Teasel and Darter

Teasel was named from the use, in times past, of its spiny heads to 'tease' out the separate fibres of wool before spinning or to raise the pile or 'nap' of finished cloth.

Children have used the heads to make toy hedgehogs and sometimes makeshift hairbrushes.

It is common on waysides and rough ground and by water throughout much of the British Isles. It is also widely picked for flower arrangements.

I took this photo last week on one of my foggy walks to Rodden Reserve. I like the arrangement of leaves that create a heart in the centre.

Like its name suggests, this darter is common and sometimes abundant throughout England, Wales, Ireland and is sporadically found in much of Scotland.

The flight season in mild autumns has been known to last through November and in rare instances December.

This one was most obliging in perching on a post at Rodden Reserve last week, after the fog had lifted.