Black bryony

These very beautiful berries are black bryony and, as you might guess from the colour, more than a little poisonous. Because of this I was really happy with the light only just touching them and giving something of a dark heart to all that scarlet.

They are also, I understand from Geoffrey Grigson's 'Englishman's Flora' (title sounds just a bit sexist now, doesn't it?), good for getting rid of the marks of bruising and in France used to be known as herbe aux femme battues - 'the herb for beaten wives'. Hmm!

On which note, I'm going to have a solitary - and peaceful - lunch in the garden..

Enjoy Thursday - and all hail the upcoming weekend xx