Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary/Brunlig perlemorsommerfugl

Clossiana selene



This Fritillary's wing span is 33-44 mm. It is recognizable by the brown smears on the underside of the back wing and the striking dark and V-shaped spots on the seam of the back wing. In the almost similar Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Clossiana euphrosyne) are the smears reddy and the small spots at the seam of the back wing are brick red and triangular and not blackish brown and V-shaped. Seen from the upperside it is easily mistaken for other small fritillaries.

The spot pattern of the upperside varies and in rare cases is the basic colour white-yellow instead of orange-brown. The smears of the underside of the back wing varie from almost black till warm brown and the V-shaped seam-spots might be more or less sharp.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary flies in 2 generations from late May till mid July and again from late July till late August. Most numerous in 1. generation. Its habitats are meadows, pastures, hængesækmoser (special moors where plants are intertwined above water) and heath moors and small glades or broad road sides in forests. It is widespread and common locally all over the country (Denmark). The species seem however to be in a strong decline where agriculture and foresting are most intensive.

It overwinters as a half-grown caterpillar among withered foliage. The caterpillar's fodderplants are Viola-species. The flight is regular and sometimes hovering. It is attracted to numerous flowers, but Kærtidsel Marsh thistle (Circium palustre ) is a favourite.

Protection of the species: It thrives well upon meadows and moist pastures in woods and in small glades. Establishing of coppicing, where many small parcels are cleared for tree-growth with 15-30 years intervals would be good for the species. Besides should wood-meadows and moist pastures in woods be preserved.

Source: Michael Stoltze, Dagsommerfugle i Danmark, 1997


photo Gammel Ry, Midtjylland 21. August 2010: grethe bachmann

Gilleleje, a Fishing Port

Sjælland/Zealand is the largest island in the Danish archipelago with the capital Copenhagen on the east coast. The large population in Copenhagen needed seaside resorts, and they mainly found them at the northern coast at the waters of Kattegat. In the late 1800s wealthy bathing guests began visiting Gilleleje. In the beginning the fishermen rented their rooms for the tourists, while they moved out into the outbuildings themselves. Later came the bathing guesthouses and the holiday houses. Today are fine and popular seaside resorts like Tisvildeleje, Rågeleje, Udsholt Strand, Gilleleje and Hornbæk.




Gilleleje is at the northernmost point of Sjælland, Gilbjerg Hoved. At each side of Gilleleje are high dunes, now mostly grown with thickets, woods or herbs. Upon the steep dunes around Gilbjerg Hoved is a varied vegetation, and in the open glades in the woods is a rich herbal flora. Gilbjerg Hoved is one of the best bird migration places at Zealand from late March until the beginning of June. Yearly are seen ab. 10.000 buzzards and in one day ab. 100.000 finches. On a lucky day in April it is possible to watch large crane flocks.

The waves from Kattegat still change the beaches, the large stones stay, where they are, but the pebbles, grovel and sand are transported by the waves along the coast. The look of the beach changes from year to year, one year only a sandy beach, the next year a stony beach. In the middle of the area is Gilleleje fishing port.




The earliest permanent settlement in "Gyldeleye" = Gilleleje is from the early 1500s. An excavation in 1979 revealed a house site below some sand layers. The house was probably built soon after 1536 since a coin, dated 1534-36 was found at the spot. The cultural layer was according to findings of ceramics etc. dated to the late 1400s.

Gilleleje began as a fishing village ab. year 1500, and in 1588 lived ab. 70 families in the town. Besides fishing the population was allowed to cultivate some crops, like wheat, south of the town. They also had a pasture for cattle and sheep. East of the town was a brook coming from Søborg lake. Here was once Søborg castle , which is now a ruin.




From the 70 first families were only 18 families left in 1632 since many newcomers during the years made it impossible to catch enough fish, but the living conditions were stablilized, and in 1682 were according the Christian 5.'s archives 30 fisher families. Another and new problem was the drifting sand, which covered the fishing nets and delayed the work. Several houses in the eastern part of town were partly buried in sand and had to be abandoned.

