Some of my winter-themed screen prints are shown during the exhibition period. They will have also winter fayre with handmade craft by local artisans. If you are around there, please pop in to see!
Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Winter Affordable Art Show at Cardiff M.A.D.E from Thursday 1st December 2016 - 12th February 2017
Cardiff M.A.D.E will hold their seasonal 'Winter Affordable Art Show' from Thursday 1st December 2016 to 31st January 2017. (Extended to 12th February 2017)
Some of my winter-themed screen prints are shown during the exhibition period. They will have also winter fayre with handmade craft by local artisans. If you are around there, please pop in to see!
Some of my winter-themed screen prints are shown during the exhibition period. They will have also winter fayre with handmade craft by local artisans. If you are around there, please pop in to see!
Monday, 28 November 2016
Sessile Oak and English Oak: British Native Plants
There are so many wild plants around us. But there are native ones and non-native ones. Non-native plants are also wonderful; they were brought in the UK some time ago (some species were hundreds years ago!), and simply naturalised in the wildness.
The native plants are thought to have grown naturally in the UK ever since after the ice age. Britain has a variety of (from Woodland Trust website)
Sunday, 6 November 2016
November Calendar 2016: Dogwood
November: Dogwood
Meadow
Cornus sanguinea
Order: Cornales
Family: Cornaceae
Genus: Cornus
habitat: sunny hedgerows, scrubs
distribution: common in Wales and England
In November, leaves of most of deciduous trees turns yellow and red, and are falling on the ground. We see red patches in hedgerows. This is dogwood, native to the UK, of which leaves are still on the stems and small navy blue (almost black) berries still not pecked by birds.
It blooms in early summer, and its white flowers are tiny and make a lot of clusters on the bush, a little bit similar to elder flower.
After all the leaves and berries are gone, the crimson red new twigs comes out. The striking colour brightens up the bare grey winter field.
There was frost this morning after the Guy Fawkes Night; the temperature dropped almost 0 Celsius. All of sudden, the winter came very close.
Cornus sanguinea
Order: Cornales
Family: Cornaceae
Genus: Cornus
habitat: sunny hedgerows, scrubs
distribution: common in Wales and England
Order: Cornales
Family: Cornaceae
Genus: Cornus
habitat: sunny hedgerows, scrubs
distribution: common in Wales and England
In November, leaves of most of deciduous trees turns yellow and red, and are falling on the ground. We see red patches in hedgerows. This is dogwood, native to the UK, of which leaves are still on the stems and small navy blue (almost black) berries still not pecked by birds.
It blooms in early summer, and its white flowers are tiny and make a lot of clusters on the bush, a little bit similar to elder flower.
After all the leaves and berries are gone, the crimson red new twigs comes out. The striking colour brightens up the bare grey winter field.
There was frost this morning after the Guy Fawkes Night; the temperature dropped almost 0 Celsius. All of sudden, the winter came very close.
There was frost this morning after the Guy Fawkes Night; the temperature dropped almost 0 Celsius. All of sudden, the winter came very close.
Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Forthcoming Craft Fairs/Markets in November and December 2016
The Forthcoming Craft Fairs/Markets
in November and December
The Season for the craft fairs are coming. I'm getting ready for the several fairs including new screen prints on paper and on fabric (new!), greeting cards and the regular wild plants calendar 2017.
This week: It's the last one before Christmas!
Snapped Up Christmas Market at The Printhaus
Date: Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th December 2016
Time: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Venue: The Printhaus (7A Llandaff Road, Canton, Cardiff, CF11 9NL)
*The Printhaus is behind the tunnel-like gate. Parking is recommended outside the venue on the road nearby.
Entry: Free
Date: Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th December 2016
Time: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Venue: The Printhaus (7A Llandaff Road, Canton, Cardiff, CF11 9NL)
*The Printhaus is behind the tunnel-like gate. Parking is recommended outside the venue on the road nearby.
Entry: Free
The new series is 'British Native Plants'. The first one is 'Sessile Oak and English Oak'.
