View allAll Photos Tagged herbicides

DISTINCTIVE finch and a familiar garden resident. IN THE PAST, flocks would have been widespread on arable farms, but the disappearance of winter stubble fields and the prevalent use of herbicides means that the species occurrence in the countryside at large is increasingly localised.

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THANKING YOU for your friendship, please leave a comment, and I will look forward to visiting your stream to see your latest posting..

Enjoy your new week, stay safe, God bless.................Tomx

 

Can often be seen growing with Hogweed but differs in having round pink-to brown-tinged flowerheads with a green to purplish stem, a great attractive plant for pollinating insects. We tend to take for granted what pollinating insects do for us yet we have lost so much of our wild flower meadows in the UK and around the world there's the destruction of the rain forests and huge volumes of pesticides and herbicides (including the dreaded Roundup) being used that is taking its toll on the insect world. 75% of the food we eat is on our plates because of what pollinators do, will we ever learn. And for a bit of banter my Victoria Sponge cake could even become extinct in the near future.

 

This field of poppies near Royston in England stretched pretty near as far as the eye could see. They were there because the herbicide intended to suppress them didn't work. Small blessings... The linseed (flax) that were the intended crop make a lovely backdrop.

The blue & white Cornflowers were fabulous this year.

Last year there were only all blue, all white and pink.

Can thank the bees for making this blue & white flower.

 

It is now endangered in its native habitat by agricultural intensification, particularly over-use of herbicides, destroying its habitat. It is also, however, through introduction as an ornamental plant in gardens and a seed contaminant in crop seeds, now naturalised in many other parts of the world, including North America and parts of Australia.

 

Friday hooray. It means I get to sleep in on Saturday morning.

This is a wood sorrel blossom, more commonly thought of as yellow clover. This tiny "weed" is growing in the yard that I now refuse to use herbicides on. I love the beauty that macro photography has shown me!

 

Happy Macro Mondays!!

Comments and Critiques are most welcome on this picture and I'll glad to read them but my prime purpose of posting this picture is to spread the awareness about growing Danger of Genetically Modified Food.

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So what is GM Food???

Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods produced from genetically modified organisms (GMO) that have had their DNA altered through genetic engineering.These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content.

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Fair enough, so what's the problem with that?

No one can assure that what'll be the consequence of this genetic engineering in long run …. Might be good might be Really BAD (which is more likely) . . . . but if it goes into wrong direction then there is no turning back.

 

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/life/gm-food/dn9921

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What India has to do with this?

We are running on the risk of field test of GM food …. Because it is easy to do this test in developing countries due to weak regulations, lack of political will-power and last but not least high corruption rate.

 

In field test GM crops will be grown in open fields for testing but it won't be limited to that area …. The GM plants will produce seeds and they will spread in near and far areas with wind and water . . . .

 

This crop will the part of food chain so all the above levels of food pyramid will swallow the new "Genetic Code" directly or indirectly . . . .

 

So Developing nations are actually like Gini Pigs for GM crop testing.

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Is there someone doing something about it?

Ammm… sort of .. there is a trial happening in the supreme court of India … but -

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Supreme-Court-vacates-ban-order-on-GM-crops-trials/272520/

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For more information just Google – "GM food Danger"

 

Thanks for Reading

www.flickr.com/explore

  

PS : Un grand merci à toutes celles et ceux qui choisissent de regarder , de commenter et d'aimer mes photos . C'est très apprécié , comme vous l'avez constaté , je ne répond plus directement suite à votre commentaire juste pour dire en fait " merci et bonne journée " , mais en retour je passe laisser une petite trace chez vous sur une ou plusieurs de vos éditions . Merci de votre compréhension

 

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The Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) is a migratory species. This pretty dove can be seen in Europe in spring and summer. Its plumage is more contrasted than that of the Turkish Dove. The bird is also more discreet and shy, living mostly in wooded areas and little in urban parks. The Turtle Dove is widespread and fairly common in most of its range. However, local populations have declined due to habitat changes such as the destruction of hedges and crop transformation. Hunting is the most important threat to migrants, both during migrations and in the wintering areas. Heavy use of herbicides also plays a role in declines as they destroy many of the species' food plants.

