautiful day for a walk.  In fact, the rather stiff breeze this morning, made it all the more comfortable, even with the sun shining brightly once more.  Having left home and made a fuss of some of our favourite dogs who were being walked past the house, we decided on what we call 'The Farm Walk', taking in Head House Farm and the old West Hallam Colliery pit lines.

Where the local Wildlife Trust cleared hundreds of trees earlier this year and erected barbed-wire fencing (we wonder what for, as the fence stands alone and open at both ends), wild flowers have taken over. Among the most common are Evening Primroses which are blooming all over the place.  Here too, we find the stately form of Weld (Reseda luteola).  Commonly used in days of yore as a bright yellow dye, it was often mixed with Woad (a blue dye) to make green hues, particularly the well-known Lincoln Green made famous in the Robin Hood stories.  A few Poppies are still flowering along these paths too.

Making for home, we came across a small patch of Wild Carrot (Daucus carota), an attractive plant and easily identified when in bloom, by the single red flower which sits in the centre of the dome-shaped inflorescence of otherwise white flowers.  Most odd, but most attractive too.

Great!

A few 'great' things have caught my eye recently.  Firstly and by far the most satisfying to see, was the family of Great Crested Grebes which have made the Manor Floods their home.  In the last couple of years, a pair of Grebes have set up a territory on the lake, have built a nest and hatched young, only to lose their babies a short time after.  This year, things are looking a bit more optimistic as the parents are busy feeding three, humbug-headed youngsters.  They are also keeping their progeny as far away from us humans as possible - a good thing overall, but not when you are trying to take a decent photo.  In this picture, only two of the three youngsters are visible alongside their parents.

The second 'great' thing came from this morning's walk around Shipley Park and it is the Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum).  These tall, hairy and very attractive plants are very common around this area and at this time of year, their bright pink flowers are quite beautiful.

The white, four-lobed stigma sticking out from the centre of the pink flowers makes the flowers even more distinctive.

The last 'great' thing is the Great Burdock (Arctium lappa).  A member of the 'Daisy' family, it has a slight resemblance to thistles, especially when you take a close look at the flower heads.  These are covered with tiny hooks or 'burrs' which snag almost anything which come close enough, even grabbing the tiny ridges of your finger prints when you touch them.

Used as a vegetable in many parts of the world, all parts of the plant are utilised, from the unopened flowers which are supposed to be like artichokes, to the roots, which are filled with dietary fibre, calcium potassium and amino acids, not to mention a wide range of vitamins from B1 to K.

Fluffy Clouds

After a weekend of lively weather, thunder, lightning, downpours and everything else, it was time to get out and about again this morning.  The skies were blue, the birds were singing and all was right with the world... Well, until the inconsiderate cyclists started whizzing past, dinging their bells and making a damned nuisance of themselves.

These views across Shipley Park, taken a few days ago, from the look-out post erected by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, showed a wonderful sky with fluffy clouds and a deep blue above.

Looking away from the skies for a moment, the grassy verges are showing signs of a reddish flush in places, as they usually do at this time of year.  The colour is appearing, all thanks to the Red Bartsia (Odontites verna) plants which have a reddish tinge to the whole plant as well as pink flowers.  Partly parasitic, it gains some of its nutrients from the very grasses among which it grows.  Common throughout the UK where the soils are rather poor, such as roadsides, waste land, railway cuttings, etc.  The plant has a rather sticky feel to it, but is quite attractive nonetheless.

Peas

The Legume family - commonly known as Peas and Beans - is a large and varied family and one with which we humans, are well acquainted.  In the wild, we have a vast number of 'pea' plants to brighten the countryside.  Among the more common are the Melilots.  In the UK, we have three common members, White, Ribbed and these, Tall Melilot (Melilotus altissima).

Originating in mainland Europe, this is not a UK native, but was introduced (as many of the pea family have been), as a fodder crop.  Seen here, growing amongst the Meadowsweet, it makes quite a show.

Back home and we have a good display of wild, Broad-leaved Everlasting Sweet Peas (Lathyrus latifolius) which we found a few years ago, growing by the side of Slack Lane in Shipley Park.  Collecting the seeds, I grew them on and we now have a spectacular - and free - display.

They're doing so well, they are in danger of strangling the grape vines with which they are growing, but the Bees and Butterflies love them and with hundreds of blooms like this, so do we!