Thursday 22 July 2010

Dread trade

Yes, it's Shakespeare Cliff time again...Samphire collectors should be scaling the treacherous cliffs to reap the bounty that nature provides for free. But no, it's a dead trade and only strange people like me take the trouble to pick some to enjoy at home.

After a scramble over the crumbling sea wall I found what I was searching for.... the pretty and rare Sea Heath. It's not a heath, in fact, but there's no reason to change the traditional name just because it is inconveniently etymologically incorrect.
There were five clumps (mats really) in a small area - there may be more further along the cliff face but as the tide was in, this couldn't be checked (wimp...that wouldn't have stopped Joseph Banks).
Sea Lavender is coming nicely into flower now, both on the cliffs and along the central reservation of the nearby A20.

Nearby, tree mallow

And this one seems familiar by the side of a path ...... can't think what it is, though.

While writing about sea plants, Sea Pea is flowering and setting seed on Walmer beach, while Sea Holly is at its best along the Sandwich Bay strand. Photos for Ann and our friends across the sea.

1 comment:

Greenie said...

Steve ,
Nice set of maritime plants .
Have never seen Sea-Heath before , can't say the same
regarding the 'whackey' one .
Hope you enjoyed your Samphire .