The Turtle Dove is not currently considered endangered, but has become less common than in the past.

 

Image taken in a natural environment and from the car door fitted with the camouflage net.

  

PS: A big thank you to everyone who chooses to watch, comment and love my photos. It is very appreciated, as you noticed, I do not answer any more directly following your comment just to say in fact "thank you and good day", but in return I pass to leave a small mark with you on one or more of your editions. thank you for your understanding

This photo was taken from a vehicle on the way to Mũi Cà Mau or Cape Ca Mau. The water body in the photo is for the aquaculture of shrimps/prawns. It is surrounded by mangrove forests.

 

Cape Ca Mau is located 110 km southwest of Ca Mau city.

It used to be a stronghold of Viet Minh guerrillas during the American (Vietnam) War. Consequently, the area was chosen for the aerial herbicide spray missions, which severely damaged the mangrove forests.

 

After the Unification in 1975, the government in Hanoi ordered to convert the damaged mangrove forests to farmlands, which was not successful due to unfavourable soil conditions.

In the 1980s, shrimp farming was introduced, which accelerated the cutting of mangroves.

 

Introduction of an integrated aquaculture - agroforestry programme in the 1990s, which stipulated shrimp ponds owners to allocate a certain percentage of their land for regenerating mangrove forests, stopped the negative trends finally. Liberalisation of land transactions for those who are compliant with the above-mentioned landuse regulation also contributed to the conservation of mangroves.

 

Mui Ca Mau Biosphere Reserve including Mui Ca Mau National Park is now designated as a reserve for the Man and Biosphere Programme introduced by UNESCO.

The national park is also a Ramsar Site.

Clover's reputation has waxed and waned over the last century. Once considered a sign of a well-managed lawn, clover came to be considered a weed only after broadleaf herbicides hit the market.Today, gardeners are growing wise to the plant's many benefits. They plant clover to improve soil health, attract beneficial insects, and promote a healthy lawn.

 

More can be found at www.americanmeadows.com/grass-and-groundcover-seeds/clove...

New version for my "One of a kind" flower images project. I went for an artistic point of view :-)

   

Interesting facts:

   

This once-wild plant is native to Europe and was given its name due to rampant proliferation in cornfields. The seeds thrive in the same conditions as corn; open, sunny fields with moderately dry soil, yet over time, due to the over-use of herbicides in cornfields throughout Europe and the US, Cornflowers no longer reseeded themselves naturally.

   

Cornflowers are sometimes referred to by their nickname, "bachelor's button" due to an old practice when men wore a cornflower in a buttonhole of their suit, indicating they are in love or they were ready for courting. Cornflowers, or Bachelor Buttons, are also used as boutonnieres in weddings, often worn by the groom and his best man which is a more modern twist on this traditional symbol of love and devotion.

  

Papaver rhoeas, with common names including common poppy, corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, and red poppy, is an annual herbaceous species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is notable as an agricultural weed (hence the common names including "corn" and "field"). Especially in the Commonwealth, it is used a symbol of remembrance of the fallen soldiers and other military, during World War I and thereafter.

 

Before the advent of herbicides, Papaver rhoeas was often abundant in agricultural fields, as the plant thrives in areas of disturbed soil. Flushes of poppies may still appear in fields where herbicides are not used, as well as those in fallow. The corn poppy and its cultivars such as the Shirley poppy are widely grown in gardens, and are frequently found in packets of seed labelled "wildflower mixes".

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papaver_rhoeas

If you see spontaneous flowers among the ears of cultivated cereals you are almost sure that no herbicides were used there

 

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Do not use any of my images on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission.

All rights reserved - Copyright © fotomie2009 - Nora Caracci

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Vegetable fields covered with plastic sheeting, Weeds cannot grow, No need to spray herbicides, Reduce land and vegetable pollution.

 

Thank you for your kind words, happy weekend !

