As you can tell from the photos, the garden at Rumwoldstow has got away from me. Where are the energetic nuns and monks when we need them eh? But the plus side is lots of flowers for bees and butterflies.
Al busy working on a spear shaft. Look at the elecampane!Brother Aethelwine took a turn at digging but it was TOO HOTThere’s a small clear patch…The wormwood is taking overGreen Lane is very greenOne pear! On the Louis Bonne of Jersey.The Wyken Pippin to the right has some apples growing for the first year ever, but the Uvedale St Germain pear (left) and Hambledon Deux Ans (middle) did not set fruit, despite having plenty of flowers.Looking up towards damson, plum, medlar and cherry (left to right)The black poplar is doing wellWe have lots of meadowsweetDamsons on the Shropshire PruneAlas, very little fruit on the medlar this yearCan you see the plum? In fact there are plenty more lurking in the undergrowth; the Rivers Early Prolific is starting to live up to its name.The first ever plum from the Rivers Early Prolific! Small but tastyRachel’s rowan, self seeded from Kennington in Oxford, is just about keeping pace with the grass. Planted out this year.The old apple tree has some fruitI think the quince tree is in there somewhere? No fruit this year, in fact I didn’t see any flowers either. But the tree is growing.Lots of habitat for white butterflies and small beasts generallyLooking back into Rumwoldstow from the orchard
Returning to the elecampane, it appears to be a plant with many medicinal uses and also an edible potherb known to the Celts and Romans. It was known as ‘elfwort’. The roots can be candied or used as a flavouring; they contain up to 44% inulin, a naturally occurring polysaccharide that humans do not digest well. The leaves are apparently bitter but edible, preferably cooked; I have not yet tried this! Medically, it appears to be extra good for lung function and coughs, which is of particular interest in these days of COVID-19. Of immediate benefit is the fact that the bees are all over it.