I am fascinated that Britain has such wonderful native plants, and want to introduce the wild plants. On the craft fairs (as well as on Etsy) screen prints on paper and fabric such as tea towel and cushion (+ cushion cover) this time. There are also other new screen prints as well.
organic cotton tea towels
cushions
a new screen print: 'A Fox in Beechwoods: Looking Through the Window II'
PPODD Contemporary Markets
Date: Saturday 5th November 2016
Time: 11:00am - 4:00pm
Venue: The Paget Rooms (Victoria Road, Penarth CF64 3EG)
Entry: £1.00 (kids free)
Date: Saturday 26th November 2016
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Venue: Stanwell Road Baptist Church Hall
(Victoria Road CF64 3EG, next to the Paget Rooms on the left side)
Entry: Free
Date: Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December 2016
Time: 10am-6pm
Venue: Penarth Pier Pavilion (The Esplanade, Penarth, CF64 3AU)
Entry: Free
Date: Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th December 2016
PADLT Christmas Crafts and Creations
Date: Saturday 26th November 2016
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Venue: Stanwell Road Baptist Church Hall
(Victoria Road CF64 3EG, next to the Paget Rooms on the left side)
Entry: Free
GIFT Penarth Contemporary Craft Market
Date: Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December 2016
Time: 10am-6pm
Venue: Penarth Pier Pavilion (The Esplanade, Penarth, CF64 3AU)
Entry: Free
Snapped Up Christmas Market at The Printhaus
Date: Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th December 2016
Time: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Venue: The Printhaus (7A Llandaff Road, Canton, Cardiff, CF11 9NL)
*The Printhaus is behind the tunnel-like gate. Parking is recommended outside the venue on the road nearby.
Entry: Free
Monday, 3 October 2016
October Calendar 2016: Sorrel
October: Sorrel or Dock
Meadow
Rumex acetosa
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
or as dock
Rumex obtusifolius
Order: Caryphyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
habitat: open grassy space
distribution: widespread throughout the British Isles
I thought it was sorrel when I worked on this print. But it can be dock. They belong to the same family, which is why they look quite similar. But the leaves of sorrel are smaller than the ones of dock, and shaped like arrows. The leaves of this print are bigger and longer and not arrow-like. I can tell now it is dock, which can be seen everywhere on grasslands, roadside etc.
I was confused to distinguish between sorrel and dock, for it was because the flowers are resemble as they are both of the same polygonaceae family. Both are edible plants, though, only young leaves can taste. Nowadays you can even buy sorrel leaves for salad, which are usually mixed together with other salad leaves.
The seeds of both dock and sorrel turn fiery red (soon after brown as they dry) in the autumn. I found the seeds are also edible and the grounded seeds can be used as flour. No wonder, dock is a buckwheat family. But I cannot guarantee how its flour goes well as an ingredient. Besides you have to harvest a massive amount of seeds.
Dock is known for a herbal remedy, especially to ease the nettle sting. (See my blog on September 2016 'Nettle')as NHS Choice says on its website.
Dock and sorrel, both grow widely all over the Europe (even they can be seen in Japan). They grow everywhere, on grassland, roadside, footpath, between the stones of pavement, sometimes through the tarred surface. Although we see them everywhere, these wild plants are often neglected. Let us enjoy the autumnal colour, and try the young leaves next spring.
Rumex acetosa
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
or as dock
Rumex obtusifolius
Order: Caryphyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
habitat: open grassy space
distribution: widespread throughout the British Isles
I thought it was sorrel when I worked on this print. But it can be dock. They belong to the same family, which is why they look quite similar. But the leaves of sorrel are smaller than the ones of dock, and shaped like arrows. The leaves of this print are bigger and longer and not arrow-like. I can tell now it is dock, which can be seen everywhere on grasslands, roadside etc.
I was confused to distinguish between sorrel and dock, for it was because the flowers are resemble as they are both of the same polygonaceae family. Both are edible plants, though, only young leaves can taste. Nowadays you can even buy sorrel leaves for salad, which are usually mixed together with other salad leaves.
The seeds of both dock and sorrel turn fiery red (soon after brown as they dry) in the autumn. I found the seeds are also edible and the grounded seeds can be used as flour. No wonder, dock is a buckwheat family. But I cannot guarantee how its flour goes well as an ingredient. Besides you have to harvest a massive amount of seeds.
Dock is known for a herbal remedy, especially to ease the nettle sting. (See my blog on September 2016 'Nettle')as NHS Choice says on its website.
