If you go down to the woods today….

 

 If you go down to the woods today….

You may well see one of these these beautiful birds. Photo by Jacqueline Rackham Photography

We were both a bit on the tired side this morning and it’s not that surprising since we have only had one complete day of rest from training in the three months of LD. So we dropped down to a five km jog-walk through the woods today, taking more of the narrow pathways, since we were taking a few photos and enjoying the quite stillness. We did not need to be watching our footing on every stride as we usually do when running off road. It is still possible to find trails that we have never trodden before, and that was what occurred today. The early light through the trees takes your breath clean away sometimes. 

I was reminded this morning that not all of the pretty woodland plants are safe if you are out for the day walking with children. The warm weather has brought on some of the plants that we should all know about, before letting kids run a play in the woods. One of the most dangerous of these plants is the Giant Hogweed. Indeed it is a giant version of Cow Parsley that is was also so called Hogweed that, and is not a danger and grows everywhere in the countryside. The Giant Hogweed plant grows to three or four times the size of Cow parsley and the flower heads are the size of parasols; Still pretty though.

Children seem to like the break the stems and use them as flutes or wands. They seem drawn to the huge plants to play under them and that is the danger. They are most striking plants but I think you will find that they are most dangerous in sunlight, it’s a chemical reaction. Touching the plants can result in dreadful blister burn injuries. I know this because my own daughter suffered a blister on her leg as a child many years ago. They may even leave a stain on the skin after the burn has healed. 

The Foxgloves are out now just a little early we noticed this morning and although the plants are used in medicine, please read my Google search for this morning here.  Country people seem to know which plants to watch out for and which are a danger, but townsfolk are less likely to know.

Foxglove

Chemicals taken from foxglove are used to make a prescription drug called digoxin. Digitalis lanata is the major source of digoxin in the US. Foxglove is most commonly used for congestive heart failure (CHF) and relieving associated fluid retention irregular heartbeat.

Foxglove is a plant. Although the parts of the plant that grow above the ground can be used for medicine, foxglove is unsafe for self medication. All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) was introduced as an ornamental species. It was first recorded in the wild in the mid 19^th century and is now widespread with a preference for river banks. As well as outcompeting native plant life, Giant Hogweed poses a risk to human health. The sap of the plant can cause the skin to burn and become sensitive to sunlight.

Come blackberry time Deadly Nightshade is such a pretty plant and grows in the same kind places as other berries but it is deadly.