The Wild is good

Hi, today I am doing nothing because I started yesterday and I wasn’t finished and I am not a quitter.

A good friend of mine just had an employee resign. He was not happy, she was going to his opposition. I do not think that was his biggest problem. He had great faith in her and was grooming her for bigger things, that is what I believe is the biggest problem we have when we see potential in people and want to see that potential grow. He lost someone he thought would thrive, giving them the privilege of being under his wing. I feel for him and I would be as hurt as he was, but, yes there is a but, did we nurture them or drive them away? At times like these, we have to look at ourselves and the answers might be our style of management. If not, then it probably is a good move that they have made and in time we will see that. Still, it does make it any easier for him.

The pigeons are squabbling over the last of the food I give them today, one house sparrow is having a right argument with one of them and he reminds me of a beagle, always punching above their weight. Great dogs and would be a perfect companion for JB, not that he needs a companion with that sausage dog with a disability, taking the limelight. I have heard that they pay more for a dog with a slight problem in London. Makes for conversation when walking your dog.

‘Ignore her, she has a short dog syndrome.’

I understand some of my avid readers are not getting notifications when I post a new blog. Not sure why, no one is blocked except the Russians and the North Koreans. Try opening my blog in your browser and then bookmark it. I find that when I want to read something or get the weather I just type in BBC.co.uk and it does give me the latest news and weather, clever that.

Mother Dearest Darling, as her youngest son is fond of calling her, has Covid 19, the Omicron version, and feels as rough as old boots. Thankfully they say it only lasts a few days and she is into the second day, the eye of the storm as such. Give her a day or two and then you can ring her and hear her bubble voice, she will be grateful for the call.

Weeds or plants in the wrong place? I have said that before but on reflection I believe they all have merit. Take the photos I have added above. Delicate flowers and also the wild strawberries are edible, once they are ready. In saying that I decided to do some plant identification on those in the wrong place.

The first plant is growing next to my garage door and has a delicate pink flower. The next part I could never have made up, it is called Herb Robert and another name for it is Stinking Bob. I have included the facts below but the Common Daisy also has a mention of Robert, the popular cultivar is Rob Roy. Seriously I am not making this up. We also have wild strawberries in our garden and low and behold Robert is connected there as well. The popular cultivars: 'Elegance Lauren’ among others. Lauren is Robert’s friend who is a girl, yes the same technical girl friend, by all accounts a wonderful person and not afraid of the wild.

Herb Robert

Botanical name: Geranium robertianum*

Common name: Robert geranium, Storksbill, Crow's foot, Fox geranium, Death come quickly

Genus: Geraniums (Geranium)

Why is herb robert called 'death come quickly?'

Death-come-quickly: If the plant is picked and taken into the home, a death will soon follow.

The herb robert gets one of its nicknames, "Stinking Bob," from the scent that the leaves emit when crushed; it's said to be similar to the smell of burning rubber!

Common daisy

Botanical name: Bellis perennis 5

Common name:

Daisy, English daisy, Lawn daisy, Meadow daisy, Woundwort,

Bruisewort

Popular cultivars: 'Rob Roy', 'Dresden China', 'Pomponette'

Woodland strawberry

Botanical name: Fragaria vesca 5

Common name:

Carpathian Strawberry, Fraisier Des Bois, Wild strawberry,

Wood strawberry, Alpine strawberry, European strawberry

Popular cultivars: 'Elsanta', 'Sparkle', 'Elegance Lauren’, 'Albion', 'Mara des Bois'

Genus: Strawberries (Fragaria)