After my exhibition in the early Autumn, I didn't get around to posting all the pictures I exhibited, due to personal circumstances. So I will start now. A little summer brightness, now that the weather has turned decidedly grey. If you have been reading my blog or you came to the exhibition then you will know that the exhibition took the form of a herbarium. I showed the works on a table and wrote a little about each 'specimen' underneath. I start this posting with Rosebay willowherb. In the wild it is very pink indeed and often grows in huge swathes. I have a white version in my garden, which is very tasteful, but secretly I prefer the blousy pink version.
Rosebay
willowherb
Chamerion
angustifolium
Here’s
one you can eat. Apparently the stalks
(whilst a little bitter) are a good source of vitamins A, C and some B. The roots can be eaten if boiled. I love this plant. The colour is an amazing addition to
summer. Famously this was the plant that
grew on the bombed out areas of London and was seen as a sign of hope and
regrowth. There is some discussion about
this Willowherb. Is it native or
non-native? Does it matter? It has
settled here well if it is an invader and again is a food source for many insects. Including the Elephant Hawkmoth, which is
almost as pink as the flowers.
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