Linear view vs. Masonry View

Archive for ‘Photography’

Lovers herb

Lovers herb

Hylotelephium maximum or in Swedish “Kärleksört” that translates to “Love herb”. It is a succulent plant and can therefore survive in places and periods with little or no water. The plant stores water in the leafs, so it can survive a long time even if it’s pulled up by the roots. According to the folklore the plant could help you choose lover. By hanging it up in the ceiling and by attention to who it turn towards. In Swedish succulent is “fetblad” and with my creative translation it becomes “fat leaf”. So lovers herb building up fat in the leafs to endure rough times. Not so far from us humans. Building up lovers handles, weather it is for someone to hold on to, or to endure times when you have to cook on your own.

The English speaking world must love this herb. Orpine, livelong, frog’s-stomach, harping Johnny, life-everlasting, live-forever, midsummer-men, Orphan John and witch’s moneybags. The names livelong, life-everlasting and live-forever is connected to the plants ability to survive. I guess harping johnny falls in that category, a folklore pun. It might be a good idea not to pick them if you don’t want a pack of angry witches on your tail. Then again being a maiden at midsummer it might be a lucky pick. How orphans and frogs came in to the equation? Here do my imagination fail me, if anyone has an idea please share.

All you need is love, ha de Gött!

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Peacock Butterfly

Peacock Butterfly

It has been avoiding me all summer, but finally I got a decent shot. The Peacock butterfly (Inachis io). For some reason the latin name is different in the English (Aglais io) and Swedish (Inachis io) version of Wikipedia. The common names does not differ to much. In Swedish it is called “Påfågelsöga” that translates to “Peacocks eye”. The name comes from the distinctive eye like mark on its wings. These marks is similar to the marks of the Peacock bird. No peacocks in Sweden, so you will have to use a search engine close to you to find a picture. If you do live in a region with those magnificent birds you are more than welcome to share.

Puff up your feathers, ha de Gött!

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Yellow Loosestrife

Yellow Loosestrife

The yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris) with a visitor collecting its nectar. Grows in wetlands. In Swedish “Strandlysing” that translates to beach light. With its bright yellow color it really draws your attention like a light.

The English name offers some play with the words. What do you think of this “coward moderate fighter”. What can you do when bees and wasps comes poking your eyes. Whit the help of the wind I rattle my leaves and make your landing hard.

Don’t be a yellow-belly. Ha de Gött!

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Priest collar

Priest collar

In Swedish this is called “Prästkrage” that translates to priest’s collar. In English it is called ox-eye daisy, dog daisy or marguerite (Leucanthemum vulgare). I guess the Swedish name comes from the white collar priests had in the 1600, still do in Denmark. The collar is called ruff, you have to check google for a picture.

Don’t know if oxen and dogs like this daisy but they may be confused by the spelling and go for a drink instead. Almost like bad joke. A dog, an oxen and a priest went for a drink. After a full night of confessions and bullshit they were all sent to the doghouse by mrs Pope.

Better stop I don’t know where this is going, help. Ha de Gött!

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Meeting

Meeting

To get to my boat I have to walk through a field with cows. Close to the water there is a few meter with a very narrow passage with rock on one side and a wetland on the other. As I came around a corner I found myself face to mule with the cows. First I wasn’t sure how the bull would react, you see him in the middle, but he’s a very kind fellow. They like to eat from the reed as it apparently has a sweet taste. Guess the cows has a sharp tongue and take no bullshit.

They let me take some nice photos and I could make my way trough the flock to the boat. I just told them “well now, this path isn’t wide enough for all of us”. Not only a blogger but also a cowboy, yiihaa, ha de gött!

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Thistle

Thistle

Yesterday I posted a picture of the Painted lady butterfly that has its Swedish name from the Thistle flower (Cirsium) (find it here). So today I must follow up with some pictures of this beautiful flower that most gardener’s hate. It is, by many considered a weed as it suffocates its surroundings with its leafs. You should wear thick gloves if you like to pick some. The whole plant is covered with thorns including the flower.

It is however well liked by insects that use its protection for breading, collecting nectar and hunting grounds. The Thistle is the national flower of Scotland and is therefore used in many symbols linked to Scotland. There is even a legend of a Viking stepping on a thistle and screamed so loud that the Scottish was alerted of the attack.

Don’t be a thorn in anyone’s side, ha de Gött!

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Painted lady

Painted lady

This quite large butterfly is a long traveler (Vanessa (Cynthia) cardui). It migrates from north Africa and the Sahara all the way to north Europe and Sweden. In Swedish it is called “tistelfjäril”, translates to thistle butterfly. This is where I found it, in the flowering thistles where it lays its larvae. There are several subspecies and can be found on all continents except South America and Antartica.

Ha de Gött!

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Summer bouquet

Summer bouquet

This purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is in Swedish called “Fackelblomster” that translates to “torch flower”. This flower grows in wet soil and like a purple torch lights up the sky.

Ha de Gött!

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Dancing Queen

Dancing Queen

Like a white beacon in all the green. The hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) got my imagination going with its many English names. But first the Swedish name, “Snårvinda”. Connects to its growth place in bushes where it twines around another plants. Reaches up to four meters. It can be found all over the world in tempered climate in several sub species.

The English names is like a smorgasbord. Rutland beauty, bugle vine, heavenly trumpets, bellbind, granny-pop-out-of-bed and, according to Wikipedia, many more. Please drop a comment if you know any more. Heavenly trumpets seems a fitting name with its innocent white and trumpet shape flowers.

Granny-pop-out-of-bed. In my head plays out the scene with granny jumping out of bed. Dressed in her long white night dress. Hair all white from age and fuzzy from sleep. She dances around like a teenager in the bedroom with the radio playing loud. The song is the Beatles “a hard days night”. Sweeps across the hall to that handsome widower’s room. He wakes up mumbling something about ghosts. He finds his glasses, and his teeth. Puts them in to give her a Liberace smile. They dance all night and just before the staff enters her room she slips back into bed. The staff helps her with the morning things. While wheeling her out to the common room for breakfast they ask if she had a good night. Sure did, she answers and give the widower across the hall a wink of the eye. Now then, ready for pills and bridge thrills before the heavenly trumpets sounds.

Angels sound your horns, Ha de Gött!

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Insects

Insects

The insects are so very important for the biodiversity. They are also often very beautiful like the flowers they pollinate. They can also bug you. Buzzing around your ears when all you’re interested in is having a beer and a cozy blogg reading in the shade.

This beautiful little fellow is unknown to me. I think it is some kind horse-fly or even a small butterfly. The small ones is a small bee that can hoover in the air.

Don’t kill insects just because you can. They are needed for our survival. The more insects we exterminate the more pandemic’s will we see in the future. Ha de Gött!

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