tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post4153154590747942920..comments2024-01-03T12:14:52.906+00:00Comments on Kingsdowner: High on poppiesKingsdownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-48178739276990294892009-07-01T10:11:09.481+01:002009-07-01T10:11:09.481+01:00Hi Steve
I will go do that before lunch today. I o...Hi Steve<br />I will go do that before lunch today. I only checked it 'cos it looked just like the 'stingless' nettles at Wicken. It caught my eye. Yes - Kingsdown Road - I park St Marg end at NatCycleRoute sign - and walk down lane from there. If you have email link on blog I'll send you a photo. Found fab big green beasty of a bushcricket up by monument yest too. <br />MelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-23329470064277483562009-06-30T22:07:23.350+01:002009-06-30T22:07:23.350+01:00Mel,
Perhaps you could tell me which road you mean...Mel,<br />Perhaps you could tell me which road you mean - Kingsdown Road from St Margarets? Perhaps you could chalk an arrow to show where it is?<br />And how do you know it's stingless - do you go around trying each nettle plant, just in case?<br />You sound pretty expert to me!Kingsdownerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-7835186623206049062009-06-30T20:43:24.128+01:002009-06-30T20:43:24.128+01:00Hi Steve
The nettle is a puzzle. I know the stingl...Hi Steve<br />The nettle is a puzzle. I know the stingless or fen nettle from Wicken (which is not quite stingless in my experience) viz. Urtica galeopsifolia. The nettle down the lane from St Margarets to Kingsdown looks like a fen nettle and is virtually stingless but I am not an expert botanist - it may be Urtica dioica ssp galeopsifolia - I know not - perhaps it is a variant (see BSBI Plant Crib http://www.bsbi.org.uk/Urtica.pdf). I will take photos and tell biological records centre/recorder - just incase. As a herbalist it would be jolly nice to grown stingless nettles! <br />I also found a broomrape on the cliffs down from the monument - not id it yet. Am really enjoying your chalkland flowers!<br />MelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-6151106100643291962009-06-30T12:46:28.305+01:002009-06-30T12:46:28.305+01:00Mel,
I'm pleased that you're finding the b...Mel,<br />I'm pleased that you're finding the blog of interest, and that it's useful for your stay here.<br />You can't beat Lydden for chalk downland flowers, although the butterflies aren't at their best at the moment.<br />Thanks for the comment on the gromwell-like plant...it seems to share the characteristics of both common and field gromwell!<br />I look forward to hearing about the stingless nettle :-)Kingsdownerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-41207696940121985812009-06-30T11:10:49.568+01:002009-06-30T11:10:49.568+01:00Steve
Looking at your 'unidentified shrub'...Steve<br />Looking at your 'unidentified shrub' - it certainly looks gromwellish - I wonder if it could be field gromwell (Lithospermum arvense). Arable plant book (online here - hope link works - http://www.arableplants.fieldguide.co.uk/?PP=species_account&SPID=42&SHC=4&PSD=1&PHPSESSID=5762ab659082dbeb4ac3ab10e7c8d2e6) says it can 'sometimes be branched and scarmbling, growing up to 1.5m in length. The whole plant is bristly'<br />Mel the herbalistAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-68920183281905430492009-06-30T10:42:26.344+01:002009-06-30T10:42:26.344+01:00Hi Steve
I am staying near Swingate for a week hou...Hi Steve<br />I am staying near Swingate for a week house/cat sitting for my sister. Your blog is a mine of info! Thanks so much. I am wanting to see chalk flowers while I am here. Frustrating when one doesn't know anyone in the area to find best places to go. Blogs are a kind of replacement for that. Am just off to Lydden Down for a stroll and back to St Margarets later to look at some apparently stingless nettle I found Sunday.....ummmm<br />Mel the herbalistAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-6290483997817600412009-06-29T16:16:58.347+01:002009-06-29T16:16:58.347+01:00Steve ,
