Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare), sometimes called Sword Thistle, is a large biennial plant with a deep taproot and formidable spines. 

They were introduced to eastern North America in the 1800's and is native to Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. Here at Leaning Oaks it only grows in disturbed areas, such as the lawn, the edge of the vegetable garden or where a wind-thrown tree brings up mineral soil and lets the light in.  We do try and get rid of them as soon as they come up--however this one had to stay until it flowered becasue we needed a photograph for "Species-A-Day"! In some jurisdictions they are on the noxious weed list for good reason.  The large purple flowers are favourites of a variety of introduced and native bees and butterflies and the seed heads attract American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins.  The stems are reportedly edible when peeled, but I admit I've never braved the armature to try them out. 

As you might guess from the name, Pacific Water-parsley grows in wet areas.  Here it grows in the lowest portion of the property, along the road and the trail that borders two sides of Leaning Oaks. The latin name is Oenanthe sarmentosa.  This is one of the genus names that is used for both a plant and an animal, in this case Oenanthe is used for a bird as well, the Wheatear.  Oenanthe has the same root word as is used for Oenophile, meaning relating to wine, and a species of Oenanthe was used to flavour wines.  (The bird name  also references wine, since the arrival of Wheatears in Greece happens at the same time grapes are flowering). 

There is documentation of this species being both edible and medicinal, however, there are also references suggesting it is poisonous and warning agains its consumption.  Given this, plus the fact it would be relatively easy to mistake several other deadly poisonous plants for this species it seems ill advised to try eating or self medicating with this plant.

Another species of Oenanthe was the raw ingredient of  a poison used to euthanize the elderly in ancient Sardonia. The effects of the poison resulted in a smiling grimace on the face of the victim - which is the origin of the phrase "Sardonic grin".  

Petty Spurge is an introduced annual weed that is common at Leaning Oaks in cultivated areas, disturbed sites and gravelled paths.  This plant (Euphorbia peplus) has a number of common names including Milkweed (which is terribly confusing since another genus entirely is also called Milkweed) and Cancer Weed.  The name Cancer Weed is because the toxins in the milkly sap of this plant have an ingredient that has been shown to slow rapidly dividing cells down, and it has been used to treat cancerous lesions. 
The milky sap is also very bitter, and the plant doesn't seem to be consumed by either deer or rabbits here.  Fortunately it is rather easily pulled or hoed out of the ground.

Alsike Clover  (Trifolium hybridum) is a widely grown, non-native plant.  It is used as a forage crop and is a common escapee on disturbed lands, road edges and lawns.  Here at Leaning Oaks, it is found in our lawn, along with White Clover.  Its latin name is based on Linneaus' mistaken impression that this is a hybrid of White Clover and Red Clover.  The common name is also of Linneaus' doing, his type specimen came from the town of Alsike in Sweden.  Hanging out around clovers is a great way to see lots of pollinators, particularly bumble bees.

There are two subspecies of  Prunella vulgaris found in our area. The native subspecies, Prunella vulgaris ssp. lanceolata  is circumboreal and has more lancolate shaped leaves that are three times as long as wide, while the European introduction Prunella vulgaris ssp. vulgaris has leaves that are rounder and the length is about double the width. These were found in the disturbed ditch along the road. 

It doesn't really mater which you have; both are great for pollinators, bloom later than many other of the wild bloomers and both have a long list of medicinal uses. Self-heal is used for fever reduction, sore throats, heart and skin conditions, to stop itching, excessive menstruation and burns. References to the benefits of self-heal can be found in Chinese literature from over 2000 years ago where it is attributed with aiding liver and kidney problems. 

Sticky bedstraw, stickywilly, catchweed, grip grass, stickyweed, clivers, goosegrass or robin-run-the-hedge; it doesn't really matter what you call Galium aparine,  this sticky, floppy plant can wend its way around other plants, through fences and be a bugger to get rid of.  While green, the "stickiness" is caused by small hairs on the leaves that point backwards. Although considered edible (and the dried, ground seed pods apparently make a decent coffee substitute), I can't imaging eating something with those catchy hairs. 