 

蔬菜田覆蓋塑膠布,雜草無法生長,不需要噴灑除草劑,減少土地和蔬菜汙染。

 

感謝您的美言,假期愉快 !

  

** quel Monde pour demain ? **

 

Plus d'un tiers des oiseaux ont disparu ces vingt cinq dernières années , Le facteur principal de cette érosion est l'intensification de l'agriculture, à travers deux processus. Le premier est l'homogénéisation et la perte des habitats : la diminution des prairies, des haies, des petites mares, des petits murets, etc., qui sont des habitats capitaux pour la reproduction des espèces. Le deuxième processus est l'utilisation de ce que l'on appelle l'agrochimie : les engrais et les pesticides, avec à la fois les insecticides, mais aussi les herbicides qui en éliminant les plantes, éliminent par ricochet les insectes. Les effets sont directs et indirects. Dans les plaines agricoles, les oiseaux sont principalement insectivores, donc ce sont des prédateurs en bout de chaîne alimentaire qui ont un rôle primordial sur la régulation des espèces d'insectes.

 

Image prise depuis la tente affût et dans un milieu naturel .

 

PS : Un grand merci à toutes celles et ceux qui choisissent de regarder , de commenter et d'aimer mes photos . C'est très apprécié , comme vous l'avez constaté , je ne répond plus directement suite à votre commentaire juste pour dire en fait " merci et bonne journée " , mais en retour je passe laisser une petite trace chez vous sur une ou plusieurs de vos éditions . Merci de votre compréhension

 

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** which World for tomorrow? **

 

More than a third of the birds have disappeared in the last twenty five years. The main factor of this erosion is the intensification of agriculture, through two processes. The first is the homogenization and loss of habitats: the reduction of meadows, hedges, small ponds, small walls, etc., which are crucial habitats for the reproduction of species. The second process is the use of what is called agrochemicals: fertilizers and pesticides, with both insecticides, but also herbicides which, by eliminating plants, eliminate insects by ricochet. The effects are direct and indirect. In agricultural plains, birds are mainly insectivores, so they are predators at the end of the food chain which have a primary role in the regulation of insect species.

 

Image taken from the hide tent and in a natural environment.

 

PS: A big thank you to everyone who chooses to watch, comment and love my photos. It is very appreciated, as you noticed, I do not answer any more directly following your comment just to say in fact "thank you and have a good day", but in return I pass to leave a small mark with you on one or more of your editions. thank you for your understanding

© All rights reserved.

** quel Monde pour demain ? **

 

Plus d'un tiers des oiseaux ont disparu ces vingt cinq dernières années , Le facteur principal de cette érosion est l'intensification de l'agriculture, à travers deux processus. Le premier est l'homogénéisation et la perte des habitats : la diminution des prairies, des haies, des petites mares, des petits murets, etc., qui sont des habitats capitaux pour la reproduction des espèces. Le deuxième processus est l'utilisation de ce que l'on appelle l'agrochimie : les engrais et les pesticides, avec à la fois les insecticides, mais aussi les herbicides qui en éliminant les plantes, éliminent par ricochet les insectes. Les effets sont directs et indirects. Dans les plaines agricoles, les oiseaux sont principalement insectivores, donc ce sont des prédateurs en bout de chaîne alimentaire qui ont un rôle primordial sur la régulation des espèces d'insectes.

 

Image prise depuis la tente affût et dans un milieu naturel .

 

PS : Un grand merci à toutes celles et ceux qui choisissent de regarder , de commenter et d'aimer mes photos . C'est très apprécié , comme vous l'avez constaté , je ne répond plus directement suite à votre commentaire juste pour dire en fait " merci et bonne journée " , mais en retour je passe laisser une petite trace chez vous sur une ou plusieurs de vos éditions . Merci de votre compréhension

 

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** which World for tomorrow? **

 

More than a third of the birds have disappeared in the last twenty five years. The main factor of this erosion is the intensification of agriculture, through two processes. The first is the homogenization and loss of habitats: the reduction of meadows, hedges, small ponds, small walls, etc., which are crucial habitats for the reproduction of species. The second process is the use of what is called agrochemicals: fertilizers and pesticides, with both insecticides, but also herbicides which, by eliminating plants, eliminate insects by ricochet. The effects are direct and indirect. In agricultural plains, birds are mainly insectivores, so they are predators at the end of the food chain which have a primary role in the regulation of insect species.