Dock and sorrel, both grow widely all over the Europe (even they can be seen in Japan). They grow everywhere, on grassland, roadside, footpath, between the stones of pavement, sometimes through the tarred surface. Although we see them everywhere, these wild plants are often neglected. Let us enjoy the autumnal colour, and try the young leaves next spring.
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
or as dock
Rumex obtusifolius
Order: Caryphyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
habitat: open grassy space
distribution: widespread throughout the British Isles
I thought it was sorrel when I worked on this print. But it can be dock. They belong to the same family, which is why they look quite similar. But the leaves of sorrel are smaller than the ones of dock, and shaped like arrows. The leaves of this print are bigger and longer and not arrow-like. I can tell now it is dock, which can be seen everywhere on grasslands, roadside etc.
I was confused to distinguish between sorrel and dock, for it was because the flowers are resemble as they are both of the same polygonaceae family. Both are edible plants, though, only young leaves can taste. Nowadays you can even buy sorrel leaves for salad, which are usually mixed together with other salad leaves.
The seeds of both dock and sorrel turn fiery red (soon after brown as they dry) in the autumn. I found the seeds are also edible and the grounded seeds can be used as flour. No wonder, dock is a buckwheat family. But I cannot guarantee how its flour goes well as an ingredient. Besides you have to harvest a massive amount of seeds.
Dock is known for a herbal remedy, especially to ease the nettle sting. (See my blog on September 2016 'Nettle')as NHS Choice says on its website.
Dock and sorrel, both grow widely all over the Europe (even they can be seen in Japan). They grow everywhere, on grassland, roadside, footpath, between the stones of pavement, sometimes through the tarred surface. Although we see them everywhere, these wild plants are often neglected. Let us enjoy the autumnal colour, and try the young leaves next spring.
Friday, 2 September 2016
My Etsy Shop is OPEN NOW!
My Etsy shop is open with recent screen prints, including the latest screen print 'Bluebells and Wood Mice' (10x10cm image on 21x21cm paper).
Now there are more seasonal autumnal prints available.
Now there are more seasonal autumnal prints available.
Please visit my Etsy Shop:
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
September Calendar 2016: Wall Barley
September: Wall Barley
On the Coastal Walk
Hordeum murinum
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Hordeum
habitat: open coastal space
distribution: widespread in the south
Wall barley is a species of grass, grows in grassland, abandoned wasteland, and wherever the seeds are scattered like roadside. It looks like barley. But it is just, so called, a weed. This is why it has an unwelcoming name, false barley. However, a weed is a wild plant. Cultivated plant were cultivated from wild plants so that human could digest them better and/or they could taste better(sweeter, milder, softer etc.) for human.
Anyway, it was a stunning view at a beach cliff when we were walking on a windy weekend, like (conventional) barley field. The spiky sun-bleached yellow ochre grass heads were bending, swinging, this way, another way, as the wind from the sea blew over them.
The blue sky looks more blue and clear; the sunlight comes from farther back. Autumn has come.
Hordeum murinum
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Hordeum
habitat: open coastal space
distribution: widespread in the south
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Hordeum
habitat: open coastal space
distribution: widespread in the south
Wall barley is a species of grass, grows in grassland, abandoned wasteland, and wherever the seeds are scattered like roadside. It looks like barley. But it is just, so called, a weed. This is why it has an unwelcoming name, false barley. However, a weed is a wild plant. Cultivated plant were cultivated from wild plants so that human could digest them better and/or they could taste better(sweeter, milder, softer etc.) for human.
Anyway, it was a stunning view at a beach cliff when we were walking on a windy weekend, like (conventional) barley field. The spiky sun-bleached yellow ochre grass heads were bending, swinging, this way, another way, as the wind from the sea blew over them.
The blue sky looks more blue and clear; the sunlight comes from farther back. Autumn has come.
Anyway, it was a stunning view at a beach cliff when we were walking on a windy weekend, like (conventional) barley field. The spiky sun-bleached yellow ochre grass heads were bending, swinging, this way, another way, as the wind from the sea blew over them.
The blue sky looks more blue and clear; the sunlight comes from farther back. Autumn has come.
Wednesday, 10 August 2016
August Calendar 2016: Nettle
August: Nettle
Stingy Herb
Urtica dioica
Order: Rosales
Family: Urticaceae
Genus: Urtica
habitat: sunny to shady spot
distribution: throughout British Isles
Mid summer, mature grasses turn yellow and ochre, which add the autumnal tone in the meadows.
