There is a Swedish expression “darra som ett asplöv” “tremble like an asp leaf”. It describes the aspen tree (Populus tremula) in an elegant way. The leafs from this fast growing tree easily trembles even in low wind speeds. The rustling sound has made me look out the window many times thinking it’s raining. It spreads with root sprouts up to forty meters from the parent tree, creating clones. The tree also spreads through pollination.
Sit in the shade and ha de Gött!
The orange day-lily (Hemerocallis fulva) are in full bloom. This year more than ever. Perhaps the warm weather does the trick. It comes originally from Asia but are now grown in many gardens around the world. Can be very tall, up to 1,5 meters. It has gone rouge and is now considered an invasive species. Oh yes, there is a human factor. Dumping them on the road side has given them the name ditch-lily where they spread and suffocates native species.
Always think twice before you dump, ha de Gött!
The little black and white grasshopper signed up, wanted to be a 'copper' to his dismay, all he got was a ticket had to go and see, the boring cricket
Hop on, hop off, ha de Gött!
For many people summer means lacy days in the sun or in the shade. But for the insects summer is a busy time. So also for this Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae). It was a challenge to get a good shot as the wind was moving the flowers, while the butterfly collected nectar in super speed. Moving fast from one clover to another.
Ha de Gött!
The Gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) or in Swedish, “Krusbär”, differs from most berries with its lime green color. Originates from Caucasus but is now grown in many gardens. The Swedish name is almost a straight translation from its Latin name. Grape with rippled leaf. This time the English name is more fun. If I say gooseberry bush will you native English speaking blush? Ha de Gött!
Sometimes life feels upside down
it’s hard to turn around
everything just flips and spins
Reflect
Look down to see the way up.
Took this yesterday evening when the water in the fjord was on its very best behavior. Ha de Gött!
Little ordinary mosquito flying so incognito buzzing in the wood looking for blood a promising success ended in dire distress his sneaky attack ended with a whack now this cunning mosquito is all finito
One of the summers more annoying little creatures. Still so important for the circle of life. Ha de Gött!
The ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior) can be very large an tall, up to 30 meters. In Swedish it is named “Ask” but there is no answer to how it got that name. The wood is very hard and though, thereby suitable for boat building. For the Vikings this was an important tree both in mythology and for shipbuilding. The French and Germans sometimes called the Vikings for “Ascomanni”, they who sails with ships made from ash trees. It is also excellent to use for building crossbow. Something my son proved to me a few years ago. In the Viking mythology the world tree “Yggdrasil” was an ash tree.
As the Swedish lumberjack said, Ask no more, ha de Gött!
The common Scullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) is a herb and can be found all around the northern hemisphere shorelines. Found these on a small island. It is still used for medicinal purposes but as there are many various species you need to leave it for the experts. In other words, don’t try this at home.
In Swedish it is called “Frossört” and the name probably comes from its medicinal use to reduce fever. “Frossa” is the Swedish word for fever chill.
I’m a bit tempted to test as I sit here with a slight fever from the second Covi-19 vaccine shot. Ha de Gött!
I finally got to terms with it and got me an app. An app to help me identify the flowers begging for the attention of my lens. Where I failed the app took a few milliseconds to identify. Just like this “Humleblomster” (Geum rivale), in English Water Avens. The Swedish name translates to “bumblebee flower”. Theory is that it got is name from specially attracting bumblebee’s.
Ha de Gött!
UlleHaddock 