 

Image taken from the hide tent and in a natural environment.

 

PS: A big thank you to everyone who chooses to watch, comment and love my photos. It is very appreciated, as you noticed, I do not answer any more directly following your comment just to say in fact "thank you and have a good day", but in return I pass to leave a small mark with you on one or more of your editions. thank you for your understanding

Beautiful little meadow of cornflowers and pinks..Centaurea cyanus, commonly known as cornflower or bachelor's button, is an annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to Europe. In the past, it often grew as a weed in cornfields, hence its name.Cornflowers have an unfussy beauty..Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) are a UK native and once grew vigorously through our corn crops, patching the countryside with blue fields. But when farmers began using herbicides, they started to disappear and today are rare in the wild. They flourish instead in gardens

In my garden. La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.

 

Centaurea cyanus, commonly known as cornflower is native to Europe. In the past it often grew as a weed in cornfields (in the broad sense of the word "corn", referring to grains, such as wheat, barley, rye, or oats), hence its name. It is now endangered in its native habitat by agricultural intensification, particularly over-use of herbicides, destroying its habitat.

 

In the United Kingdom it has declined from 264 sites to just 3 sites in the last 50 years. However, through introduction as an ornamental plant in gardens and a seed contaminant in crop seeds, now naturalised in many other parts of the world.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaurea_cyanus

Papaver rhoeas, with common names including common poppy, corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, and red poppy, is an annual herbaceous species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is native to north Africa and temperate Eurasia and is introduced into temperate areas on all other continents except Antarctica.

 

It is regarded as an agricultural weed (hence the common names including "corn" and "field"). As the plant thrives in areas of disturbed soil, it was often abundant in agricultural fields before the advent of herbicides. Flushes of poppies may still appear in fields where herbicides are not used, as well as those in fallow. The corn poppy and its cultivars such as the Shirley poppy are widely grown in gardens, and are frequently found in packets of seed labelled "wildflower mixes". Since World War I, it has been used in the Commonwealth as a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers.

cornflower or bachelor's button, is an annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe. In the past it often grew as a weed in cornfields (in the broad sense of "corn", referring to grains, such as wheat, barley, rye, or oats), hence its name. It is now endangered in its native habitat by agricultural intensification, particularly over-use of herbicides, destroying its habitat. It is also, however, through introduction as an ornamental plant in gardens and a seed contaminant in crop seeds, now naturalised in many other parts of the world, including North America and parts of Australia.

Papaver rhoeas (common names include common poppy, corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, or red poppy) is an annual herbaceous species of flowering plant in the poppy family, Papaveraceae. This poppy is notable as an agricultural weed (hence the common names including "corn" and "field") and after World War I as a symbol of dead soldiers. Before the advent of herbicides, P. rhoeas sometimes was abundant in agricultural fields. The corn poppy and its cultivars such as the Shirley poppy are widely grown in gardens.

Papaver rhoeas, with common names including common poppy, corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, and red poppy, is an annual herbaceous species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is native to north Africa and temperate Eurasia and is introduced into temperate areas on all other continents except Antarctica.

 

It is regarded as an agricultural weed (hence the common names including "corn" and "field"). As the plant thrives in areas of disturbed soil, it was often abundant in agricultural fields before the advent of herbicides. Flushes of poppies may still appear in fields where herbicides are not used, as well as those in fallow. The corn poppy and its cultivars such as the Shirley poppy are widely grown in gardens, and are frequently found in packets of seed labelled "wildflower mixes". Since World War I, it has been used in the Commonwealth as a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers.

