Lynne Allbutt

Wonderful Weekend Walks

Woodland Walks
Sunday 11th October is officially Seed Gathering Sunday, even though the Tree Council have actually extended this ‘day’ to be a month long event (23rd Sept- 23rd October) as seasons are changing and to give people more of an opportunity to go out for walks, gather seeds and plant trees for the future.   There are numerous organised events, with Walk Leaders and lots of information available.  Visit  www.treecouncil.org.uk, or call infoline: 020 7940 8180 for more details or visit www.treecouncil.org.uk where you can download tips and a helpful Seed Gathering Chart. 

Tree-mendous
There are some great quotes about planting trees.  Author,  Nelson Henderson said, “The true meaning of life is to plant a tree under whose shade you never expect to sit”;  A  Chinese proverb advices, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is now.”  And a lovely Welsh proverb teaches, “ A seed hidden in the heart of an apple is an orchard invisible.”

Taken from Lynne Allbutt's Green Scene for the Western Mail 10.10.09    Tippy pictured above

Berry Good for the Birds

To provide natural food for the birds, plant honeysuckle, ivy and hawthorn in your garden or hedgerow.  The adult birds will enjoy the berries whilst the plants also attract insects that will provide food for the young chicks too.
I have noticed Clients are choosing more and more shrubs with decorative orange and yellow berries (instead of red) as the birds don’t take them.  This means that the berries can be enjoyed well into the Winter months. Ironically, however, it is because the birds don’t like these berries that they leave them alone which means they are more likely to go hungry.  By all means keep your beautiful berries but don’t forget to give the birds an alternative too.

Taken from Lynne Allbutt's Green Scene column in the Western Mail (Media Wales) 3rd October 09

Flower Power

Certain flowers will suit your Star Sign; for that extra ‘flower power’ match the blooms with birth signs:
Aquarius – Bird of Paradise                          
Pisces – Lilies
Aries – tulips
Taurus – sweet peas
Gemini – daffodils
Cancer – delphiniums
Leo – sunflowers
Virgo – violets
Libra – freesias
Scorpio – red hot pokers
Sagittarius – alliums
Capricorn -  snowdrops

Butterfly Trivia

Some butterflies have a top speed of 12 miles per hour.

Most butterflies only live for between 20 and 40 days.

Butterflies cannot fly if their body temperature falls below 86 degrees.

So now you know!