The June countryside

Throughout the long June days and the short June nights the temperature steadily rises. The freshness of spring fades and the torrid sunshine and dry air take its place. June the 21st is the longest day but Mid-Summer's Day falls on the 24th of June. On this date elves and goblins supposedly held their dance and revel. These tales probably arose from memories of pagan customs in Celtic times where great bonfires were lit to honour the Sun God. There was a custom of walking the embers the day after the 24th so that diseases and ill luck would be warded off for another year.
Up until now the weather has been a mixture of sunshine with some rain. Many first cuts of silage have been harvested and the crops are growing well in the fields. Some of the ground nesting birds have suffered where the silage has been cut but hopefully they will have a chance to have another brood. Field margins that have been left uncut will benefit the birds, small mammals, insects and the flowers. One good reason to leave uncut margins or strips is that it attracts hover-flies and ladybirds.

Seven-spotted Ladybird (Subcoccinella 7-punctata)

Some gardeners introduce ladybirds like the Seven-spotted Ladybird (Subcoccinella 7-punctata) to their green houses and gardens to control the numbers of aphids that can be found on their plants.
Aphids (Aphididae Family and others) have been given a wide range of names like Plant Lice, Greenfly and Blackfly. They are probably the most destructive insect group to affect farmers.

Aphids (Aphididae Family)

Many aphids have complex life cycles and require different host plants at different times of the year. They can sap all the juices and goodness out of a plant and leave it to wither and die. A single aphid can produce hundreds of progeny during the summer without having to go through the process of mating. Luckily there are many predators like birds and ladybirds that help keep their numbers down.
Other insects to look out for are the Frog Hoppers (Aphrophororide Family), these are small and difficult to see in their adult stage but there is plenty of evidence of them in their larval stage. Whilst they are in their larvae stage they are surrounded in a white spittle like secretion.

Frog Hopper (Aphrophororide Family) larvae or 'Cuckoo spit'

They are more commonly known as "Cuckoo's spit". The name derives from the coincidence of the spittle like secretion appearing everywhere and the cuckoo calling at this time of year. The white froth helps allow the larvae to grow and hide from predators at the same time. When the Frog Hopper reaches adulthood it has large protruding eyes like a frog and it hops like one too.

Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)

June is a good time to look at the wide variety of flowers on show and there are many in the orchid family to see. One orchid that is looking especially good and is to be found on heaths or wet areas on sandy soils is the Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata). The flowers colour varies from white to pink and the leaves have small dot like purple spots to them. They can initially look similar to the Common Spotted Orchid, which have larger, blotchier spots and tend not to grow commonly on heat

White Bryony (Bryonia dioica)

A plant that can be found growing commonly in our hedgerows and in chalk downland scrub is the White Bryony (Bryonia dioica). The flowers are white to green and the leaves are generally maple-leaf shaped. The Latin "dioica" means "two houses" which refers to the fact that you can find both male and female plants in this species that have slightly different flowers. In the past it has been used as a strong purgative.This is not advisable. It has been known to kill children and the elderly when the berries have been eaten accidentally. Its roots are swollen and twisted and sometimes resembles the shape of a human doll. Because of its resemblance to Mandrake root it was sold by travelling fair charlatans to the gullible as Mandrake as it is reputed to be an aphrodisiac from Biblical times. The gullible, who thought they had bought Mandrake root and tried it, did not find luck in love but instead ended up writhing in agony after the charlatan had long gone.

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Another sometimes painful plant but a well known one from an early age is in flower now as well, the Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica). Again this plant has the Latin name dioica meaning there are male and female plants to be found as the majority of other plants have both male and female flowers on the same plant. We all know the Stinging Nettle because it stings and causes a rash if we brush up against it. Stinging Nettles love disturbed ground and can soon take over large areas and so it is a menace to the farmer and gardener alike. In the past it was used by monks as a form of self-punishment. The nettle has had many good uses over the years, for instance the stem fibres have been woven into cloth and made into clothes and until recently in Scotland table clothes. The leaves, when young, have been harvested and made into nettle soup and the leaves have also been dried and made into tea. The nettle is said to be a good source of iron and good for rheumatism. The hair tips, found mainly on the topside of the leaves, cause the unpleasant sting, when they break off when touched and release an acid that causes a painful rash. The sting is a defence mechanism to keep animals from grazing it. However, if it is cut down and left a few hours, the sting is rendered harmless and then animals love it as if knowing it is good for them. The nettle is also the food plant source for the caterpillars of some of our most colourful species of butterfly like the Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral and the Small Tortoiseshell.

I'll talk again next month.