This time of year produces the greatest variation of green leaves on the ground. Hedge woundwort, Stachys sylvatica, which has bright, pale leaves, perfectly formed is particularly striking.
The appearance of these leaves is very timely as they can be used to heal wounds and, as the name suggests, they soothe the scratches from wild roses and bramble that are constantly attacking me in GEM3.
Broad buckler fern is also a very telling shade of green and has also been used to heal wounds and in a variety of other medicinal prescriptions. There are two plants in GSM3, one in Brambly hedge (pictured below in a muddle of other plants) which is almost completely developed and another, larger example in M3 proper behind the large birch tree. This second one shows no sign of frondingb and the leaves are tightly packed as dark brown lumps in the centre of the plant. This second fern grows in a dark and shady place which may account for its longer dormancy.
