May 31st – The season of the dog rose is upon us. You can keep your fancy hybrids, your blobs of colour on thorny sticks; give me the colour and scent of a wild rose any day of the week – bringing colour in an uncontrolled riot to towpaths, hedgerows and edge lands all over.
These were just by the canal in Walsall near Bentley Bridge. A joy to the heart.
May 13th – On Clayhanger Common, a welcome splash of colour is the red campion, that’s flowering well now near Pier Street bridge.
Such beautiful, pink flowers. So good to see them.
June 1st – Nearby on Clayhanger Common, beautiful, fragrant hot pink dog roses, looking scruffily beautiful in the rain.
On days like this, you take the beauty where and when you find it. And these are a delight.
August 15th – It’s amazing how much Chasewater has recovered in such a short time – in 18 months it’s gone from being barely more than an overgrown puddle to a full reservoir, with a recovering, rich biodiversity. I noticed a week or so ago what I thought was red algae on the western shoreline, but it actually turns out, on closer inspection, to be what I think is persicaria amphibia, or water knotweed. I think this is an introduced species, and may well be invasive, I’m not sure. However, it’s very pretty with delicate pink flowers that float in beautiful clumps.
Any knowledge or correction welcome.
August 10th – Himalayan Balsam is a pain. Lovely to look at, its highly aromatic, metallic-smelling flowers line wetlands, riverbanks and marshes at this time of year. Growing to a couple of meters, it chokes native plants and is considered an invasive species. Sadly, it’s so prolific – this clump was on the banks of the Trent at Shugborough – I don’t think we’ll ever be rid of it.
March 10th – Oh dear. Humphries House and Severn House, the last two extant tower blocks in Brownhills have been extensively renovated, and have been reclad to provide better insulation and to prolong their life. It’s been a bit of a mystery what colour they were going to be – they were originally skinned in an off-white media. It seems our question has now been answered; Humphries House is to be a vivid blue and Severn House a glowing pink. Does that mean one will be for fellas and one for the girls?
Have to say, that’s bloody horrible. Yuck.
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