Seed heads

The fennel is about 3 metres tall, the seedheads still attracting bees and wasps and hoverflies. Culpeper has this to say about the seeds:
 ... the seeds, boiled in water, stays the hiccough, and takes away the loathings which oftentimes happen to the stomachs of sick and feverish persons, and allays the heat thereof. The seed boiled in wine and drank, is good for those that are bit with serpents, or have eat poisonous herbs, or mushrooms.
A useful thing to have in the garden.


A bracing swim en route to getting the Sunday papers - a wild wind but once  in the water I was more sheltered and it was lovely. Are you really going in, asked a woman walking her dog, attired in large puffa jacket and beanie. 
Back home, leisurely read, (gasps from both sides of the table at the folly of you know what), then gardening, followed by work on the next blog - not quite finished.