There may be trouble ahead

Mono Monday on the theme 'go' with thanks to random_angel.

I allow myself one rant a year (on blip) on the topic of giant hogweed. Today's the day for 2021. This enormous specimen is growing by the river and the white patch in the centre is the flower all ready to go, grow and disperse its thousands of seeds for 2022's crop.

Giant hogweed is a horrible plant the sap of which can inflict awful burns to the skin of anyone unlucky enough to touch it. It is a specialist job to get rid of it and unfortunately only toxic chemicals work. This one won't be poisoned as it is too close to the river. Last year there was next to no control of hogweed and the result is that this year it's worse than ever. To be fair to the local authority if hogweed is reported it'll be dealt with but it's far quicker at sprouting than people are at noticing it. And there are parts of Stirling, especially along the river, that are overgrown with hogweed now so I think it's next to impossible to eradicate.

Rant over.

Such a lovely visit to Glasgow yesterday. Our elder son is celebrating his mid summer birthday today but is working. That means we'll be looking after his son, our little grandson, today. I'm just waiting for him to arrive then it'll be all systems go.

A very happy summer solstice, if it is something you celebrate. I don't particularly, though it has seen many birthday parties in the past. In the northern hemisphere we've tilted as much as we can towards the sun. From now we will gradually see the shorter daylight hours returning. Not that we'll notice for a few weeks but it is a bit of a thought.