The yellowhammer is a colourful member of the bunting family and, as its name suggests, its plumage is dominated by yellow. Males in particular are a very striking bright yellow, and in breeding plumage can appear almost canary–like, but with narrow black lines around the eyes and cheeks and a rustier breast. Females are much duller than the males, but are still obviously yellow, with brown face markings and brown streaking on the body, while juveniles tend to be a streaky brown with very little yellow showing. They can however be separated from most small brown birds by their combination of a rich chestnut rump and white outer tail feathers. The main cause for the yellowhammer’s plummeting numbers is the intensification of agriculture and the dramatic decline in arable and mixed farmland (more than 91% of Irish farmland is now under grass). Other contributory factors are the destruction and over-management of our hedgerows, and the widespread use of herbicides to kill weeds, robbing seed-eating birds like the yellowhammer of their natural winter food supply.

Papaver rhoeas, with common names including common poppy, corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, and red poppy, is an annual herbaceous species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is native to north Africa and temperate Eurasia and is introduced into temperate areas on all other continents except Antarctica.

 

It is regarded as an agricultural weed (hence the common names including "corn" and "field"). As the plant thrives in areas of disturbed soil, it was often abundant in agricultural fields before the advent of herbicides. Flushes of poppies may still appear in fields where herbicides are not used, as well as those in fallow. The corn poppy and its cultivars such as the Shirley poppy are widely grown in gardens, and are frequently found in packets of seed labelled "wildflower mixes". Since World War I, it has been used in the Commonwealth as a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers.

Flower gardeners can’t go wrong with the old-fashioned annual cornflower (Centaurea cyranus). This plant's double 1 1/2-inch blooms resemble miniature carnations and are easy to grow. Originally a native European and Asian pasture flower, cornflower was largely eradicated in its natural habitat by the use of modern herbicides due to the fact that it can reseed rampantly if not kept in check. Nevertheless, everyday gardeners should be awarded at least one "can’t-fail plant" in their garden, making this lightly fragrant addition perfect for a beginner’s landscape.

 

Cornflower's delicate papery discs are surrounded by bracts that flower atop slim stems of narrow gray-green leaves. Mature plants will reach a height of up to 48 inches, and a spread of 12 inches wide in all growing zones. Dense bright blue blooms last from spring through midsummer. This species also boasts several cultivars offering pink, white, and crimson flowers, as well.

www.thespruce.com/grow-bachelors-buttons-1315694

Papaver rhoeas, with common names including common poppy, corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, and red poppy, is an annual herbaceous species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is native to north Africa and temperate Eurasia and is introduced into temperate areas on all other continents except Antarctica.

 

It is regarded as an agricultural weed (hence the common names including "corn" and "field"). As the plant thrives in areas of disturbed soil, it was often abundant in agricultural fields before the advent of herbicides. Flushes of poppies may still appear in fields where herbicides are not used, as well as those in fallow. The corn poppy and its cultivars such as the Shirley poppy are widely grown in gardens, and are frequently found in packets of seed labelled "wildflower mixes". Since World War I, it has been used in the Commonwealth as a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers.

Papaver rhoeas, with common names including common poppy, corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, and red poppy, is an annual herbaceous species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is native to north Africa and temperate Eurasia and is introduced into temperate areas on all other continents except Antarctica.

 

It is regarded as an agricultural weed (hence the common names including "corn" and "field"). As the plant thrives in areas of disturbed soil, it was often abundant in agricultural fields before the advent of herbicides. Flushes of poppies may still appear in fields where herbicides are not used, as well as those in fallow. The corn poppy and its cultivars such as the Shirley poppy are widely grown in gardens, and are frequently found in packets of seed labelled "wildflower mixes". Since World War I, it has been used in the Commonwealth as a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers.

Last year I watched a handful of geese gobbling up dandelion seedheads. Many birds and animals eat them, so please DON'T use herbicides! Speaking of geese, I saw a few of them returning to our area a few days ago. Yay!

 

Thank you for your views and comments, much appreciated! Have a great day!