I was curious about the origins of "robin-run-the-hedge" and it turns out that it refers to a character from an English tale of the early 15th century, Robin Goodfellow. This magician could change form and was a bit of a scoundrel, showing up everywhere including gardens and maidens beds. 

I was totally amazed to find out that this invasive is native! Thanks Marta for help in identifying this plant. There is a non-native species of Galium (Galium spurium ) that is similar and can be found on southern Vancouver Island. It's flowers are a bit smaller and the flowers are a greenish cream colour. 

Biomimicry
Here in silhouette are the dried seed pods, ready to snag on to any animal's fur or material and be dispersed! It was from these seeds that Swiss engineer, George De Mestral got the idea for what was to become Velcro. After a walk in the woods in 1948 and picking 100's of these cursed seeds off the dog and his clothing (examples below) he examined them under a microscope to see what was holding them on. The rest is history as they say. It took a lot of work to determine densities of hooks, the necessary rigidity as well as manufacturing methods--but it happened and in 1955 Velcro was patented; the word being a combination of velour and crochet. 
** We had it pointed out to us (via @VictoriaNHS)  by a biomimicry specialist (David Parr) that it really was burdock that was the original "Velcro" and not these guys! Both are in the literature -but if you do go to the actual Velcro site...it is burdock. And check out David's website; some really cool stuff http://www.biomimicron.com/  **

This week has given us a new appreciation for this plant and its role in our garden and the ecosystem.  We have several clumps planted behind the bench by the pond and we were sitting on the bench after dinner when Leah grabbed her camera and started shooting insects visiting the white flowers.  Dozens and dozens of insects has their faces buried in the centre of the Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) flowers, including Carrot Wasps,  Helictid bees, Bumble Bees, several species of beetles, flies, Paper Wasps, Potter Wasps, butterflies, the list went on and on....and the same the next time with yet more species being added.  So, depending on our ability to identify this bounty, you can expect to see some photos of cool insects on the distinctive papery white flowers of this plant in future posts.

Pearly Everlasting is in the daisy family, and its flowers are good "everlastings", easily cut and dried for bouquets.  The white flowers gleam in a summers evening, and its easy to see why one of the other common names is Moonshine.  

Slender and delicate,  Piperia transversa blooms after the basal leaves have died off. They are about 25 cm tall and grow in the dappled sunlight of the dry Douglas-fir forest. The flat-spurred orchid (another name that more accurately describes this species)  doesn't bloom every year at Leaning Oaks so we were quite pleased with the number that popped up this year. The name "transversa" comes from the long spur that crosses the main stem....transversely!  The close up shows this well. The similar orchid that is found in the area; P. elegans, doesn't have the green mid-line in the flowers, flattened spur or a scent.  

The best part of this flower is the yummy vanilla and honey smell that gets stronger as the evening wears on. Although there was some discussion whether it was cloves or vanilla.  I'm right. 

Wall lettuce (Mycelis muralis ) is an introduced annual, biennial or perennial herb often found in the garden, in cracks in rocks and in disturbed areas around Leaning Oaks.  It is yet another yellow-flowered introduced weed in the garden, and like Dandelion, Hairy Cat's Ear and Sow Thistle, it is spread by wind borne seeds. It was formerly included in the genus Lactuca which includes the familar garden lettuce, and like those species has a milky sap. 

Nipplewort (Lapsana communis) is another alien species well established at Leaning Oaks.  A common weed in the garden and along path edges it thrives in the light shade under our Garry Oaks.  The plant starts it's growth as a basal rosette, but shoots up quickly in June and July produces yellow daisies on branches inflorescences.  Several websites say the plants common name is from the similarity of the buds to human nipples.  This, I think, is the result of botanists spending unhealthy amounts of time isolated from human companionship in remote locations. 

An alternate explanation is that the plant was used to treat ulcers on nipples.  This species is also used as a spring vegetable, although I have never tried it so I can't vouch for its palatability.