Amaranthus retroflexus

This prolific ‘weed’ comes into its own at this time of year. ‘Amaranto’ in Italian and Pink rooted pigweed in North America, it was a major food source, all parts being edible and seeds containing protein of exceptional richness and digestability. Needs little water and touted as a food of the future. Apparently one plant can produce a million seeds that last 20 years. No wonder it keeps coming up.

It’s good to still be learning. In the meadow there were meadow browns, knapweed fritillaries and the Provençal short- tailed blue.

I’ve started pumping water from the dribbly spring in the hope of upping the drip irrigation as temps build to 37C this weekend. There is a layer of impermeable clay at the spring line that I suspect is decomposed mudstone. I’m hoping there will be 500l a day but that may be optimistic with so much water being siphoned off by the towering alders and willows.