What was the flower?

The plant is Gomphocarpus physocarpus - synonym Asclepias physocarpa - common names: balloon plant, swan plant, hairy balls, family jewels tree - a species of milkweed. The plants main claim to fame is playing host to the Monarch Butterfly.

lavae/caterpillar via               butterfly via

Monarch butterflies cannot survive without milkweed; their caterpillars only eat milkweed plants so the butterflies need them to lay their eggs. The leaves of milkweed are poisonous to most animals as they contain chemicals called cardenolides which does not affect Monarch caterpillars. They store the chemicals in their bodies which makes them poisonous to other animals. When the lavae turn into butterflies the cardenolides remain, protecting them too.  

It can grow up to 2 m tall - a slender perennial erect shrub.

It has these extraordinarily large distinctive prickly pods - I wondered what was inside

Until I saw this split pod packed full of seeds. Each seed wore a luxurious silky white flowing parachute
***************
Whilst doing some research I discovered that there are over 100 species of milkweed and all of them are quite different from one another. Some have bright orange flowers in clusters, others come in shades of white through to yellow, pink, purple and red. Only Gomphocarpus physocarpus and a sub species Gomphocarpus fruticosus appear to have these large round hairy seed pods. However, most milkweeds do have extraordinary seed pods. It is worth taking a look at them on google images here.
**************
Congratulations and well done to Celia Hart and Rod Lutes who both identified the flower correctly.

Nostalgia

The slightest breeze whisks a host of Rosebay-willow-herb progeny to float off high above our heads

Schools are back, and we have had our first Fine Art Society lecture following the summer break - Edvard Munch: Mother, Mistresses and Models. The talk was by a brilliant speaker who has inspired me to learn more about him and his life. I have never really understood Munch's paintings which predominately seem to be about his preoccupation with the emotions of isolation, melancholy, and despair. 

via

National Gallery, Oslo, Norway

Munch's painting of 'The Scream' is a disturbing image, apparently his intention was to show an anxiety ridden vision of the soul. It is the second most universally recognised painting in the world - no prizes for guessing which is number one!

Making the most of these warm balmy September days

Savouring evening walks before the sun slips below the horizon - a little quicker each night

Like the turning hands on a clock the seasons roll on

The hedgerows and bushes are overflowing with seeds and fruits

There is still colour in the garden

folklore predicts and heralds a harsh winter

following a bountiful season of berries
❖❖❖❖❖❖

I am heading off in a few days to the land of my childhood 

My ballet teacher gave my poor mother the task of dying white towelling brown and then the job of making me this fox outfit. I recall my father spending time pulling bristles out of our yard brush for the whiskers, but sadly neither the whiskers nor my mother's embroidered black snout and green eyes are visible on this old photo.

Days Decrease....

and Autumn Grows - Robert Browning

"Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower" Albert Camus

It was one of those perfect English Autumnal Days - 

P D James

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

"Autumn is my spring!" August Strindberg 

Voodoo Lily

Dracunulus vulgaris was awaiting our return - past his best but huge, measuring 51cms (20 inches long)

Thank you for all the lovely comments left on the previous post, I have read and enjoyed them all, one of them made me laugh - Parnassus it was you.

Arriving back home we were greeted by these wonderful Cirrus clouds (delicate cloud streaks). They are the highest of all clouds and are composed entirely of ice crystals. Cirrus clouds are precipitating clouds, although the ice crystals evaporate high above the earth's surface. The crystals, caught in 100 - 150 mph winds create wisps of cloud - info from web.

Whist I sort myself out I hope that you enjoy these photos of wildflowers growing in France - I do admire their municipal gardeners who use road islands and small plots of land to scatter wild flower seeds which create a colourful show for everyone to enjoy.

The final weekend

via

Don't miss out on this years blue magic - make haste to your nearest bluebell woods

If you live in the UK and have not visited your local bluebell woods then this weekend could be your last chance to see the flowers this year. Time is running out - their colour is fading rapidly and seeds are already beginning to form within the flower heads.

Most bluebells are found in ancient woodlands where the rich habitat supports a whole host of species.

Some of the woodlands are even remnants of the original wildwood that covered Britain after the last Ice Age

In the Middle Ages, bowmen used bluebell sap to glue feathers onto arrows

Bluebell sap was also used to bind pages to the spines of books

The Victorians used the starch from crushed bluebells to stiffen the ruffs on their collars and sleeves

Legend tells us that a field of bluebells is intricately woven with fairy enchantments

Bees sometimes 'steal' nectar from bluebells. They bite a hole in the bottom of the bell and reach the nectar without pollinating the flower

Off to seek fairy chimneys!

 When discovered will return -

this photo holds a clue to the location.