Thursday 24th August 2023

One of the exciting aspects of creating a wildlife pond is that you never know what flora or fauna will arrive as it develops.  A lot of the insects such as diving beetles and pond snails have been brought in as eggs on plants we have submerged such as water mint, water soldiers and water lilies. These plants are also known for hosting dragonflies and damselfly larvae.  However, when I discovered a new plant growing on the margins over the summer holiday, I had to do a bit of research to identify it.  Apparently, it is a wildflower known as lesser water- parsnip and as its name suggests, it smells of parsnip when crushed. You can find out more about it here: Lesser water-parsnip | The Wildlife Trusts

Equally in the herb bed when I am weeding, I will come across a plant that is unknown to me.  If they are not too invasive and attract pollinators, they will be allowed to stay.  Scarlet pimpernels are one of the plants that have come up. This name is most well known because it is the secret emblem of the hero known as The Scarlet Pimpernel in the novel by Baroness Orczy, but its common name of Poor Man's Weathervane is more informative, because the petals of the flower react to atmospheric pressure and close up when bad weather is on its way.