I really enjoy the autumn sunlight. It is less harsh and more gentle on the eye and the landscape it illuminates. The light was a at the back of these faded Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) fronds when I took the image.
The Colours of Autumn
Category: Plants
Autumn Acorn
This acorn is growing on Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur). Acorns are rich in nutrients, and not only do mighty oak trees grow from acorns, but so do the various birds, mammals, insects and other animals which rely on them throughout the season.
An Opening
White Water-lily (Nymphaea alba) – Nymphaea is Latin, which comes from a Greek term possibly referring to nymph or nymph-like, of a mythological supernatural spirit of nature, often described as a beautiful maiden associated with water, which would be very befitting for this delicate aquatic plant.
Common Evening-primrose
Oenothera biennis – lighting up the fields on a dull day.
Rasberry
Rubus idaeus – This image just goes to show how you can pass by so much without really noticing things. I discovered Rasberry today, growing wild off a narrow dirt pathway leading but a short few steps to the river. It was almost hidden by brambles and nettles, and shaded under willow, but here we have it. First time seeing it after 27 years of walking around here! Must have had my eyes closed half the time.
100 Wild Flowers
Yellow Corydalis (Pseudofumaria lutea) – This low-growing plant with its golden yellow flowers is the 100th species to be added to A nature Journey. A non-native species originally from the Alps, I discovered it growing from a local canal bridge. It likes to grow between the degraded mortar in old walls, or between the cracks and paving. Naturally, it grows between limestone rocks.
You are more than welcome to visit my Wild Flowers page, where you may find all 100 featured species with photographs and text.
Bringing Light To A Weed
Smooth Sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) – This member of the Asteraceae family has quite an unenviable reputation as a nasty and troublesome weed of gardens and arable land, and yet, seen in a different light, it is much more than just that. It has a beauty all of its own as a native wild flower and a source of nectar to pollinating insect. It also has medicinal properties as well as culinary.
Please double-click images for a closer look.
V Is For Velcro
Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus) – In the 1940s the Swiss electrical engineer George de Mestral had a brain wave when he kept noticing the sticky burrs of burdock (we also have Greater Burdock (Arctium lappa), which is similar) kept attaching to his clothes when he passed by it. Also called ‘Sticky Buttons’, he thought he might be able to replicate the idea to produce a clothes fastening. After trial and error, and with inspiration from the plant, it took him around 8 years to perfect his product which he finally called Velcro.
Not to forget that dandelion and burdock has been a poupular soft drink since the Middle Ages, one I used to drink a lot of as a child when pop came in glass bottles and you could take them back to the shop and get a few pennies for the return to spend on a bag of sweets.
Please double-click images for a closer look.
Yellow Water-lily
Nuphar lutea – Another lily I discovered on the canal, and for such a small flower it has quite large leaves of which frogs could hop to and fro from if they so wished.
Please double-click images for a closer look.
White Water-lily
Nymphaea alba – After my last post I thought something a little lighter was required, so here are 2 photos of this lovely lily, which I saw the same day as the snake on the local canal. The lily will only open in bright sunshine, which obviously brings its own challenges when photographig satin white petals.
Please double-click images for a closer look.
Musk Mallow
Malva moschata – We have had some unusally high winds for this time of the year recently, so bad that when I spotted this in a local field I couldn’t photograph it until today.
Double-click images for a closer look.
In Search of Giants
Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) – In the first image I am standing below the plant looking up at the underneath of this massive bloom. I am 6′ 2″ tall, and these can grow up to 5m (over 16ft) tall. I was also on higher ground, the plant virtually in the river. A word of warning … do not touch these giants because they will seriously get you with burns, blisters and rashes. The sap contains furocoumarin, which if it gets on the skin makes it extremely sensitive to sunlight (phytophotodermatitis). A person can suffer phytotoxicity for months or even years, so admire this giant from a distance.
Poppy Love
Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) – Kind of like the old Donny Osmond hit back in the early 70’s (for those of us who can remember – or even want to remember) but poppies and not puppies. I love these – poppies – and as soon as I see that bright scarlet red out amidst the sea of green grasses in the fields and meadows I aways make a b-line for them. This one was the only one I could see, and it was a beauty.
© Peter Hillman ♦ 2nd June 2020 ♦ Local field, South Staffordshire ♦ Nikon D7200
Cat’s-ear
Hypochaeris radicata – I guess you was expecting a cat’s ear? Sorry to disappoint … but we have a beautful bright yellow wild flower native to Britain but considered a noxious weed in some areas, especially if it has invaded your quarters. If you wish to learn more about this sunshiny flower and see more photos you can go to its page by clicking ‘here’. You can also double-click the image to have a closer look.
© Peter Hillman ♦ 30th May 2020 ♦ Local field, South Staffordshire ♦ Nikon D7200
Oxeye Daisy
Leucanthemum vulgare – Strolling along the riverbank you can’t help but notice the beautiful display this daisy gives. Fairly tall and standing above most of the crowd, the large yellow and white flowerheads were alive with bees and beetles, all enjoying the rich nectar bounty on offer. Double-click on images to enlarge.
© Peter Hillman ♦ 27th May 2020 ♦ Local riverbank, South Staffordshire ♦ Nikon D7200
To learn more about the Oxeye Daisy please visit the page by clicking on the link ‘Here’.
Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata – You know when spring is near when you see these large green leaves start to appear on woodland margins or in hedgerows, amongst other places. It soon grows and the clusters of small white flowers soon show. If the large leaves are crushed they will give off a distinct smell of garlic. The whole plant is known for its medicinal properties, as well as for flavouring foods. Garlic Mustard is a foodplant for the Orange-tip butterfly. The caterpillars feed on the elongate seedpods. It is also an important food source for other butterflies as well as moth larvae, and other insects.
