Harvest

The weather over the last few weeks has been hot and sticky and some areas have had real deluges causing flooding and trees have been brought down with the stormy weather. Whilst in other places trees have turned brown or even dropped their leaves because of the lack of water. The farmers have been flat out bringing in their crops of wheat, oat and vegetables like potatoes. Already there are fields that have been ploughed and harrowed or disked. It is good for conservation when the farmer cuts their crop and leaves some of the headland edges so as to give the insects nectar from some of the arable flowers to feed on. Headlands also act as cover for small rodents and small birds from predators like foxes and hawks. Also the longer the farmer can leave stubble in the fields the better it is for smaller creatures to find a food source in the form of cereal seeds. In the wetter areas, that have herb-rich grassland, it is good to graze at this time of year to help remove the coarse growth and give the finer-leaved plant species a better case to grow next spring.

Weld (Reseda luteola)

The downland in August has an abundance of different plant species giving the landscape a variety of colour and a good source of nectar for numerous species of insect found there. The heaths are also looking spectacular at the moment with the purple haze of Ling heather fully out replacing the browning off Bell and Cross-leaved Heaths.
A plant to look out for on the Downs with pale yellow flowers is Weld (Reseda luteola). This tall plant can grow over a metre in length. It is a plant that has a long history and its seeds have been found across Europe in a number of Neolithic sites. It was discovered that this plant makes the most remarkable yellow dye when mixed with tin. There are many other plants that make a yellow dye such as Dyer's Greenweed, but nothing compared to deep yellow provided by Weld - only modern artificial dyes compare. During the Roman era Weld was used for dyeing wedding garments and the robes of vestal virgins. During the Middle Ages Weld was used to colour the yellow caps of the Jews in Europe who were compelled to wear them. An interesting observation that has been realised about this plant is that the flowers always face the sun throughout the day. So they point towards the sun in the east in the morning and to the west in the evening.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

A much-overlooked plant that is out at the moment is Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). This grey-green plant has had many uses over the years. The leaves used to be burned to fumigate hospital sick rooms. In hard times the leaves were collected and infused to make a tea. The leaves and flowers have been mixed with hops to give beer a bitter taste. In folklore on "Midsummer's Eve" the plant was said to secrete "a coal" beneath its roots, which would be kept as a "Talisman" against being struck by lightning. It was also burnt as incense by Druids to help them see into the future.

Blue-sow-thistle (Cicerbita macrophylla subspecies uralensis)

You may be lucky to see a blue-mauve flowered plant called Blue-sow-thistle (Cicerbita macrophylla subspecies uralensis). These are usually seen along our road verges and are a garden escape. These tall plants can grow to a metre in height and produce a number of flower heads. As part of the Latin name suggests it is a plant that originated from the Ural Mountains in the east. It was first introduced to this country in 1823. Within a hundred years of it being here it had soon been found spreading along a number of road verges.

Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)

A pink flowered plant to look out for as well is Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis). The leaves of this plant have been gathered and used for centuries across Europe and used for washing wool and woollen clothing when once the plant has been bruised and boiled in water. It really does make lather like soap and is good for cleaning materials. It was frequently used with added fragrant herbs in the past to make soap and shampoo. It has been used as an antiseptic in the past but has gone out of favour when it was discovered the plant has a poisonous substance known as "Saponin" in it. However, many gardeners grow it for its pretty flowers not just for their colour but their fragrance. This fragrance attracts numerous insects to them including many species of moth and butterfly.

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

One of the commonest butterflies around at the moment is the Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus). It is the commonest of all the British blue butterflies and is widespread in a variety of habitats. Although it is successfully wide spread it does not travel far from where it hatches as an egg. Luckily as a caterpillar it feeds on vetches and trefoils which there are plenty of in most places. They frequent sunny grassy places.

Wood White (lepidea sinapis)

A much less common species of butterfly that is found in some of the woods around the Surrey border is the Wood White (lepidea sinapis). It is the second brood out at the moment with the first being out in May. The Wood White caterpillar feeds on vetch and other species from the Pea family. This butterfly has a very delicate looking flight like no other native butterfly in this country. It prefers sunny areas of woodland and does not fly much on dull days.