Fleabane.

Fleabane, I always think what a strange name for a flower and wonder how did it get that name. It is one of the Erigeron family and Its English name, fleabane appears to be derived from a belief that the dried plants repelled fleas  or that the plants were poisonous to fleas. The generic name Erigeron is derived from the Greek (eri = early; geron = old man), a reference to the appearance of the white hairs of the fruit soon after flowering.

Our House

I was struggling to find a new picture to post when I spotted a pair Wrens nesting in the Blue Tit's nest box. The Blue Tits fledged successfully a couple of weeks ago so it looks like it belongs to the Wrens now

Astrantia Major

Astrantia Major or Masterwort one used in medical times as a "cure all" now is a common perennial in cottage gardens.

The root, to quote Culpepper,
'is the hottest and sharpest part of the plant, hotter than pepper, and (in his opinion) very available in cold griefs and diseases both of the stomach and body.'
He tells us that it was also used 'in a decoction with wine against all cold rheums, distillations upon the lungs or shortness of breath,' and also states that it was considered effectual in dropsy, cramp, falling sickness, kidney and uterine troubles and gout. Also that 'it is of a rare quality against all sorts of cold poison, to be taken as there is a cause; it provoketh sweat.'

'But,' he advises, 'lest the taste hereof or of the seed, should be too offensive, the best way is to take the water distilled both from the herb and root.'

Look who's been eating the roses.

This pretty lady was busy munching the roses when I looked out of the window this week, by the time I had got my camera she was heading down the bottom garden.