Promoting & Enhancing The Natural Beauty of the Sid Valley
It is the last week of October, as I watch a “Common Carder Bee” gathering nectar and pollen for her winter store. She is a young queen. The “Carder Bee” is usually the last Bumblebee that we see in the UK, before temperatures drop.Read More
Leave a comment This cricket was found in our kitchen in early August. My wife, Denise, and I share house cleaning duties. I am responsible for the kitchen, as can be judged by the fluff this poor chap has attached to his right hind! We know heRead More
Leave a comment Selfheal: Botanical name…Prunella vulgaris “Prunella” originally “Brunella” (Latin meaning Brown) from“die braune” German for “the brown one”. Used in German mid 16th century for treatment of infectious, severe throat condition, associated with brown tongues. “vulgaris”…common. “Selfheal” is part of the mint family, although it hasRead More
Leave a comment Red Campion, Botanical name Silene dioica Silene derives from the Greek word “sialon”, which means saliva, in reference to the gummy substance the plant secretes. “Dioica” in Greek means “of two houses”. This refers to the plant having male and female flowers on separateRead More
Leave a comment Dandelion, Botanical name Taraxacum officiale Taraxacum probably comes from ancient Greek “taraxos” meaning “disorder”, and “akos” remedy. Officiale means, in this context, “from the pharmacy”. “Dandelion” comes from French “dent-de-lion”. Translates as “tooth of the lion” because of the toothed leaves. TheRead More
Leave a comment Botanical name…Heracleum sphondylium “Heracleum” origin unknown. Could be from Hercules, the hero of classic mythology known for his strength. “sphondylium” from Greek “spondylos”, meaning vertebrae, referring to shape of segmented stem. “Hogweed” is a BritishRead More
Leave a comment Meadowsweet Botanical name…Filipendula ulmaria Filium “thread”. Pendulus “hanging”. Refers to root tubers hanging off fibrous roots. Ulmaria “elmlike”, referring to the leaves which resemble “Elm” (ulmus) Old Botanical name…Spiraea ulmaria. (see later!) “Meadowsweet” is a member of the rose family, and growsRead More
Leave a comment Lady’s Smock Botanical name Cardamine pratensis Cardamine from Greek “kardamine” for “water cress”. “Karda” is Greek for “heart” (cf “carda”), and “damao” is Greek for “strengthen”. “pratensis” from Latin meaning “meadow”. It is part of the large genus “Brassica”, which makes it a relativeRead More
Leave a comment The Whirligig Beetle Family Gyrinidae The Lower Knapp pond has a good variety of life beneath the surface, but one the jewels can be seen on the surface. Formula one dodgem cars can be spotted on a sunny Spring day, like diamonds moving erraticallyRead More
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