Nettle, well-known as stinging nettle, are flourishing almost everywhere we walk in the meadows, along roadside. Unless you are careful, the notorious hairs allover the plants sting your bare skin, which causes very unpleasant painful stinging sensation for a while.
I read a fairy-tale about a poor princes and her 11 brother princess as a child. The brothers were changed into swans by a witch. (It was the story in an Andersen's fairy tale) When I knew this stingy plant was called nettle, I suddenly remembered this tale. The princess had to collect with her bear hands and stamp with her bare feet to make vests for her brothers in order to rescue them. At that time I read it, I couldn't imagine what nettle looked like because I was in Japan as a child, where no nettle grew. I just imagined how painful and unpleasant her task could have been.
You shouldn't scratch or rub where itches because as the toxic chemicals(histamine and acetylcholine) are injected into the skin through very tiny needle-like tubes and it worsens the symptom. The NHS Choices describes that in case of being stung by nettle rubbing dock leaves on the rash, which neutralises the chemicals of nettle sting. But better to avoid touch/brush nettle at all.
So unpopular plant has been widely used for food, medicine, textiles and so forth. I've never cooked its leaves, but have had a nettle soup as a starter in a restaurant in Swiss Alps. The creamy soup had lightly sour grassy taste. I forgot the main and the dessert but can still remember the soup as it was so impressive to me that the nettle, the wild plant, was used for dish in a restaurant.
Young leaves in the spring (to the early summer) are used for food. Now toward the end of the summer, nettle has creamy yellow (some spices have pinkish or light green ones.)flowers, which hang from its leaf axils like a small hairy balls.
Cicely Mary Barker, the illustrator well known for the flower fairies in the early 20th century, hasn't create a nettle fairy. Sorry for nettle!
Urtica dioica
Order: Rosales
Family: Urticaceae
Genus: Urtica
habitat: sunny to shady spot
distribution: throughout British Isles
Order: Rosales
Family: Urticaceae
Genus: Urtica
habitat: sunny to shady spot
distribution: throughout British Isles
Mid summer, mature grasses turn yellow and ochre, which add the autumnal tone in the meadows.
Nettle, well-known as stinging nettle, are flourishing almost everywhere we walk in the meadows, along roadside. Unless you are careful, the notorious hairs allover the plants sting your bare skin, which causes very unpleasant painful stinging sensation for a while.
I read a fairy-tale about a poor princes and her 11 brother princess as a child. The brothers were changed into swans by a witch. (It was the story in an Andersen's fairy tale) When I knew this stingy plant was called nettle, I suddenly remembered this tale. The princess had to collect with her bear hands and stamp with her bare feet to make vests for her brothers in order to rescue them. At that time I read it, I couldn't imagine what nettle looked like because I was in Japan as a child, where no nettle grew. I just imagined how painful and unpleasant her task could have been.
You shouldn't scratch or rub where itches because as the toxic chemicals(histamine and acetylcholine) are injected into the skin through very tiny needle-like tubes and it worsens the symptom. The NHS Choices describes that in case of being stung by nettle rubbing dock leaves on the rash, which neutralises the chemicals of nettle sting. But better to avoid touch/brush nettle at all.
So unpopular plant has been widely used for food, medicine, textiles and so forth. I've never cooked its leaves, but have had a nettle soup as a starter in a restaurant in Swiss Alps. The creamy soup had lightly sour grassy taste. I forgot the main and the dessert but can still remember the soup as it was so impressive to me that the nettle, the wild plant, was used for dish in a restaurant.
Young leaves in the spring (to the early summer) are used for food. Now toward the end of the summer, nettle has creamy yellow (some spices have pinkish or light green ones.)flowers, which hang from its leaf axils like a small hairy balls.
Cicely Mary Barker, the illustrator well known for the flower fairies in the early 20th century, hasn't create a nettle fairy. Sorry for nettle!
Nettle, well-known as stinging nettle, are flourishing almost everywhere we walk in the meadows, along roadside. Unless you are careful, the notorious hairs allover the plants sting your bare skin, which causes very unpleasant painful stinging sensation for a while.
