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

  • Fen

    Went to visit the ponies at Redgrave and Lopham Fen again yesterday, although they were so intent on grazing that they didn’t lift their heads to be photographed unfortunately.  I managed a couple of shots of them though. Both of the following shots are slightly cropped from the top, as at the time I included…

  • Otters

    Had a brilliant morning with the Otters, but first, a word to photographers planning to visit this location. If you are not aware of the Nature Photographers Code of Conduct, then please read it thoroughly HERE. This is the code of practice by which all nature photographers must abide, to protect the wildlife we love…

  • A few from the Fen

    I’ve been visiting the Fen regularly and really getting to know the place and it’s wildlife. I was chuffed to photograph this Reed Bunting, who sat patiently in the reeds nearby as I set my camera up.   (Click images to view larger)

  • Happy New Year!

    Happy New Year to you all! Despite the grey weather today, I just had to get out with the camera – the reason? Well a lovely shiny new lens! Now the folks who know me will know I’m not that much of a ‘gear-head’ and I’m a firm believer in that it’s not what you’ve…

  • Where are they?

    I was hoping for a Summer full of Turtle doves, but sightings have been few and far between. They are in real trouble, last years wet Summer meant a disastrous breeding season for them, and numbers are very low this year. Conservationists are concerned that this year could see the lowest numbers of Turtle doves…

  • Hush Wing

    It’s 7.30AM and it’s snowing heavily. I’m questioning my reasoning behind stepping outside with my camera this morning, but with my new found determination to do more photography this year, I know I have to. I’ve been watching the Barn Owl’s on the fen and I know they’ll be out hunting at this time of…

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