Herefordshire Trip

 

Even though my foot and leg were still a bit swollen we managed to get to the caravan for 4 nights last week. I just had to get away.  I was trying to rest the foot as much as possible so, apart from the usual click and collect at Morrisons, Leominster, we didn't go anywhere.  I spent most of my time reading and B managed to do some gardening.  D didn't come as he is writing a dissertation for one of his Level 3 courses on Wales and has an end of course assessment due on the other course the week after.

I did take a few photos of the garden, pots and the Herefordshire trees. Here is Timothy back on his shelf!

The Herefordshire Oak is now in full leaf and looking rather wonderful.

The Octopus Tree, an ash, is now in full leaf too and leaves are starting to appear on the Constable Tree.

The pot of mini alliums has buds.

The small garden at the rear of the caravan.

B noticed that the paired leaves on the teasel formed a cup around the stem which had collected rainwater and insects had fallen in and drowned.

I've done a little bit of research to see if the plant could be insectivorous.  Francis Darwin, son of Charles Darwin, noted the insects if they fall in find it hard to climb out and wondered if the plant was carvnivorous.  However, teasels do not appear to secrete the enzymes necessary to extract nutrients from the insects and so perhaps could be regarded as more of a proto carnivorous plant.

Having said that a paper published in PLOS in 2011 where researchers had "fed" some plants with insects discovered that these plants produced 30 per cent more seeds compared to teasels that only photosynthesised.  The scientists who wrote the paper did point out the results would need to be replicated in order to be sure the increased seed production was due to insect prey. Also no chemical analysis was carried out to see if the plants were digesting the insects or even how they absorbed the nutrients.

As far as I can see no more research has been carried out which is a shame as it is quite an interesting theory.  

I found a "Green Man" (or a foliated head man as I think they are called these days) garden ornament in the garage at home.  So we decided to take it to the caravan and B was able to fix it by the door.

It looks as though a species of mason bee has discovered one of the bee "hotels".  Sadly, there were no signs of the bees when we were there.  We also get leaf cutter bees using the bee "hotels" at home so I will be looking out for those on future visits.

Record shots of a Pied Wagtail I watched one day - it is fascinating to see them catch insects.

I hope when we next return my cellulitis will have cleared up and we can go out more.  I am so annoyed to have not been able to visit more in May as it is my favourite month.

In other news somehow a mouse has recently taken up residence in the back living room.  B has always sealed gaps and made sure the house is "mouse proof".  I can only think it came in from the garage or garden as, despite me telling everyone to shut doors when they go outside, they don't.At the moment until the problem is resolved the room is out of bounds which is making life difficult as the tv is in there.  I don't like killing things tbh so B has been in control of the various types of traps/poison and D has set up a few live traps.  Sadly, nothing seem to be working. If I felt a bit better I would suggest we clear the room as much as possible and empty and move the pine unit which it seems to be living behind and try and catch it somehow although I know they move like grease lightning. We could of course open the french doors and try and shoo it out with a broom! I just hope it is only one! At least now it can't get out of the room and roam the house!!

Although the swelling on my leg and foot go down over night the leg still swells up again in the day.  So I have requested a phone appointment with the GP as I couldn't get through on the landline (Tuesday after bank holiday!!!) and could only book a phone appt on line.  I just hope we don't have the rigmarole of trips to medical assessment units and emergency day care centres with all the waiting around that involves.  I don't feel well but to be honest I am only getting a few hours sleep a night so it perhaps isn't surprising.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first, thanks).