Identification

As mentioned in previous posting, none of the buds, flowers, weeds or trees I photograph have my identification. I haven't a clue what any of them are.  I just love the feel of them, marvel at their beauty.  Don't know why Ive never tried to find out!!  Anyway, back to now because as yet I haven't mapped & logged the trees near to us nor the other tasks as yet. Meanwhile as I'm gathering information, learning whats what  I've chosen some old photos to begin my reference & revision catalogue of our local flora & fauna. We live along the top of the North Downs, so its all areas surrounding our home within 5 mins either way we tread. If anyone would like to help with my learning curve identifying the photo's .. all support is most welcome :)

 Pyracantha 

Sloe Berries :)  know these ones as I make Sloe Gin

Buttercup

Daisy

So many photographs to identify, too many to upload but at least I can catalogue the most common ones in our garden & surrounding walks.

seeds sown

I've been truly hesitant & shy with the January tasks. Reading the many amazing informative quality emails from the rest of our group is inspiring but does remind me of my ignorance & naivety.  Absorbing all trials with not exactly intrepid enthusiasm!!.
The names of plants, trees, herbs all used with such clarity & ease. All names of all conspire to remind me about how little information I have & hold within my mind about all.  Not to be defeated so early into the tasks, it seemed sensible to look for a reference book on local herbs, plants, trees etc.  So I could become familiar with whats what! Celebrations here upon the hill (very snowy hill today).  A sense of pure happiness thrills.  Yesterday I realised that so many of the herbs, hedgerow, flowers & trees asked to study & track I've already unknowingly done. Since acquiring a digital camera couple of years ago all of my walks, hanging out washing, etc everywhere & anywhere I have the camera to hand. Already I have some wonderful photographs of things I think are wonderful in the garden, down the lane, cross the fields,  in the wood & on the trees :)  Yaaaaaay, Natures stunning array of intricate flowers, plants, trees, buds, blossom already catalogued.  Years of wandering here upon the hill, always enjoying these tiny little miracles that everyone seems to tread on.  Years of admiring the trunks, the stems, the intricate pattern on the leaves, the tiny perfectly balanced petals. The amazing designs, colours & distinction.  Soooo thrilled to now be able to bring proper names to such a huge part of my life.  Years of - app annoyingly - stopping our supposed brisk walk, pausing at every new sighting, scrutinising every flower, bud, tree or other amazing miracle of life wondering what its made up of, imagining it holds the answers to many health questions.  For years I've been asked "do we really have to stop every few minutes"  :D   At long last I have found, not only a group of peeps who would take the same hours to explore a half hour walk,  I now can - hopefully in time - with a little help from my herbhuddies/friends too - put names to each & every one of the wonderful daily distractions.  I already have photographs of such beautiful Elder, Hawthorn &  Rose etc etc yet it now seems I  just didn't  know their names. Now I need to take a reference book out with me :)  Don't know why I've never thought about naming them before. Duh!!! They just always felt sooo good, their energy wonderfully satisfying without further questioning.

although ... tee hee I did guess the name of this gorgeous herb flower

which burst to life  on my kitchen windowsill 

Hmmm, when I look at my iphoties, which last count was 14,769. Think I have a lot of naming to do :) sooo exciting. lol. I wonder how many are herbs :D

Aloe from Abu Dhabi with Love

and with lots of good intentions, stamina & hope!!
The Aloe Vera grew in abundance in my friends garden/courtyard. He said its equal to a weed out there. So many huge tumblers full of the wonderful prickly stemless succulent plant. As my friend will be moving home in July I asked if I may have a wee rooting from his plants, he said of course.   Not quite so hot as the Arabian desert but with a bit of luck & some TLC :) just maybe the wee cutting will take.
A week after our crazy schedules since our return, so many things to do, so many unexpected things to do too I've eventually remembered about this poor cutting stored in a moist piece of kitchen roll , wrapped in a plastic bag in the front zip of my suitcase :(  Bless its little succulent Soul .
Here it is in all its glory in photos taken in Abu Dhabi.

Actually whilst I'm in the photos, here's some lovely other photos of some plants in my friends garden.

this was the gorgeous tree the beautiful white flower belongs to

this beautiful shrub looks stunning & vibrant.
 Close up the flowers look as if they're made by tissue paper

Bless this lovely life, here's his Aloe Vera now . .

Suggestions please how to plant, in what & any advice or tips on how to help this beautiful succulent cutting survive & grow.  Suppose I should show some of the palms & the little distinctive shaped trees of such arid land. Hoping some were Frankincense but not too sure.

Of course think its only right to add the Grand Mosque at night & day :) Not particularly good photo's  taken from a moving car but the essence I think is still captured .  Enjoy xXx