Flora

Stinking Cabbage. Unfortunate name for a bonny plant.



Himalayan Balsam. Sadly a pest plant by our riversides.



Foxglove.



Primrose.



Apologies for the frames, i was going through a phase.

Nice captures! I've never seen "Stinking cabbage"...where is it from? It looks to be an arum of some description?

I love Himalayan Balsam, for all that it is a pest. I've noticed that it seems to be declining...certainly the huge swathes that we used do have on the banks of our brook have declined these last two years into little patches of pink.

Oddly the other name for it is *Policeman's Helmet*...I'd worry about the veracity of any policeman I saw with a pink helmet...

Is it just me, or did that sound a lot more rude than I intended?

Don't apologize for frames. Those that hate them are demented and need to be locked up in straight jackets.

Hi Gaz, it is a plant from North America, and your correct it belongs to the Alum family. It seems to go by many names, Skunk Cabbage, and Devils Tobacco, all to do with the unpleasant smell it has.

I found it deep in a Cheviot Valley and thought it unusual. Ive never heard Policeman's Helmet used for Himalayan Balsam before, but i agree its an attractive plant and bees love it.

LOL Bob, after learning how to do frames i could not stop doing it, since then ive calmed down and take my medicine on a regular basis.

Bog Arum (skunk cabbage!) Awesome stuff!

Love the foxglove shot too

xx

Must admit i never got close to inhale its perfume.

Great shots really clear well defined and detailed with beautiful colours. For me, and I stress this is a personal thing, the framing detracts from superb shots.

What a great spash of colour Brian, my favs are 1, 2 and 3.

I have to admit to being a bit demented though, now where did I put my straight jacket

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-lJZiqZaGA

"Remember when you ran away
And I got on my knees
And begged you not to leave
Because I'd go beserk

Well you left me anyhow
And then the days got worse and worse
And now you see I've gone
Completely out of my mind

And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa
They're coming to take me away ho ho hee hee ha haaa
To the funny farm
Where life is beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see those nice young men
In their clean white coats
And they're coming to take me away ha haaa

You thought it was a joke
And so you laughed
You laughed when I said
That losing you would make me flip my lid

Right? You know you laughed
I heard you laugh. You laughed
You laughed and laughed and then you left
But now you know I'm utterly mad

And they're coming to take me away ha haaa
They're coming to take me away ho ho hee hee ha haaa
To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds
And basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes
And they're coming to take me away ha haaa

I cooked your food
I cleaned your house
And this is how you pay me back
For all my kind unselfish, loving deeds
Ha! Well you just wait
They'll find you yet and when they do
They'll put you in the A.S.P.C.A.
You mangy mutt

And they're coming to take me away ha haaa
They're coming to take me away ha haaa ho ho hee hee
To the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see those nice young men
In their clean white coats

And they're coming to take me away
To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds
And basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes
And they're coming to take me away ha haaa!"

Sorry, just couldn't help remembering that classic tune!

Haven t heard that in a long time Bob . No problem Richard, i had just learned how to do it, and i did it everywhere.

Cheers Ken, i chose them as i wanted to see some colour after all these grey days, rumours of a bit of sunshine by the weekend.