In January of this year I took a photo of these tall structures all dried out and dead. It was obvious that nobody had sprayed herbicide on this entire area, so what was it, I wondered. I could smell chocolate chip cookies.

I concluded, of course, that this was an elf village where the Keebler Elves lived and made all their various yummy cookies. They ran happily from dwelling to dwelling making and sharing their baked goods.

I was surprised that a lot of you agreed with me that it was indeed an elf village.

However, there were a couple of renegades in the bunch who thought that it might be an invasive vine like Kudzo.

I am disappointed to find out that they were correct. Here is what the village looks like today. I could not find one elf or even a cookie crumb lying about.

See my original Elf Village photo in the first comment!

SIGH ...

Almost harvest time. The poppies are confined to the margins, where they make a beautiful frame for the field. Presumably the use of herbicides prevents them joining forces with the cereal crop.

1 What’s in a name?

 

Despite their name, reed buntings will breed in a wide variety of habitats, including dry environments such as grassy sand dune systems and farm hedgerows. The use of drier habitats is a relatively recent phenomenon, possibly due to the loss of damper habitats.

 

2 Higher quantities

 

The densities of reed bunting are much higher in oilseed rape fields, than in those containing cereals or set-aside, thanks to the opportunities they provide for foraging and nesting. However, by early summer these fields are either cut or sprayed with herbicide. If the former occurs, any second broods will die, but they seem to be able to survive the latter.

 

3 Decoy birds

 

Males usually establish breeding territories in the same area as the year before, but leave the nest building to the female. The nests are usually low down in the vegetation, and eggs can be laid from early May onwards. If a predator stumbles near the nest, adults may feign injury in an attempt to draw them away from where the nest is hidden.

Monarch Butterfly(female)- Central Ontario, Canada

 

This beautiful species' future is at risk because of habitat loss, herbicide use, and climate change. We can all help my providing monarch friendly gardens through planting milkweed.

 

Feel free to follow me on Instagram @gregtaylorphotography

TWU Butterfly Garden, Denton, Texas

 

Centaurea cyanus, commonly known as cornflower or bachelor's button, is an annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe. In the past it often grew as a weed in cornfields (in the broad sense of "corn", referring to grains, such as wheat, barley, rye, or oats), hence its name. It is now endangered in its native habitat by agricultural intensification, particularly over-use of herbicides, destroying its habitat. It is also, however, through introduction as an ornamental plant in gardens and a seed contaminant in crop seeds, now naturalised in many other parts of the world, including North America and parts of Australia. (Wikipedia)

In a cornflower inflorescence

TWU Butterfly Garden, Denton, Texas

 

Centaurea cyanus, commonly known as cornflower or bachelor's button, is an annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe. In the past it often grew as a weed in cornfields (in the broad sense of "corn", referring to grains, such as wheat, barley, rye, or oats), hence its name. It is now endangered in its native habitat by agricultural intensification, particularly over-use of herbicides, destroying its habitat. It is also, however, through introduction as an ornamental plant in gardens and a seed contaminant in crop seeds, now naturalised in many other parts of the world, including North America and parts of Australia. (Wikipedia)

Papaver rhoeas, with common names including common poppy, corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, and red poppy, is an annual herbaceous species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is native to north Africa and temperate Eurasia and is introduced into temperate areas on all other continents except Antarctica.

 

It is regarded as an agricultural weed (hence the common names including "corn" and "field"). As the plant thrives in areas of disturbed soil, it was often abundant in agricultural fields before the advent of herbicides. Flushes of poppies may still appear in fields where herbicides are not used, as well as those in fallow. The corn poppy and its cultivars such as the Shirley poppy are widely grown in gardens, and are frequently found in packets of seed labelled "wildflower mixes". Since World War I, it has been used in the Commonwealth as a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers.

The apollo butterfly is the largest butterfly in Germany and unfortunately also the most endangered one. It is classified as critically endangered. There are only some very small isolated populations left. Reasons for the massive decline is again loss and destruction of habitat and the use of herbicides in agriculture. Photographing these beautiful butterflies was long on my bucket list. I really hope that the conservation measures will bring this unique butterfly back from the brink of extinction.