© Peter Hillman ♦ April & May 2020 ♦ Local woodland margin, South Staffordshire ♦ Nikon D7200
You may find my ‘Page of Life‘ of interest, which allows easy access to all species of flora and fauna featured on this site, and might be considered a useful reference.
Common Dog-violet
Viola riviniana – Although unscented, these lovely little flowers have always popped up in my front garden during the spring. Many folk consider them to be a weed and pull them out. But I rather like them, and they never give me any bother, so I just leave them be. I have added a side view because that long slightly curved spur at the back helps in identification of violets that are similar. Double-click on images to enlarge.
© Peter Hillman ♦ 29th April 2020 ♦ Front garden, South Staffordshire ♦ Nikon D7200
Bluebell Wood
There is a narrow and winding dirt path which leads through the lower part of the woods. At this time of the year there is enchantment in the form of a lush carpet of bluebells.
© Peter Hillman ♦ 23rd April 2020 ♦ Local woods, Staffordshire ♦ Nikon D7200
Cuckooflower
Cardamine pratensis – Also called Lady’s-smock. When I first eyed this lovely flower on my allowed ‘once a day’ excercise walk, it took my breath clean away, I was so bedazzled by its beauty. This is a sure sign that spring has arrived. x2 photographs. Double click images to enlarge.
© Peter Hillman ♦ 10th April 2020 ♦ Local field, Staffordshire ♦ Nikon D7200
What The Bees Leave Behind
Daisy (Bellis perennis) – You can’t help but notice these pretty little daisies springing up all over now, little oasises for the spring insects for them to feed from. The way the pollen has been scattered around the centre of this one, I would say somebody has already been here.
© Peter Hillman ♦ 26th March 2020 ♦ Front grass verge, Staffordshire ♦ Nikon D7200
Lesser Celandine
Ficaria verna – I am very fortunate that where I live I only have to walk five minutes and I am into woodland. So with the bright weather I have been managing to venture out for a few minutes. The sight of all these wonderful sunshine coloured flowers carpeting the woodland floor is such a joy to see and a lift to the heart. It has to be my favourite spring flower. I quite like the way the sun casts the bloom’s shadow to the right. Double-click image for a closer look.
© Peter Hillman ♦ 26th March 2020 ♦ Local woodland path, Staffordshire ♦ Nikon D7200
Hare’s-foot Clover
Trifolium arvense – This has to be one of my favouries of the clovers. They are so fine and delicate, especially if the light catches the fluffed up flowers just right. Double-click for a closer look.
Copyright: Peter Hillman
Camera used: Nikon D7200
Date taken: 16th July 2019
Place: Local field, Staffordshire
Common Spotted-orchid
Dactylorhiza fuchsii – It is always a delight when I come across these beauties when strolling along the river.
Copyright: Peter Hillman
Camera used: Nikon D7200
Date taken: 26th June 2019
Place: Local field margin near local river, Staffordshire
Thistle
Not much to say really … apart from these lovely pink thistles were growing all over the local fields at the time and they really caught my eye. I hope they catch yours, too. I thought they might make a change from all the moths …
Copyright: Peter Hillman
Camera used: Nikon D7200
Date taken: 7th July 2019
Place: Local field, Staffordshire
White Campion
Silene latifolia – This is one of my favourite wild flowers, and it is always a pleasure to see on my walks. According to fossil records it was introduced to Britain during the Bronze Age. It flowers between May and October across much of Britain, except the far north and west.
Copyright: Peter Hillman
Camera used: Nikon D7200
Date taken: 7th July 2019
Place: Local woodland ride, Staffordshire
End of Season Flowers
The Water Mint (Mentha aquatica) has gone mad again this year, spreading its roots and sprouting throughout the garden pond. Yet its sweet sugary goodness attracts many insects, so it is always good in that respect. This is one of the last blooms which I wanted to try and capture before they all disappeared with the advance of autumn.
September 2019 © Pete Hillman.
Pretty In Pink
When I first spied these little beauties along the seafront, especially as they appeared to glisten in the freshly fallen rain, I thought oh yes, wow! How lovely!
The small brightly pink flowers kind of jump out at you. The plant is called Common Restharrow (Ononis repens).
Exmouth, Devon. August 2019 © Pete Hillman.
Beauty On The Verge
This ‘looker’ of a wild flower, rain-speckled and dotted with holes as it may be, is called the Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), and can be seen either on wasteground, in a garden, or on a roadside verge near you this summer. It is a very good provider of nectar for the insect world.
Exmouth, Devon. © Pete Hillman August 2019
Against The Hedgerow
This is another reason I realy love summer.
July 2019, local field, South Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Beauty Comes In Small Packages
June 2019, local field, South Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
It is not just taking in the whole of the image and in what your eyes perceive within it, but it is all those tiny details when you look really close, and how your imagination perceives them … and where that imagination leads you to …
Deep in the woods, June 2019, South Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Supernova In The Heart of A Poppy
Click and click again on the image to get that little bit closer …
June 2019, local field, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
More June Rain
June 2019, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Delicate
It is always a joy to see the Dog Rose Rosa canina on my walks through the local woods. It is a sign that summer is not too far away.
Click and click again on the image to get that little bit closer …
June 2019, local woodland margin, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
In Full Bloom
Greater Celandine Chelidonium majus, June 2019, local woodland margin, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Rain Again
Click and click again on the image to get that little bit closer …
Hardy geranium. June 2019, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Bee Oasis
Click and click again on the image to get that little bit closer …
Hardy geranium. June 2019, rear garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Crocus
February 2019, local woodland path, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Small Beauty
Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica, February 2019, local field, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Back To The Beginning
Spring begins with Snowdrops.
February 2019, front garden, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
Nature Journeys 