I'm afraid the answer to your last que...Steve ,<br />I'm afraid the answer to your last question is yes .<br />Like the 'Sainfoin' incident at Fackenden , I have now gone off Corn Gromwell as my old book says it only grows to one foot high , it was printed in old money .<br />IF we can believe your description of a 'shrub' , and it does look 'woody' , I'm afraid another climb is necessary . BUT , not in this weather , I'm skint at the moment , and couldn't afford the whip round for the flowers .Greeniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18036202102998375825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-22694001534719680052009-06-29T08:54:16.149+01:002009-06-29T08:54:16.149+01:00Michele, that's a poetic description of the ma...Michele, that's a poetic description of the marbled whites....I'll try to remember it.<br /><br />Ann, this is probably a good opportunity to thank you for your encouragement and kind words over the past year or so - you spread a huge amount of goodwill through the world.<br /><br />On the other other hand, there's Greenie......<br />no but seriously, I also was surprised by the closeness of the mystery plant to the houndstongue, and also wondered about the field/corn gromwell. I need to climb the mountain again, don't I?Kingsdownerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-72293077879488059812009-06-28T21:46:42.731+01:002009-06-28T21:46:42.731+01:00Congrats on 3 years of those great little owls! Yo...Congrats on 3 years of those great little owls! Your butterflies are beautiful...never seen any like that. I like the light colored rabbits and your orchids are always beautiful. I can't imagine a whole field of poppies. Wonderful post....climbing hills with you as guide is always worthwhile.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02890796903959709429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-80384881669402154652009-06-28T18:16:27.409+01:002009-06-28T18:16:27.409+01:00I am happy to see you still have the Little Owl. T...I am happy to see you still have the Little Owl. Those marbled whites are really pretty, like a beveled glass piece.NW Nature Nuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14274110274292106230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-50753043156910317402009-06-28T15:17:11.712+01:002009-06-28T15:17:11.712+01:00Steve ,
Having read your reply , I went back to th...Steve ,<br />Having read your reply , I went back to the books again .<br />As you say , I think Julian could be very close .<br />Lanceolate leaves , grey/brown warty fruits , how does Corn Gromwell-Lithospermum arvense fit the bill ?<br />Interestingly it is in the Borage family , same as the Houndstongue you mentioned on the other hill .Greeniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18036202102998375825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-37219906413363038432009-06-28T09:08:34.926+01:002009-06-28T09:08:34.926+01:00Nicola,
This nestsite has produced young little ow...Nicola,<br />This nestsite has produced young little owls for at least the last three years, and it's great to see the new ones emerge blinking into the light!<br /><br />Warren - sugar-loaves are those strange dumpy round ones I think?<br /><br />Julian (hi!) and Fred - thanks for your views. I think we're close here, but if I'm passing (it's at the top of a hill, for God's sake :-) I'll try to do better.Kingsdownerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12127225013640474483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-16900859999013095862009-06-28T07:33:39.851+01:002009-06-28T07:33:39.851+01:00Steve ,
I see the 60's theme is on going .
I&#...Steve ,<br />I see the 60's theme is on going .<br />I've been digging to ID the strange shrub , without success , but can definitely rull out Common Gromwell - sorry Julian .<br />If you're passing , a couple of better shots might help ie. leaf & flower close ups .<br />With your new book , I thought you would be on top of these now !Greeniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18036202102998375825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-31820673365695761792009-06-27T22:28:16.000+01:002009-06-27T22:28:16.000+01:00Small white flowered plant looks like Common Gromw...Small white flowered plant looks like Common Gromwell Lithospermum officinale<br /><br />Julian RussellAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-11864497216112088332009-06-27T19:42:35.779+01:002009-06-27T19:42:35.779+01:00I have heard of lots of hills called ''sug...I have heard of lots of hills called ''sugar loaf'' do you know why they get the name steve ?Warren Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16042798315431561018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7749076668428822511.post-29053116207260454002009-06-26T23:29:52.830+01:002009-06-26T23:29:52.830+01:00Steve, just HOW do you come across a little owl in...Steve, just HOW do you come across a little owl in the foliage, let alone one which poses obligingly for the camera. Is this a regular roosting place that you know of? Still struggling to spot living things amongs the foliage myself!!<br />Lovely pics on every blog as always.<br />NicolaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com