Hello lovely girls,
I hope you are all well, and that it's not too cold where you are. We've had some chilly days but never below freezing, which would be considered mild in some places in the world.
Today's blog is rather photo-heavy, so just skip the bits you're not interested in.
Let me start by showing you my postcard for today:
This unusual card comes to me from the Netherlands. It shows different kinds of grasses. Very interesting as I know nothing about them.
This is the information on the back of the card:
I will show you some clearer images of the above plants. If this does not interest you, please just scroll past this.
Well, I suppose everyone knows what a common dandelion looks like:
Then there is False Oat-grass, which I knew but never knew it was called that:
Wikipedia writes: Outside of its native range (All over Europe including Iceland) it can be found elsewhere as an introduced species. It is found especially in prairies, at the side of roads and in uncultivated fields. The bulbous subspecies can be a weed of arable land. It is palatable grass for livestock and is used both as forage (pasture) and fodder (hay and silage).
Next one up is Cock's Foot (Dactylis glomerata)
Wikipedia writes:
Dactylis glomerata is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae, known as cock's-foot, also colloquially as orchard grass, or cat grass (due to its popularity for use with domestic cats). Then there is Agrostis capillaris (Common Bent)
Agrostis capillaris, the common bent, is a perennial in the grass family (Poaceae). It is native to Eurasia and has been widely introduced in many parts of the world. Colonial bent grows in moist grasslands and open meadows, and can also be found in agricultural areas, roadsides, and invading disturbed areas. The name Agrostis comes from the Greek word meaning forage plant, agros meaning "a field".
Below is an image of Stipa Gigantea (Golden oats):
Despite being renamed and placed within the genus Celtica, it is still widely referred to—both in horticultural literature and amongst gardeners—by its synonym, Stipa gigantea.
The last one is Ribworth Plantain (Plantago Lanceolata):
The species can live anywhere from very dry meadows to places similar to a rain forest, but it does best in open, disturbed areas. It is therefore common near roadsides where other plants cannot flourish; it grows tall if it can do so, but in frequently mowed areas it adopts a flat growth habit instead. Historically, the plant has thrived in areas where ungulates graze and turn up the earth with their hooves.
Songbirds eat the seeds, and the leaves are eaten by rabbits.
The stamps on the card are really pretty. Top left there is a stamp entitled 'Let's Twist Again'. It's from a series called 'Senior People' issued in 2009 and it's about leisure activities of the elderly:
Let's Twist Again is about a radio program called Gouwe Ouwe (Golden Oldies) with music from the 60s.
The middle stamp is about the expansion of the European Union.
It was issued in 2004 and is about Malta.
The stamp top right comes from a series of Christmas stamps from 2002:
The last stamp is from 2005
I've not been able to find out much about this stamp other than it's from a series called 'Buildings'.
So, what has been happening in my corner of Spain? Not much excitement really (which is not a bad thing). On Sunday my friend Antonia and I went on a long walk organized by the local town council.
Quite a lot of people joined. There was a bus load of people plus those who came to the starting point in their own cars.
The weather was gorgeous; not a cloud in the sky. Above you can see me from the back walking on a flat bit and talking to a friend.
It was wonderful to see the almond blossom!
As today is T-Day, I will show you a drink:
When we got off the coach, Antonia and I decided we deserved a beer after having walked 12 km. I'm having a 'Tostada' beer.
(This is for Jo: A tostada is sparkling reddish, amber beer with a creamy head and aromas of coffee, cocoa and a pleasant hint of caramel. It is a full, weighty beer, rich in toasted flavours, combining a gentle sweetness balanced with herbal freshness. It is smooth with a subtle bitter aftertaste.) I know Jo knows a lot about beer and no doubt she has tried this one.
Sorry this has been so long. Well done if you made it to the end.
I'm going to join the T-Party hosted by Elizabeth and Bluebeard. See you there!
Happy T-Day!
Lisca
12 comments:
I don't know much about naming grasses, but they are pretty to look at once they grow and flower. Thanks for the lesson of names. And that walk looks great. We don't have almond trees where I live so it wonderful to see them and how they blossom. I was wondering if I saw some in Greece blooming last year, but perhaps since it was March it was too late. And your beer looks and sounds delicious too. I hope you have a super T day and week ahead. hugs-Erika
I've planted cat grass before and it even grows well inside. Bleubeard loves it. Squiggles, not so much. But he is also not fond of catnip and Bleubeard goes crazy over it. Turns him into a kitten.
You had a very long walk. And it was good to see almond blossoms. They grow in the southern part of my state.
Your beer actually sounds good, even if it is not a stout. Thanks for sharing your postcard and grasses, as well as your beer with us for T this Tuesday, dear Lisca.
I´m reading your blog having my secont giant cup of Tea-Rex and my microwave-tiger, outside -3C and with the cellar underneath... cccccold.
Beautiful postcard! I have a jewelry pendant with weeds in it. And two with dandelions.
To the twist! And oh, the well deserved beer sounds super-yummy!
Have a happy T-Day
Those beautiful grasses deserve to be appreciated as we did when we were children! Did you know that banana trees are actually giant grasses!? It's true. Aloha to you!
Beautiful plants, I think grasses always look so lovely blowing in the wind 😊. Sorry for not visiting at T Day last month, we've just got back from Tenerife; I hope you had a wonderful January! Happy February and T Day ❤️. Hugs, Jo x
It’s good to take a systematic look at this subject. I always just think “grass” which is dumb of me.
best…mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Another post that's reminding me Spring is around the corner and not to think of the snow arriving on Thursday. Yes, after that walk you and your friend deserved a beer. Happy T Day
The grasses are beautiful and so often under-appreciated. I have a few grasses in my garden and I love to watch them swaying in the wind. We had some freezing days in January, so I'm not sure whether the almond trees already bloom - there are a lot of them in California. Walking 12 km is quite a lot - that's more like a hike than a walk. So lovely that you can do them with friends and acquaintances. The beer looks and sounds very yummy, I think I would have liked it - I like dark amber beer if it's not too bitter. Happy T day! Hugs - Carola
Happy T-day, Lisca. Very interesting information on the grasses and stamps. I always learn things when visiting you. Lovely walk pictures and fabulous looking/sounding beer. I am impressed with your long walks. Have a great week. Hugz
I've never seen a beer that smells like coffee and chocolate, hope it tasted just as delicious. Loved seeing all the grasses, I may have all of these (weeds?) grasses in my jungle garden at the moment, and I bought cat grass seed for the kitties at xmas. Looks like a lovely day for a walk, Happy T Day Lisca!
Beer that smells like coffee? Oh, I had to laugh when you said photo heavy, because mine was this week, too. I enjoyed learning about the different grasses and plants. Oh, what fun to go on a community walk. Thanks, Lisca. Happy T day.
Dear Lisca, I always find your postcard and stamp research extremely informative. I like it! And the senior stamps are somehow touching. I also like the sunny walk you took, my favorite photo is the one of you with the almond blossom. As for the Tostada beer, you've made me curious: "aromas of coffee, cocoa and a pleasant hint of caramel" sounds very exciting! When I come to Spain again, I want to try it.
All the best from Austria, Traude
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