Sainte Sabine - Septembre 2022

These adult Monarchs hatch here in Ontario in late August. They cannot survive the Canadian winters, so as the hours of sunlight get shorter they fatten up for the 3,000 km (1,800 mile) journey to their winter nesting areas in central Mexico. These newly hatched Monarchs live about 9 months, and become fully reproductive while back in sunny Mexico. They are now on the Special Concern list because of habitat loss, due to logging and conversion of forests into agricultural land, back in Mexico. Widespread use of pesticides and herbicides, throughout their habitat range also threaten Monarchs. These monarchs are also fully tri-lingual, in English, French, and Spanish. Vuelo seguro mi amigo(a).

 

PLEASE: Do not post any comment graphics, they will be deleted. See info in my bio.

 

Hello All!

 

Get ready, it is time for my annual rant! Here is proof that dandelions are not the most wicked things in the world. I have seen countless birds eat raw dandelions like these goslings are doing, or dine on the ripened dandelion seeds. Fresh young dandelion greens are used for human consumption (salad greens) and are even being grown for commercial market. Many types of butterflies devour the nectar of dandelion flowers. See? Dandelions are not as bad as you may have thought.

 

I am really glad that there are organic pesticides and herbicides readily available. Better yet, just let the dandelions run their course which is easier and cheaper.

 

I appreciate you taking the time to read my rant, and view/comment on this image! THANK YOU! Have a wonderful today!

 

©Copyright - Nancy Clark - All Rights Reserved

In einem fränkischen Weinberg am Fuß des Steigerwalds fand ich diese Gerste-Mohn Pflanzengemeinschaft. Die Gerste wurde zur Begrünung der Weinbergszeilen angebaut, der Klatschmohn entstand wohl aus der Samenbank des Bodens, ein Zeichen, dass nicht mit Herbiziden behandelt wurde.

 

In a Franconian vineyard at the foot of the Steigerwald I found this barley poppy plant community. The barley was cultivated to green the vineyard rows, the poppy seed probably originated from the seed bank of the soil, a sign that it was not treated with herbicides.

Cornflower also known as bachelor's button is an annual flowering plant. It is now endangered in it's natural habitat by agricultural intensification and herbicides. It is naturalised in many other parts of the world.

Cowslips are one of the best known spring flowers. The cup-shaped, yellow flowers grow in nodding clusters on tall stalks. The leaves are oval with relatively wrinkled edges similar to the Primrose, but narrowing more abruptly into the stalk.

They can be found in open woods, meadows, pastures and roadsides. They tend to favour rank grasses and scrub rather than amongst large numbers of spring-grazing sheep.Its cultural history suggests that it was once as common as the Buttercup however, it suffered a decline between 1930 and 1980, mainly due to the loss of the grasslands where it grows. It's dramatic decline in the 1950s was due to the relentless advance of modern farming, particularly the ploughing of old grassland and the extension of the use of chemical herbicides. Fortunately, it is now showing signs of recovery and has begun to return to unsprayed verges and village greens as well as colonising the banks of new roads. It has probably been assisted by the scattering of wild flower seed mixtures. Vast masses have reappeared in Hertfordshire where grazing pressures have eased. the county flower of Northamptonshire, Worcestershire and Surrey.

In the 'Language of Flowers' it symbolises comeliness and winning grace

Cowslip allegedly means cowpat! Our ancestors noted that they tended to flower where a cow had ‘slupped'.

As an early spring flower, it is closely associated with much English folklore and tradition, including being strewn on church paths for weddings and adorning garlands for May Day.

In addition to The Tempest, the ‘freckled cowslip' also appears in Shakespeare's Henry V as a sign of a well-managed pasture.

Its scent is not dissimilar to that of an apricot. Richard Mabey describes the scent as 'faintly fruity and dill-like.'

Tea made from the flowers is meant to be good for insomnia, headaches and nervous tension. The scented flowers also make delicious wines.