I read a fairy-tale about a poor princes and her 11 brother princess as a child. The brothers were changed into swans by a witch. (It was the story in an Andersen's fairy tale) When I knew this stingy plant was called nettle, I suddenly remembered this tale. The princess had to collect with her bear hands and stamp with her bare feet to make vests for her brothers in order to rescue them. At that time I read it, I couldn't imagine what nettle looked like because I was in Japan as a child, where no nettle grew. I just imagined how painful and unpleasant her task could have been.
You shouldn't scratch or rub where itches because as the toxic chemicals(histamine and acetylcholine) are injected into the skin through very tiny needle-like tubes and it worsens the symptom. The NHS Choices describes that in case of being stung by nettle rubbing dock leaves on the rash, which neutralises the chemicals of nettle sting. But better to avoid touch/brush nettle at all.
So unpopular plant has been widely used for food, medicine, textiles and so forth. I've never cooked its leaves, but have had a nettle soup as a starter in a restaurant in Swiss Alps. The creamy soup had lightly sour grassy taste. I forgot the main and the dessert but can still remember the soup as it was so impressive to me that the nettle, the wild plant, was used for dish in a restaurant.
Young leaves in the spring (to the early summer) are used for food. Now toward the end of the summer, nettle has creamy yellow (some spices have pinkish or light green ones.)flowers, which hang from its leaf axils like a small hairy balls.
Cicely Mary Barker, the illustrator well known for the flower fairies in the early 20th century, hasn't create a nettle fairy. Sorry for nettle!
Thursday, 7 July 2016
July Calendar 2016: Common Mallow
July: Common Mallow
Under the Blue Sky
Malva stkvestrus
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Malva
habitat: sunny open space
distribution: throughout British Isles, common in the south
Its slightly purplish pink flowers are attractive in the midsummer.
Walking on cliff tops, I often find colonies of common mallow. They can get full sun but it can be quite windy at the seashores. They are quite strong against harsh environment (wind, coldness etc.). And, they are even edible!
Leaves, flowers, seeds and roots are all edible. Leaves are a bit hairy but you cook or fry them like as spinach. You can toss the young soft leaves onto salad.(You can use them between spring and early summer.) Petals can be used for garnishing salads to add nice colour, or for making tea. Another name of mallow is cheese. It came from the appearance of its fruit, which looks like a cheese wheel. (See the poem by Cicely Mary Barker below) They can be eaten when they are still green. (I never tried them. So, I'll do later in this summer.) Root can be cooked like burdock root, which are widely cultivated as a popular vegetable in Japan. I've never tried mallow root.
My husband created a small patch in our garden, and sowed wild flower seeds this spring. Now various summer flowers like poppy, borage etc. Among those some tiny mallow plants are flowering as well. So small and few that we'd rather prefer to enjoy seeing the flowers than forage.
The Song of The Mallow Fairy
I am Mallow; here sit I
Watching all the passers-by.
Though my leaves are torn and tattered,
Dust-besprinkled, mud-bespattered,
See, my seeds are fairy cheeses,
Freshest, finest, fairy cheeses!
These are what an elf will much
For his supper or his lunch.
Fairy housewives, going down
To their busy market-town,
Hear ,e wheedling: "Lady, please,
Pretty lady, buy a cheese!"
And I never find it matters
That I'm nicknamed Rags-and-Tatters,
For they buy my fairy cheeses,
Freshest, finest, fairy cheese!
Cicely Mary Barker's A Flower Fairy Alphabet(Cicely Mary Barker, The Complete Book of the Flower-Fairies, Warne, 2002)
Malva stkvestrus
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Malva
habitat: sunny open space
distribution: throughout British Isles, common in the south
Leaves, flowers, seeds and roots are all edible. Leaves are a bit hairy but you cook or fry them like as spinach. You can toss the young soft leaves onto salad.(You can use them between spring and early summer.) Petals can be used for garnishing salads to add nice colour, or for making tea. Another name of mallow is cheese. It came from the appearance of its fruit, which looks like a cheese wheel. (See the poem by Cicely Mary Barker below) They can be eaten when they are still green. (I never tried them. So, I'll do later in this summer.) Root can be cooked like burdock root, which are widely cultivated as a popular vegetable in Japan. I've never tried mallow root.
My husband created a small patch in our garden, and sowed wild flower seeds this spring. Now various summer flowers like poppy, borage etc. Among those some tiny mallow plants are flowering as well. So small and few that we'd rather prefer to enjoy seeing the flowers than forage.
