Week Ending Sunday 21st April
Body, Mind and Spirit
Remember that spending time in nature is the best way for reducing stress and restoring our healthy, happy balance of body, mind and spirit. The body gets exercise, the mind relaxes and the beauty of nature feeds our soul.
I like to go for a walk each day, usually to the river but there is also a little nature reserve close by - called The Leg of Mutton. It is a very peaceful and beautiful destination.
Online I find -
Leg o’ Mutton Reservoir
The Leg o’ Mutton Reservoir was built in 1838 for Thames Water with a capacity of 102,000m³ of water; increased to 260,000m³ in 1879. It supplied local water until 1960, when it was decommissioned, and housing was planned for the site but local residents fiercely opposed this through several public enquiries. The Council purchased the area from Thames Water in 1970 and it was managed as a public space until 1990 when it was re-designated as a Local Nature Reserve, and later registered as a Site of Borough (Grade 1) Importance for Nature Conservation in 1993. The reserve is 800m long and 100m wide. Today, there is as an Advisory Committee of local interested parties of which Friends of Barnes Common is a member.
It is home to a wealth of wildlife from teal to terrapins! Its invertebrate residents include stag beetle, oak bush cricket, speckled wood and other butterflies. Birdlife includes shoveler, pochard, grebe, tufted duck, teal and cormorant on the water, with sparrowhawk, kestrel, tawny owl, warblers and woodpeckers nesting in the trees and reedbeds. Herons nest both on the rafts and in the trees. Flora covers many common species such as hawthorn, bramble and reed, but also the rarer ploughman’s spikenard and dark mullein. The imposing hybrid poplars are believed to be 170 years old.
Working in line with the site management plan, current tasks includes maintenance of water levels & nesting rafts, weekly patrols, control of invasive tree & shrub species and litter removal.
Overseeing things is FoBC Conservation Manager Will Dartnell. Will is looking to increase survey work in the following areas: amphibians, bats, butterflies, dragonflies, flora and water quality. Longer term aims include increasing the reed bed habitat, enhancing the native tree composition and exploring the potential to reduce some of the existing rafts and replace with islands which would give the reservoir a more naturalistic look.
The path goes all round, but also links to the river which runs alongside, just separated by a stretch of trees.
I have a great friend who works in a school. She was telling me that one of her classes had been looking at wild flowers. I don't know if they were just looking at pictures of if they went out on a 'nature walk.'
I remember going on Nature Walks when I was at school, walking two by two, (the 'social politics' of who you walked with were intense) down to a ford where a stream crossed the road. - Mine was a village school and the road it was on was quite quiet. We looked at the wild flowers on those walks but it was the ford and the stream which fascinated me most.
I like to go for a walk every day. I am blessed to live not far from the river Thames, and when I went that evening I found myself noticing the wild flowers with particular interest.
In the photo at the top of this blog, are sycamore flowers
Many tree-flowers are green and - unlike the beautiful blossoms like cherry (which is now fading and mostly fallen) and horse chestnut (which was just opening) the green flowers like these sycamores tend to be overlooked.
When I went out for my walk after talking to my friend about wild flowers, and which ones we might see at the moment, I guess I had 'programmed my brain' to be looking out for them - and I photographed each one I noticed.
This is the 'story of my walk' through the photographs - mostly of flowers - that I passed on the way.
First I walked by the 'Leg of Mutton' Reservoir.
Bluebells are everywhere - but they tend to be the Spanish Bluebells which were introduced to this country. They are out in all the gardens as well as wild by the river.
The native bluebells are more delicate and a deeper blue. I will show you a native bluebell from internet first. Those are the ones I grew up with in the woods near my home.
Did you know that bluebells are toxic to humans, dogs and cattle, they can cause serious stomach upset. If you eat one or two - for example if they got picked by mistake in gathering vegetables they would make you sick but if eaten in large doses would be fatal.
Can you see how much stiffer and paler the Spanish Bluebells are, which grow here by the reservoir and river.
This year the spring has come early. Already the May-Blossom is opening in the hedges, even though it's only mid-April.
May blossom is also called Hawthorn and has red haw-berries in autumn which are edible.
I found this online -
Culinary uses and recipes with Hawthorn
Young shoots and unopened flower buds were once known as ‘bread and cheese’. Though much healthier, unfortunately they taste of neither.
The berries, known as Haws, bear a resemblance to mild apples, although their flesh is notably dense and dry. They are particularly suitable for making delicious jellies to accompany cheese, and can serve as an excellent substitute for ketchup.