Some of the many enchanting vernacular names include freckled face, golden drops, bunch of keys, fairies' flower, lady's fingers, long legs and milk maidens. Welsh names include dagrau Mair, 'Mary's tears'. Paigle is another name used rather indiscriminately for any wild primula.

The nodding flowers suggests the bunch of keys which were the badge of St. Peter. One legend is that Peter was told that a duplicate key to Heaven had been made and therefore let his keys drop. The Cowslip broke from the ground where the keys fell.

They share their family's tendency to produce a profusion of variations including the variety known to gardeners as 'Devon Red' and orange-flowered forms.

In a cowslip’s bell I lie William Shakespeare, "The Tempest"

Il a résisté à la canicule et au mistral !

C'est une espèce annuelle qui peut être rencontrée sur différents types de sols, même si elle préfère les alluvions argilo-sableuses, cette messicole a régressé voire a disparu d'une grande partie de son aire naturelle de répartition. Les populations plus disséminées et beaucoup plus fluctuantes, se retrouvent sporadiquement dans des milieux de substitution comme les bords de routes et les chemins perturbés, terrains moins soumis à l’épandage de désherbant. Face à la disparition des bleuets des champs, des programmes d'actions ont été mis en place dans des régions de France.

(Source Wikipédia)

It withstood the heatwave and the mistral wind!

It is an annual species that can be found on different types of soil, although it prefers sandy-clayey alluvial deposits. This messicole has declined, or even disappeared, from much of its natural range. More scattered and much more fluctuating populations are found sporadically in alternative environments such as roadsides and disturbed paths, areas less subject to herbicide spraying. Faced with the disappearance of field cornflowers, action programs have been put in place in certain regions of France.

(Source: Wikipedia)

In a scene mimicking years past, CP 5988 shuffles around the north entrance of Toronto Yard making its way toward the spray train consist in one of F Yard tracks. After coupling and hooking up some electronic systems, they head for the wye and subsequently depart westbound for MacTier, spraying herbicides along the right-of-way as they go.

A Tamarisk tree

Saltcedar is one of several common names for an invasive non-native tree that is spreading rapidly through the inter-mountain region of the western United States, through the Colorado River Canyons, the Great Basin, California and Texas. Other common names include tamarisk and salt cedar.

 

The tamarisk is degrading the rarest of habitats in the desert southwest - the wetlands. Saltcedar invades springs, ditches and streambanks. The tree has taken over more than 1 million acres of precious Western riparian resource.

 

Under good conditions, the opportunistic tamarisk can grow 9 to 12 feet in a single season. Under drought conditions, saltcedar survives by dropping its leaves. This ability to survive under harsh desert conditions has given the tree an edge over more desirable native species and causing a sharp decline in cottonwood populations.

 

The serious direct impacts of saltcedar are numerous. This invasive tree is now taking over and displacing native plants, specifically cottonwood, using its aggressive growth advantage in areas where natural native communities have been damaged by fire, flood or some other disturbance. Native plants have proven to be more valuable in retaining moisture on wetlands than tamarisk. The loss of these native species to tamarisk eventually leads to a net loss of water.

 

Insects are being investigated as potential biological control agents for saltcedar. Two of these, a mealybug (Trabutina mannipara) and a leaf beetle (Diorhabda elongata), have preliminary approval for release. There is some concern over the possibility that, due to the environmental damage caused by tamarisk, native plant species may not be able to replace it if the biological control agents succeed in eliminating it.

 

There are three methods of controlling the Tamarisk tree: mechanical, herbicides, and biological. In Caynonland, The Northern Tamarisk beetle is currently the most successful biological control agent for Tamarisk in North America. The Northern Tamarisk Beatles only attack the Tamarisk tree, they survive by eating the foliage.

 

Dead trees such as the one in this picture is an example of a Tamarisk tree killed by the beatles.

 

Farm equipment depot. Rural Oregon, United States.

Agrostemma githago. The Corncockle was once a common sight. Now extremely scarce in British arable fields due to the use of agricultural herbicides.

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