All that cracks and structure in 5 cm². Ha de Gött!
Advertisements
Pole Position
Tag Archive for ‘Naturephotography’
Aster
Finally a flower where the name is the same in English and Swedish, Aster (Symphyotrichum). It is actually a family of flowers, Astrales with over 1900 different variants. I found this in a centimeter wide rock crevice just by the water. According to my app it is a Symphyotrichum chilense and if so, the first observation of it on the west coast of Sweden. Don’t know if that means I get to give it a Swedish name? If so, I hereby name it “Crevice Aster” or in Swedish “Sprickaster”
Flower power, ha de Gött!
Advertisements
Erica tetralix
Also called cross-leaved heath. Got its common name from the leaves that grows out from the stem in a cross of four leaves. Native in western Europe. In Swedish “klockljung” that translates to “Bell ling”. The name is probably from the bell shaped flowers. Even if the Swedish name suggest so, it does not make any sound. However both the Swedish and the English names suggest involvement from the church.
Ring, ring give somebody a call, ha de Gött!
Advertisements
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!
Advertisements
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!
Advertisements
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!
Advertisements
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!
Advertisements
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!
Advertisements
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!
Advertisements
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!
Advertisements
UlleHaddock 