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Malva
habitat: sunny open space
distribution: throughout British Isles, common in the south
Its slightly purplish pink flowers are attractive in the midsummer.
Walking on cliff tops, I often find colonies of common mallow. They can get full sun but it can be quite windy at the seashores. They are quite strong against harsh environment (wind, coldness etc.). And, they are even edible!
Walking on cliff tops, I often find colonies of common mallow. They can get full sun but it can be quite windy at the seashores. They are quite strong against harsh environment (wind, coldness etc.). And, they are even edible!
Leaves, flowers, seeds and roots are all edible. Leaves are a bit hairy but you cook or fry them like as spinach. You can toss the young soft leaves onto salad.(You can use them between spring and early summer.) Petals can be used for garnishing salads to add nice colour, or for making tea. Another name of mallow is cheese. It came from the appearance of its fruit, which looks like a cheese wheel. (See the poem by Cicely Mary Barker below) They can be eaten when they are still green. (I never tried them. So, I'll do later in this summer.) Root can be cooked like burdock root, which are widely cultivated as a popular vegetable in Japan. I've never tried mallow root.
My husband created a small patch in our garden, and sowed wild flower seeds this spring. Now various summer flowers like poppy, borage etc. Among those some tiny mallow plants are flowering as well. So small and few that we'd rather prefer to enjoy seeing the flowers than forage.
The Song of The Mallow Fairy
I am Mallow; here sit I
Watching all the passers-by.
Though my leaves are torn and tattered,
Dust-besprinkled, mud-bespattered,
See, my seeds are fairy cheeses,
Freshest, finest, fairy cheeses!
These are what an elf will much
For his supper or his lunch.
Fairy housewives, going down
To their busy market-town,
Hear ,e wheedling: "Lady, please,
Pretty lady, buy a cheese!"
And I never find it matters
That I'm nicknamed Rags-and-Tatters,
For they buy my fairy cheeses,
Freshest, finest, fairy cheese!
Watching all the passers-by.
Though my leaves are torn and tattered,
Dust-besprinkled, mud-bespattered,
See, my seeds are fairy cheeses,
Freshest, finest, fairy cheeses!
These are what an elf will much
For his supper or his lunch.
Fairy housewives, going down
To their busy market-town,
Hear ,e wheedling: "Lady, please,
Pretty lady, buy a cheese!"
And I never find it matters
That I'm nicknamed Rags-and-Tatters,
For they buy my fairy cheeses,
Freshest, finest, fairy cheese!
Cicely Mary Barker's A Flower Fairy Alphabet(Cicely Mary Barker, The Complete Book of the Flower-Fairies, Warne, 2002)
Saturday, 4 June 2016
June Calendar 2016: Elder
June: Elder
Early Summer's Delight
Sambucus
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Adoxaceae
Genus: Sambucus
habitat: sunny open space
distribution: throughout British Isles
All those chilly spring days held the plant growing, but eventually, the leaves and flowers burst with colours.
While the waterfall-like of Hawthorn's white flowers is now receding, the elder's white flowers are taking over.
Elder likes a lot of sun light, at hedgerows, around and in meadows, parks and gardens. The flower head is a cluster of tiny flowers, and has pleasantly sweet scent. The leaves of five leaflets are pinnate and toothed, similar to ash leaves.
My teenage son has been keeping an eye on the elder bushes. I've been also looking for the white flowers on the trees. Surprisingly they are seen almost everywhere, on roadsides, wastelands, in parks, someone's gardens, except for our gardens (sadly).
Anyway he's looking forward to make his own elder flower cordial this season of every year because the cordial is his favourite summer drink. (Of course, he kindly offers us to share his cordial.)
Yesterday we went for a walk in a warm breezy evening. Some clusters of white flower already started blooming in the bush. He sniffed at the flower, and said 'It smells sweet, but not fully enough. We should wait for a little while until they bloom more.' Yes, the natural perfume of the flower is the key to the cordial.
When the flower reaches full in bloom, he and I go to collect the creamy white fragrant flower heads. (You can look at the previous dairy about elder flower cordial.) In the end of foraging, we are powdered with the cream yellow pollen. But it's fine because it makes the cordial champagne gold, which is nice when we pour the sparkling water onto the syrup in a clear glass. It looks just like a glass of champagne, really a refreshing summer drink.
