The Ornamental Garden Plant That Eases Insect Stings on Contact – And Nobody’s Talking About It
I remember the first time I met Cotton Lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus). I had moved to Exeter in Devon. As I walked past the hospital, … Continue
I remember the first time I met Cotton Lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus). I had moved to Exeter in Devon. As I walked past the hospital, … Continue
Down here in Devon, dog rose – Rosa canina – is coming into full bloom, and I adore the pink and white blush of … Continue
Lesser Celandine belongs to the buttercup family. The bright yellow flowers appear briefly in early spring. The plant has a long history as a … Continue
I’ve walked past spear thistles (Cirsium vulgare) for decades. I cursed them when they put a spine through my trousers. Most farmers and gardeners … Continue
Eight thousand years ago, someone was seasoning their stew with a weed you walk past every day. In 2013, researchers discovered phytoliths — tiny … Continue
Let’s talk about arrowhead, Sagittaria sagittifolia (pics). Native to these Isles. Member of the Alismataceae family. You’ve probably never heard of it. Most of … Continue
The Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum) is a member of the Fabaceae family. Naturalised in Britain since at least the sixteenth century, carries with it … Continue
In the 9th century, Emperor Charlemagne ordered marshmallow cultivated in his monastery gardens. The confection we know today, made from starch, sugar, and gelatin, … Continue
I walk through dense oak woods, prolific with acorns. The sound of them tumbling through trees is rhythmic as rain, echoing the season’s bounty. … Continue
Common name Peach-leaved Bellflower Scientific name Campanula persicifolia Family Campanulaceae (Bellflower family) Botanical description A perennial that grows up to 90 cm, spreading slowly … Continue
Contents — Introduction— Description— Habitat and distribution— Introduction Alexanders has a fascinating past, used as food and medicine since Roman times. Once called “parsley … Continue
Traveller’s-joy, Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba) is a climbing plant. It adorns hedgerows and shrubs across Europe. Many admire its white flowers and feathery … Continue
Common name Sakura cherry, Japanese cherry, Ornamental cherry Scientific name Prunus serrulata Lindl. Family Rosaceae Botanical description Sakura cherry is a deciduous tree that … Continue