When is a weed…

…Not a weed?

Fumitory061013DM8322

First you have to define what a weed is – my mother always told me a weed was just a plant in the wrong place. So here’s a pretty little plant, with interesting pink flowers and delicate grey green foliage, considered by many a weed, but well worth a place in my herbaceous border. This is Common Fumitory, an arable weed that produces seeds enjoyed by Turtle doves. It thrives in the light soil in my new garden so I’ve let it stay, and it’s proved itself to be an attractive garden plant. It scrambles happily through the thick fleshy leaves of the Iceplant (Sedum), contrasting form and texture. It’s unusual dip dyed flowers look like sugar sprinkles in the early morning dew, so this little weed is welcome in my garden, and has me hoping that it might attract my favourite bird next spring.

Fumitory061013DM8396

Fumitory061013DM8332

(Click images to view larger…)

If you like what you see, please consider sharing![social_share/]
UK & Eire Natural History Bloggers

 

Current favourite books, click for more info:




Similar Posts

  • Bountiful berries

    This year the local hedgerows are laden with berries, and we’ve had a sudden influx of Redwing. These pretty little birds, slightly smaller than a Song Thrush, with a handsome russet red flash under their wings migrate in from Scandinavia and Russia to spend the winter here. Last weekend they were busy feeding in the…

  • Here and there

    Over on the Fen first thing this morning, the Sedge Warblers were quiet again, but the Reed Warblers were singing away. Their song is softer than the harsh, scratchy tune of the Sedge Warblers, more bouncing, more musical. They were busy collecting nesting material, hopping up the reeds to choose a few strands of fluffy…

  • Turtle Dove

    What an absolute privilege to have these birds visiting the garden. I can’t believe after all these years I’ve finally managed to get some photos of one! I decided this afternoon to try photographing them, but I didn’t hold out much hope as they are nervous birds. I settled down, lying on the lawn covered…

  • Shieldbug

    Not had much time for photography of late, which is a shame as there is so much to photograph! This interesting creature is a Forest Shieldbug, which hitched a ride on the outside of my car. When we arrived home he flew off onto the wooden fence, against which he was quite well camouflaged. I…

  • Garden Birds

    Encouraged by my ‘Big Garden Birdwatch’ results, I decided to have a go at photographing the garden birds today. I wasn’t sure how they’d react, as I haven’t worked with them since last Summer. However, within minutes of setting up, the Blue and Great tits came down and happily used the perch straight away. The…

  • Small Coppers

    Had another go with these teeny butterflies on my afternoon off last week. The light was much better, if a little harsh, and the butterflies were loving the warm sunshine.   I really wanted some side on views with their wings closed, but in the sun they normally rested with wings open, only flicking them…

2 Comments

  1. I don’t think there is such a thing as a weed. Nature creates each thing for a purpose, it’s just us that doesn’t always understand what the purpose is. Who’s to say that in future years that people may say roses are weeds just because they’ve gone out of fashion.
    Anyway back to the main point. Pictures are great.

  2. Yes, a pretty little plant, I hope it self seeds in our turtle dove border and attracts the elusive birdie next year. I’m going to sow some common toad flax next spring – also ‘a weed’ but I like it, another pretty plant. Great pictures.

Leave a Reply