Haws have also found their place in the production of country wines and homemade schnapps, adding their unique flavour and medicinal properties to these beverages.
In addition, the leaves, flowers, and berries of the hawthorn can be used to make an herbal tea.
Medicinal properties of Hawthorn
Hawthorn stands as one of the most extensively scientifically validated herbal medicines, renowned for its remarkable restorative properties for the heart and circulation.
It plays a crucial role in regulating heartbeat and managing high blood pressure effectively.
Additionally, this plant harbours a wealth of beneficial compounds, including vitamins B and C, which further contribute to its overall health-enhancing properties.
White Jack-By-the-Hedge - or wild Mustard - is growing alongside Alkanet.
On Internet looking up Jack by the Hedge I find - it's a biennial plant, with small roundish leaves in the first year, flowering in the second year.
The young first years leaves or from the top of the plant in its second year are best and along with the flowers and flower buds help make an attractive and tasty salad.
The seeds can be used as mustard.
The roots at the end of the second years growth taste like mild horseradish.
Medicinal Uses
Said be used as a tonic to help asthma, rheumatism and gout it also has diuretic properties
If I look up all the flowers this blog will never get finished, so you can look up any flowers which interest you and I will just mention those I know about already. The blue flowers are edible, and often used to decorate food. Historically, the roots were a source of red dye.
This alkanet fills my front garden - which is like a glade under trees. Too much shade for grass to thrive and too many slugs for me to fight. They don't like the bristles on the alkanet. I love it and so do the bees.
When my Ukrainian Refugee Guests came in 2022, it was this time of year, they loved that my garden was full of blue and yellow flowers - the colours of the Ukrainian flag - Alkanet and Dandelion. The dandelion season is almost over but I did see some still flowering by the reservoir.
Dandelion above - leaves are good in a salad but if you eat a lot that may have given them the rude name of 'Johnny Wet the Bed.'
White dead-nettle below. You can pull the funnel-shaped flowers and suck them. They have sweet nectar (if the bees haven't already been there and taken it.)
The path around the reservoir is bordered by Cow Parsley. It's also sometimes called Queen Anne's Lace,
Below is a view of the reservoir with newly unfolding leaves above and cow parsley below.
Above is the first Elder Flower Blossom opening and below a swan is nesting.
The flowers and berries are edible.
I will break my rule and share some recipies from internet.
Elderberry Flowers
Elderflowers are ready around late May to mid-June. They’re best picked when the buds are freshly open on a warm, dry, sunny day, well away from traffic fumes. Give them a shake to remove any insects and rinse briefly in cold water before using.
The fragrant flowers are most famous for making elderflower champagne and cordial – perfect summer drinks
HOW TO MAKE AN EASY ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL WITHOUT CITRIC ACID
Helen Keating
Content manager, botanist and tree lover
Elder (Sambucus nigra) is one of our most familiar trees and few plants have featured more in British folklore and traditional medicine.
The creamy-coloured sprays of highly scented flowers have been made into teas and infusions, used to flavour cooked fruit, jams, jellies, ices and form the basis of elderflower fritters. But elderflowers are most valued for the refreshing, summery cordial they make.
The abundance of elderflower cordial recipes out there reflects its long heritage of use and popularity, but this one is my favourite. It’s fragrant and delicate and is super easy to make.
Ingredients
- 1 litre (2 pints) elderflowers
- Lemon zest
- Granulated sugar
- Water
- Lemons
Method
- Gather enough elderflower sprays to fill a 1 litre (2 pint) measure when lightly packed.
- Shake the flowers to make sure there are no insects hiding inside, but don’t wash them as this can spoil the flavour.
- Remove as much of the inflorescence stalk as you can – up to where the main stem meets the smaller stems attached to the flowers.
- Cover the elderflowers with water. Add lemon zest (as little or as much as you like). Simmer for 30 minutes. Top up the pan if necessary, to keep the liquid covering the flowers.
- Strain the flower-infused liquid through muslin or tea towel, gently squeezing it to extract all the juice. Measure the amount of juice.
- Add 350g (12 oz) granulated sugar, and the juice of half a lemon, to each 500ml (1 pint) of liquid. Heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a gentle simmer and skim off any scum. Let the cordial cool.
- Pour the liquid through a funnel into clean, sterilised bottles, up to about 1cm below the top. Seal the bottles with swing-top lids, sterilised screw-tops or corks.
