Lords-and-Ladies

or Arum maculatum.  At this time of year the bright red beacons of this poisonous plant shine out from the hedgerows and wooded areas.  The berries are poisonous but a type of arrowroot was made on the Isle of Portland in Dorset called Portland Arrowroot or Portland Sago.  In the Elizabethan time starch was made out of the root to stiffen the ruff collars.

Really annoyed to find the deer had been eating chunks out of the runner bean wigwam again, fortunately the stems are still in one piece and there are loads of flowers growing off the top. Next door they have been eating the roses but here the bean leaves and flowers tempt them.