JanetMayes

By JanetMayes

Salsify seedhead

We expected a rainy day and I planned to spend time sewing. I completed some mending on the machine, then started on the top I cut out a couple of weeks ago, though I didn't get far. By lunchtime the rain had stopped, and after a few more little jobs I decided I should try to do a slightly longer walk. My June sciatica has receded now, but I'm still not feeling very comfortable walking and quickly start to ache, perhaps because I've not been doing enough of it; so the remedy is probably to do more. I just took my phone, planning to walk briskly round the village and look out for a few quick street photos, but the sun came out and I discovered lots of wonderful flowers. First, I turned off Vicarage Lane into the playing fields, attracted by the wildflower area; I don't often go here, as it's mainly a children's playground and open space for ball games, but in recent years the far end has been seeded with wildflowers and a series of herb beds have been created. I'd never looked at them before, and they were in full bloom and rich with colour. I took lots of quick photos, which I'll need time to sort out and collage. I left by a different gate which took my down to the Nailbourne, where I was delighted to find yellow flag irises, and followed the stream to the bottom of Duck Street, where a corner house has a long side border outside its fence which is full of beautifully coloured and textured summer flowering perennials. They were a joy; I took a few pretty photos with the phone, including my hollyhock extra, and must go back with the camera when there's good light and I have more time to play. My main photo is the last from the walk, just outside our gateway: I passed the seedhead, then stepped back, realising that it was not the dandelion clock I first assumed. It's larger and creamier, with fewer and more distinct seeds and a more brown centre; an online search tells me it's Meadow or Yellow Salsify, also knows as Goat's Beard. This makes sense: I'd been meaning to look up the yellow flowers, like dandelions but with fewer petals and on tall, multi-headed stems. Salsify is common on unmown roadsides and in meadows, and is edible, particularly the roots. https://www.wildfooduk.com/wild-plants/salsify/

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