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September 29, 2014
September 16, 2014
Carline Thistle
In a dry calcareous meadow or an open space in an oak wood you can find a small thistle with candelabra-like branches.
It is the Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris.
Late in summer spider webs covered this meadow, also the Carline Thistle.
Even after flowering it is beautiful. Until far into winter the bracts are visible on the plant, so it looks like it keeps on flowering. During rain they close, and when it is dry again they open up, liberating the seeds with parachute-like plumes to disperse.
September 9, 2014
Oregano
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) smells really good. In fact, you can use it as a kitchen herb, like its cultivated cousin.
Like mint, basil and many other perfumed and edible plants, Oregano belongs to the Lamiaceae family. All Lamiaceae have opposed leaves, rectangular stems and bisymmetrical flowers.
Oregano is very common. In some places the flowers of a dirty pink colour form big patches, like here along a path.