- Once bottled, the cordial will keep for several weeks in the fridge.
I will give the recipe for using the berries at the end.
This white 'paint' was spread all around - on the path and leaves and flowers. What could have caused it? I looked up and found the answer. I was standing under a massive tree which was home to a heronry.
The white paint was the droppings from the herons as they roosted for the night or rested on their nests.
Above iswild forget-me-not and below first the common Celandine, which likes to open wide in the sunshine - but this was a cloudy day so although I found better patches of celandine near the river later, their flowers were all closed.
The last in this series of photos is a lesser cenandine, peeping out from the fence.
I will continue with this 'wild-flower-insipred blog for next week as I have used up all my available 'blog-time' for now.
Body, Mind and Spirit
Remember that spending time in nature is the best way for reducing stress and restoring our healthy, happy balance of body, mind and spirit. The body gets exercise, the mind relaxes and the beauty of nature feeds our soul.
Helen Keating
Content manager, botanist and tree lover
Make the most of dark, fragrant elderberries while they’re in season.
Cooking with elderberries can get messy but it’s worth it. They’re full of health-giving properties and have been used medicinally for centuries. There are lots of elderberry recipes out there but here are our favourites.
Elderberries ripen between July and October depending on where you are in the UK.
Credit: David Boag / Alamy Stock Photo
Elderberry identification: a quick guide
- Shrub or small tree
- Pinnate leaves with 5 or 7 toothed leaflets
- Leaflets oppositely arranged
- Pale, corky bark
- Clusters of small purple-black berries on red-pink stalks.
- Berries ripen July-October depending on where you live.
Picking tips
Pick the clusters by breaking off the large stem – they should snap off of the branches easily. Shake off any insects.
The easiest way to remove the berries from the stalks is to strip them using the prongs of a fork. If you can’t use the berries straight away, they can be frozen and used later.
Take care! Some people can be sensitive to elder when it comes into contact with the skin leading to irritation and rash. And although the flowers and cooked berries (pulp and skin) are edible, the uncooked berries and other parts of plants from the genus Sambucus are poisonous and may cause stomach upset.
Recipes
Elderberry syrup
Elderberries and ginger may have anti-viral properties, so get ready for winter and make a stash of elderberry syrup. Add cinnamon and ginger to taste.
It's easy to make and you can eat it by the spoonful, drizzle onto porridge or yogurt, or add a dash to fizzy wine.
Method
- Carefully separate your elderberries from their stalks with a fork or your hands
- Chop up a little ginger into small pieces
- Put the elderberries and chopped ginger into a pan and cover them with water
- Bring to the boil and let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly
- Pour the mixture through a jelly bag or muslin (fine cloth) and allow the juice to drip through. Extract as much liquid as possible
- Pour the elderberry liquid into a measuring jug, and measure how much you have. Now add equal parts sugar to the liquid mixture - so if you measured 500ml of juice, add 500g of sugar, or if you have 1 litre of liquid, add 1 kilo of sugar
- Add the sugar and a little ground cinnamon or cinnamon stick to the strained liquid. Simmer for five minutes and then cool and pour into sterilised bottles
Now to conclude with a flower-related poem or text from my spiritual Teacher. -
Aha! I found the Talk he gave when inaugurating the Divine Enterprise Flower Shop in New York, which he named 'The Garland of Divinity's Love.'
I love including a text in my blogs. It gives me such inspiration.
The significance of a flower
AUM. AUM.
In the Name of the Supreme we are opening this flower shop: The Garland of Divinity’s Love, The Garland of Divinity’s Love, The Garland of Divinity’s Love.
The flower signifies beauty and purity. The flower signifies our awakened consciousness.
The flower talks. As we talk, the flower also talks. We talk to the flower with our eyes. And when we talk to the flower with our eyes, the beauty of the flower talks. There is a running conversation between our eyes and the beauty of the flower.
Then our nose talks. When our nose talks, it talks with the fragrance of the flower. The fragrance of the flower and the human nose talk in a most significant way.
Then there is a talk, a most significant talk, between our consciousness and the purity of the flower. The purity of the flower and the consciousness of our aspiring soul talk together.
The flower sings. As we sing, the flower sings. Early in the morning, when the florist touches the flower with his inspiration, the flower sings with its divine inspiration.
