The Long Hot Summer!

I don't know when our promised long hot summer is going to start, but this wet and cool sort of weather is exactly what the Cypripedium calceolus likes. Just as a teaser though, above is a photo I took last year.

There is only one location in the UK where a surviving, true wild Lady's Slipper exists. However,Kew Gardens have a programme to repopulate the various sites that this orchid was known to live. Once germinated, it takes up to fifteen years before flowering. These plants are extremely long-lived, over 100 years.


Pseudorchis albida
A Small White Orchid seen up at Wengernalp last week.


Day Lillies and the Jungfrau.
A reminder of how it all looks when the sun is shining.

Yesterday, hiking up to Maennlichen, I walked into a snow storm, and looking out this morning all the tops are white washed.

Here's hoping for a turn in the weather.
Kxxx

The Lady's Slipper Orchid

It is often the case on grotty weather days that the interesting photos are taken.Despite the rain we went in search for, and found, the Lady's Slipper Orchid.
I was made to promise not to reveal their home.
It is a local secret.

Today also happened to be the day the cows walked up to the alp.

Alpenrose about to bloom

The meadows around the village are slowly being cut, here is one still in full bloom.
Chilchestein
A nice easy Sunday climb took me to the top of this rock, where I found a small bush of Alpenrose.

Time to start looking out up the mountain for the alpenrose display.

Day Lillies with the Jungfrau behind.

Tomorrow I go in search of the lady's slipper orchid. Lets hope the weather is nice to us.

Orchids in Brech Alp

This weeks hike was from Wengen up towards Mettlen and down through Brech Alp to Trummelbach in Lauterbrunnen. It was overcast and a pleasant temperature.

Following are various flowers seen on the way.

A spring meadow in Lauterbrunnen

A spring flower meadow in Wengen, featuring an early purple orchid.

Trumpet gentians near Mettlen.

Heading off for Brech Alp we discovered this wonderful display of common globularia, with a spring gentian just appearing at the bottom of the photo.

This could be a fragrant orchid, Gymnadenia conopsea.

A white helleborine.

A birdsnest orchid, Neottia nidus-avis.

On the Hoof Blister Remedy

On a short hike last week, one of the first of the season, a blister started to rear it's ugly head. It was only a stroll of a couple of hours, I had not one plaster with me. then I spotted this leaf:

Tussilago farfara Tuss - cough, lago - away, farfara - with the fairies.

Coltsfoot. The German name is Huflattich. And the Swiss call it Zytroesli

So this plant is a cough remedy, but only recommended for use over a period of no longer than 6 weeks in a year. This is due to certain alkaloids in its constituents that have been known to cause liver damage.

However, it is also a wound herb. These leaves are quite thick, the underside being very soft and furry.

These two leaves are no longer. They were picked and placed furry side next to the offending article, enabling me to continue on my way in comfort.

The placement of a leaf over the area of a headache will apparently relieve the pain. Still to be tested by me on this one.

I'm off now up the mountain to see what I can find.

Til later
Kxxx

The Stinging Nettle's Time Is Up

Tender-handed stroke a nettle,

And it stings you for your pains;

Grasp it like a man with mettle,

And as soft as silk it remains.

Aaron Hill 1685-1750

We are coming to the end of the nettle season. June is the latest month for fresh nettle consumption. They have traditionally been eaten as a spring cleanse, especially by those with chronic skin and joint problems. It is amongst the first greenery to appear in the garden after the winter hardship, and must have been a welcome sight for the dinner table with its abundance of vitamins and minerals, replenishing the body with much needed nutrients.

Only take the top four to six fresh new green leaves. In my laziness I will just throw a handful in with the rice or pasta to cook. Add it to spinach, or make a soup. Nettle can be eaten raw. By rinsing under running cold water the sting is removed. Do make sure every leaf is rinsed. I once missed the middle of the bunch and got quite a shock biting into my lunch. Otherwise, cooking, steeping and drying also renders the sting painless.

The nettle is an important larval food plant for several butterflies, including the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), the Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and the Peacock (Inachis io), so please keep a little plot going. Cut a third back in June, then another third in July and again in August to encourage the butterflies further. Small tortoiseshell and peacock eggs are found on the underside of the leaf. A rolled up leaf may contain the red admiral's eggs. Those in webs are from the Comma Butterfly (Polygonia C-Album).

The stinging nettle has its uses in the garden. Make a natural fertiliser by leaving the cut plant in a tub of water for a few weeks until it degrades. Then use this mix to water your garden. A spray of the same will also help to keep common plant pests at bay.

Altogether a very versatile plant and that is without mentioning its many medical uses. That's for another time.

Kxxx

More Aquilegia

These plants multiply by the continuous production of seed, therefore any picking of this flower can reduce the amount appearing next year.

White and pink flowers are quite seldom, so I'm very lucky to have this display just up the road.

The alpine variety is quite rare, and somewhat smaller. The spur is straighter, and the stem has only 1-3 flowers. Am now on the look-out!

From My Front Door

The columbine, Aquilegia vulgaris, is blooming beautifully. POISONOUS. The flower spurs are shaped like an eagle's (aquila) talons, hence the Latin name. It has been used as an astringent, Culpepper used the leaves in lotions for sore mouths, a bit hit and miss as to whether the patient survived though. A fabulous garden flower, that grows wild up here. (Information from Mrs Grieve, A Modern Herbal).