Working outdoors has made me so much more aware of the changing of the seasons and of how varied our native (or at least naturalised) flora is! By far the best way for me to learn is through taking the time to identify flower in my wildflower book and photograph those I’ve seen!
So, I thought I’d put together a bit of a ‘photo-blog’ on some of the flowers I’ve seen, both at home in Manchester and over in Wales on the Llyn Peninsula where I went camping at the weekend!
Recently, attending a forging workshop, and reading up on the medicinal and nutritional attributes of wild plants, has also added another dimension to identification. I’ve added a few bits into photo captions but there’s so much to learn!
Red Campion Seeds were ground and used as salve for snakebites and the roots ground for soap
Wood Aven roots used to flavour beer, thought to aid in oral problems – an astringent, anti-sceptic, tonic and aromatic
Aquilegia Vulgaris or European columbine used as a condiment in small quantities by Native Americans but the plants seeds and roots are highly toxic!
Tree Mallow – Llyn Peninsula velvetty leaves steeped in water and used on sprains
Kidney Vetch – Llyn Peninsula use on wounds and thought to cure kidney problems due to kidney shaped flowers
Dove’s Foot Cranesbill traditionally used to stop internal bleeding as it contains Gallic acid, an astringent that combines with glucose to form Tannic acid and causes blood to clot!
Dame’s Violet used medicinally to encourage sweating, induce urination and loosen a cough!
Evening Primrose – Llyn Peninsula considered a cure-all, multi-purpose herb in 17th and 18th centuries not mainly use for pain relief and vegetation in salads etc.