When the customer buys the flower, he buys it with his aspiration. He wants to offer this flower; he wants to use this flower for a special purpose. Inside the purpose looms large his aspiration. When, with his aspiration, the customer buys the flower, the flower sings.
When the customer fulfils his aspiration — that is to say, when the customer takes the flower home and offers it on the altar or gives it to the person it is meant for, whether it is for a special event or for something else most significant — when the purpose is fulfilled, again the flower sings. The flower is fulfilling its purpose.
The flower dances. Early in the morning, when the birds sing on the top of the tree, immediately the flower- consciousness dances with delight. Soon after, when the golden disc, the sun, peeps out, the flower dances once again with Immortality’s Light.
The sun is immortal. When its Immortality’s Light enters into the living breath of the flower, the flower starts dancing. Then, in the evening, when the sun wants to retire in the western sky, when the sun wants to take rest, the sun says to the flower, “My child, now I am resting. I want to offer you my infinite Peace. You also take rest and enjoy infinite Peace.” When infinite Peace enters into the flower, the flower again starts dancing with joy.
When we enter into the world, the flower welcomes us. At that time, when the flower welcomes the soul, the flower offers a divine surprise to the soul. The soul enters into the world and smells profuse fragrance. With the flower, Mother Earth offers her deepest, most sincere welcome to the soul that has entered into her arena. Then, when the individual has played his role on earth for fifty, sixty or seventy years, he has to retire. When his journey comes to an end, Mother Earth offers him her blessingful gratitude. At the beginning, when the child enters into the world, Mother Earth offers him her blessingful joy. When this child grows up, he becomes an adult, a mature man. Then he enters into dotage, old age. When he finishes his role on earth, Mother Earth again blesses him with a flower, this time with blessingful gratitude. The first time she gave blessingful joy, and this time she gives blessingful gratitude, because he has played his role on earth for Mother Earth, for the earth-consciousness.
We offer flowers to a spiritual Master. When we offer a flower to a spiritual Master with folded hands, and again when a spiritual Master accepts the flower with his folded hands, that means he is also offering. While accepting the flower, he is offering his love and joy. His love and joy he offers when he accepts with his folded hands. When we give with folded hands, we also offer our joy and love.
When we offer flowers to spiritual Masters, when we place the flowers at their feet, at that time we are offered compassion and concern. Concern and compassion we get when we place flowers at the feet of holy figures, spiritual Masters.
When we place flowers in front of the picture of our Guru, of our spiritual Master, of a great spiritual figure, at that time we get blessingful gratitude and blessingful pride, for we have the inner awareness to appreciate the spiritual as well as the physical. When we place a flower in front of the picture, at that time we are actually offering our aspiration to the spiritual aspect more than the physical aspect. In the physical of the Master is the Supreme. Again, in the picture also, the living Consciousness of the Supreme is there; but when we stand in front of the physical we get more joy, because the physical proximity makes us feel that we both belong to earth. One person is in the form of the spiritual Master, and the other person is in the form of the disciple.
When we are standing in front of a picture, it is the consciousness that is playing the major role. The Master’s outer limbs are not functioning, but his inner consciousness is functioning, so we are entering into his spiritual world. That means we are adoring, we are loving and we are worshipping the spiritual aspect. While living on earth, when we give importance to the spiritual aspect also, side by side with the physical consciousness, at that time we get blessingful gratitude and blessingful pride from the Master, from the Guru.
I really wish you to buy flowers from this place. Flowers always offer divine fragrance. You can buy flowers very often, if possible every day, for your shrine, for your house. A flower is God’s purest and brightest message. Please try to see all beauty in you, with you and around you in the lap of Mother Earth.
25 June 1971, Jamaica, New York. During the inauguration of The Garland of Divinity's Love flower shop, Sri Chinmoy gave this talk.
Love is a flower
Love is a flower
That grows in every
Heart-garden.
Doubt is a flower
That grows in every
Mind-garden.
Progress is a flower
That grows in every
Life-garden.
God is a flower
That grows in every
Gratitude-heart.
Sri Chinmoy
Three hundred sixty-five Father's Day Prayers, Puerto Rico 1974
below is a photo fo cherry-blossom I took while in New York a few weeks ago - on pilgrimage to the Meditation Garden where Sri Chinmoy taught. Typically, it reflects the way that I love the play of sunlight and shadow.
Flowers give me so much joy - but also, since they are so fleeting, they remind me that life is here and now - but decline and death are also part of that experience. It is essential to make the best of today and every day that we are blessed with.
