WHEN people think of the natural history of autumn they think of migrating birds, hibernating animals, fruits and seeds and the last of the butterflies soaking up the occasional warm rays of the sun.

Far too few people give a thought to the late blooming flowers which can delight our hedgerows.

After the awful summer we have endured it was a joy to walk around the Pleasington area with the sun on my back enjoying the sheer beauty of the riverside and hedgerow.

I spotted the plant known as Himalayan Balsam which is also known as Policeman's Helmet because of the shape of the flowers.

It is also called "touch-me-not". This is because of the seed pods which develop after the flowers have died away. These dry out and if they are touched they explode with an audible bang. The seeds fly out of the pods over a distance of several metres. This is how the plant is spread and the seeds also float. Himalayan Balsam is therefore seen around riversides. It is a pity that the plant does not have a pleasant smell because it is both interesting and pleasant to look at.

Also pleasant to look at is the Rosebay Willow Herb but no plant spreads as quickly as this plant with pink blossoms. The seeds which develop are white and cotton like and they are carried in the wind.

The Rosebay is one of the most common plants in Britain and although gardeners hate them, the flower is very pretty. The leaves are eaten by the huge caterpillars (up to 12 cm long) of the elephant hawk moth.

These insects are almost fully grown now and are beginning to pupate. They spend the winter buried in the ground beneath the Rosebay and emerge as adults in the late spring.

There are "two don'ts" to remember in the autumn. Don't forget the late blooming flowers and don't forget to keep an eye open for birds on migration. Good hunting!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.