Today's Guardian's weekend magazine has Yotam Ottolenghi's elderflower's dessert of tempura (fritter) and ice cream. Ice cream with elderflower fragrant (sirup is used) sounds very tempting.
The Song of The Elder Fairy
When the days have grown in length,
When the sun has greater power,
Shining in his noonday strength;
When the Elder Tree's in flower,
When each shady kind of place
By the stream and up the lane,
Shows its mass of creamy lace -
Summer's really come again!
Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies of the Trees(Cicely Mary Barker, The Complete Book of the Flower-Fairies, Warne, 2002)
Sambucus
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Adoxaceae
Genus: Sambucus
habitat: sunny open space
distribution: throughout British Isles
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Adoxaceae
Genus: Sambucus
habitat: sunny open space
distribution: throughout British Isles
All those chilly spring days held the plant growing, but eventually, the leaves and flowers burst with colours.
While the waterfall-like of Hawthorn's white flowers is now receding, the elder's white flowers are taking over.
Elder likes a lot of sun light, at hedgerows, around and in meadows, parks and gardens. The flower head is a cluster of tiny flowers, and has pleasantly sweet scent. The leaves of five leaflets are pinnate and toothed, similar to ash leaves.
My teenage son has been keeping an eye on the elder bushes. I've been also looking for the white flowers on the trees. Surprisingly they are seen almost everywhere, on roadsides, wastelands, in parks, someone's gardens, except for our gardens (sadly).
Anyway he's looking forward to make his own elder flower cordial this season of every year because the cordial is his favourite summer drink. (Of course, he kindly offers us to share his cordial.)
Yesterday we went for a walk in a warm breezy evening. Some clusters of white flower already started blooming in the bush. He sniffed at the flower, and said 'It smells sweet, but not fully enough. We should wait for a little while until they bloom more.' Yes, the natural perfume of the flower is the key to the cordial.
When the flower reaches full in bloom, he and I go to collect the creamy white fragrant flower heads. (You can look at the previous dairy about elder flower cordial.) In the end of foraging, we are powdered with the cream yellow pollen. But it's fine because it makes the cordial champagne gold, which is nice when we pour the sparkling water onto the syrup in a clear glass. It looks just like a glass of champagne, really a refreshing summer drink.
Today's Guardian's weekend magazine has Yotam Ottolenghi's elderflower's dessert of tempura (fritter) and ice cream. Ice cream with elderflower fragrant (sirup is used) sounds very tempting.
Elder likes a lot of sun light, at hedgerows, around and in meadows, parks and gardens. The flower head is a cluster of tiny flowers, and has pleasantly sweet scent. The leaves of five leaflets are pinnate and toothed, similar to ash leaves.
My teenage son has been keeping an eye on the elder bushes. I've been also looking for the white flowers on the trees. Surprisingly they are seen almost everywhere, on roadsides, wastelands, in parks, someone's gardens, except for our gardens (sadly).
Anyway he's looking forward to make his own elder flower cordial this season of every year because the cordial is his favourite summer drink. (Of course, he kindly offers us to share his cordial.)
Yesterday we went for a walk in a warm breezy evening. Some clusters of white flower already started blooming in the bush. He sniffed at the flower, and said 'It smells sweet, but not fully enough. We should wait for a little while until they bloom more.' Yes, the natural perfume of the flower is the key to the cordial.
When the flower reaches full in bloom, he and I go to collect the creamy white fragrant flower heads. (You can look at the previous dairy about elder flower cordial.) In the end of foraging, we are powdered with the cream yellow pollen. But it's fine because it makes the cordial champagne gold, which is nice when we pour the sparkling water onto the syrup in a clear glass. It looks just like a glass of champagne, really a refreshing summer drink.
Today's Guardian's weekend magazine has Yotam Ottolenghi's elderflower's dessert of tempura (fritter) and ice cream. Ice cream with elderflower fragrant (sirup is used) sounds very tempting.
The Song of The Elder Fairy
When the days have grown in length,
When the sun has greater power,
Shining in his noonday strength;
When the Elder Tree's in flower,
When each shady kind of place
By the stream and up the lane,
Shows its mass of creamy lace -
Summer's really come again!
Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies of the Trees(Cicely Mary Barker, The Complete Book of the Flower-Fairies, Warne, 2002)
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