Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 30th July, 2014)

this is nowt to do with this pic but if you want take a grt pic take 1 of mr lowes house on Atherton rd nxt door to George formbys old house its being knocked down bet theres a lot of history there and what a grt building to photograph

Very nicee

It's looking very clean and lush. I emember those strong smelling pink plants. We used to squeeze the seed pods to make them explode

The plants are a nasty, invasive foreign plant called Himalayan Balsam - a kind of overgrown begonia. The Inland Waterways Association has been trying to get rid of as many of the plants as possible along the country's canals, and regular Work Parties are held to uproot them - fortunately they are easier to get rid of than the even nastier Japanese Knotweed.
There's a video of a pod being exploded here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw_ySsU-u8w

It looks very peaceful .The pink plants are called Himalayan balsam,looks nice but a complete nuisance

Absolutely freaked out when I touched one as a child.

We cant complain about foreign plant just because they have become invasive like the Himalayan Balsam.

If we had never imported any foreign plants Britain would be a much less colourful island than it is today, we wouldnt have had any Clematis,Roses,Rhododendrons,we wouldnt even have any Maris Pipers.

And if you think about it no Maris Pipers mean that we woudnt have had any any chip shops.

The Himalayan balsam gets away with because it has a pretty flower..but it is very invasive,it's taken over in a lot of places from last Summer in the countryside..a couple of years ago we were at WhiteCoppice and one of the cottages facing the cricket field was getting overgrown with it,I told the lady of the house what it was..when we went again she'd had it all removed.

I remember the plant being alongside the River Douglas 60 plus years ago so doubt they will ever get rid of it, also, although a bit scary, why shouldn't children today experience their exploding pods. It gave me a my friends a great laugh as we ran away in ignorant fright.

Don't forget it's crowding out grasses along riversides,grasses that provide food for birds and wildlife..plus crowding onto crop fields,I think a sensible person would sooner eat and see wildlife thrive rather than watch seed pods popping.

The biggest 'invader' is man. Overpopulation is destroying the planet.

Control, manage yes, eradicate totally no. Everything is fighting to exist- that's why they pop. I know about them and how they pop because we saw it as children, good, bad or indifferent it was an education for us. I don't much like stinging nettles but I don't want them wiped of the face of the earth. That's so narrow minded Maureen. Who knows what scientists of the future will learn and discover from the things we dislike, medicines etc etc. The cures and answers to all our problems now and in the future will come from Nature itself. The most toxic snake poisons that can kill humans in a few hours are providing researchers with vital clues into all kind of things. What do we do wipe out all the snakes in the world because they can bite us?

Pretty view Niel.....cheers!!!

Tell me Jean,how it could be controlled when it is so invasive..I know all about nature..it is a passion of mine..and wildlife..it isn't narrow mindedness by the way..just common sense AND concern for the wildlife.

Very well said Jean

Mick the all knowing creep has spoken..the man that pushes poor bees around a plate for fun.

Maureen. Why call someone a creep because they disagree with you. Also if you knew all about nature you would realise that wildlife, like we humans, are only minute pieces of the jigsaw. We are born of star stuff and we shall all return to them one day- even the plants you hate and the wildlife you love. You only have a few billion years to wait. PS In answer to your question which is a good one 'Tell me how it could be controlled' If we knew how to control everything we wouldn't have cancer or old age, maybe one day we will know. We know so little about nature that is what makes it so wonderful.

Now Now Our Maureen, Like Jeans says there might be a cures for cancer in those Himalayan Balsam when its mixed with the right stuff.

I dont think the good lord would put them on earth for no reason at all.

And it might be proven in years to come that pushing bees around with a stick might improve the honey.

Both of you get onto GOOGLE and read.
And there I rest my case.

Sorry Maureen if you have taken offence. I just feel everything is fighting to survive, even the things we don,t like. Surely the right thing is we learn and teach our children what we believe is good but also what can harm them. These are my observations and opinions only Maureen, please don,t take offence as I don,t proclaim to be any kind of daughter of wisdom.

Jean,I haven't taken offence,I read constantly about wildlife and nature..it actually pains me to think that little birds and other small
animals could be on the decline because of anything that's invasive..it's normally man's interference that meddles with nature
I suppose we could have a conversation on this subject for a long time but we aren't the experts..I suppose time will tell..plants Jean..I spend nearly all my Summer in Garden Centres,I'm a happy person among plants,my garden is full of them,wild and cultivated ones,have recently got butterfly bushes for wildlife,I keep jars of honey for exhausted bees..it does work believe me..let us stay cyber friends Jean..life's too short not to.

I agree with you all!

Hello Mr Bellamy..ha ha.

I second that!

Well hello Sir David..how are you..ha ha.

You all know your stuff.

Hello Monty..just watched you on TV
tonight,how's Carol and Joe keeping..love your dog..and enjoyed your trip to France..but love the Italian gardens the most.

How nice Maureen, I'll send you a rose from Long meadow. Keep watching the show.

That's very kind of you Monty,I do love a pink rose,and I wouldn't miss your show for anything..it's my Friday night favourite.

David / David, Not enough I'm afraid for me. Weak if not pathetic contribution. I agree with you all on a forum???? How does that work?