Teasel

Beautiful crispy white frosty morning and the ground crunched underfoot while walking across the fields. The teasels stood out because of their height, with the sugar like coating catching the occasional ray of sunshine. With a busy day ahead with friends dropping in and then a birthday party tonight I wanted to do this early but for me there is no such thing as a quick blip!

I like this because it is a very striking architectural looking plant which the birds in the garden love because of the seeds.

The word teasel comes from the Anglo/Saxon word 'taesan', to tease cloth, which involved the teasel heads being attached to a wheel which was turned in order to raise the nap on woollen cloth.

The bruised roots were used for ointment; good for warts and canker. Dew and rainwater which collected in the cup or little basin forming in the leaf was supposedly good for eye-wash years ago. The genus name of Dipsacus from the Greek word meaning 'thirsty', is very appropriate.

Especially appropriate today with bubbles on the menu tonight .................. thirsty.... oh yes!
Addition - birthday girl has gone down with the lurgy so postponed celebrations :(