The fishing town developed during the 1810s and 1820s and many houses were again built in the eastern part. A real port was built in 1873. This meant larger ships and more work and new families arrived. In 1890 were 865 households in Gilleleje - and 112 were fisher-families.




The outer port was finished in 1902 and Gilleleje continued the fishing work until 1940, when the Germans occupied Denmark. Like most other Danes people in Gilleleje were against the occupation and helped the jews by hiding them on church lofts. On 2. October 1943 wanted Gestapo to capture the rest of the Danish jews. The fishermen prepared for taking them across the sound to Sweden in their cutters. They could not leave immediately, though, because of the German patrols in the street. After several days of hiding, an informer let the Germans know where the roughly 75 Jews were hiding, and they were all captured, except a single boy who hid behind a gravestone in the cemetery. According to local lore, the priest was so mortified by the situation that he never really recovered from the experience. This was the largest "capture" Gestapo had in Denmark. After the occupation was over, several memorials have been put up in the town, both commemorating the Jews and the fishermen who lost their lives when colliding with seamines.

Today Gilleleje is Zealand's largest fishing port with both big and small fishing boats, arriving early in the morning with heavy loads of fish. The cosy harbour with fishing auctions, cold store houses and tarred well boxes is also a popular place for yachts.

Evening at the Gilleleje beach

Coast fishing is popular.....


the evening light changes from a misty grey.........



.........into the golden evening light. The coast fishers are still there like birds in the water ..........



...........and the sunset is both dark mystery and golden promise , a promise of the weather tomorrow? An old saying is that if the sun goes down in a sack it will rise in a brook!

But it was a lovely evening in Gilleleje. Fish had been bought from the fishermen and we had fried plaice with parsley sauce and new potatoes - the perfect dish in a holiday house at the sea!


photo Gilleleje 2008: grethe bachmann

Brown Argus /Rødplettet Blåfugl

Aricia agestis



Brown Argus has a wing span of 24-28 mm. It is recognizable on the warm chocolat brown upperside with the distinct orange spots, a dark mid spot on the front wing and conspicious dark ribs. The underside looks like the underside of Common Blue, but the upper black spots upon the edge of the back wing are placed above each other like a colon (:). In Common Blue they are displaced. It looks very much like Aricia artaxerxes (Northern Brown Argus), but is smaller and with more distinct spots and more conspicious black spots upon the underside. The Aricia artaxerxes flies however mid between Brown Argus' two generations.

Variation: The numbers and the size of the underside spots varie considerably.

Brown Argus flies mid May until late July and mid July until late August in 2 generations. Sometimes in a 3. generation in September. The flight is whirring and not especially persistent. It seeks nectare on many various flowers. Its habitat is unfertilized pastures, sea cliffs, fallow fields and other dry spots. It wanders about and is often seen far away from the breeding areas. It overwinters as a medium size caterpillar in the vegetation close to the surface. The caterpillar's fodderplants are i.e. cranesbill (Geranium) and storksbill (Erodium cicutarium).

The Brown Argus is locally seen in large numbers in suitable places, in Denmark at Røsnæs or Helgenæs, but the frequency is varied. The species seem to have grown during the latest years with a definite frequency-year in 1995.

Source: Michael Stoltze: Dagsommerfugle i Danmark., 1997.

photo Gl. Ry, Midtjylland august 2010: grethe bachmann

Fyrkat in Himmerland

Viking Fortification and Ring Castle


Fyrkat, reconstruction of longhouse
Fyrkat is situated in Jutland in the district of Himmerland west of the town Hobro.


Fyrkat, reconstruction of longhouse

A magnificent stone was found and the king of Denmark and Norway , Harald Gormsen - also known as Harald Bluetooth proudly told the stone mason to write the famous words: "Harald who won all Denmark and Norway and christened the Danes........ " The proud king left us more than the Jelling stone, Denmark's birth certificate, he also left us the Viking ring castles and bridges, spread out in the country. The Jelling stone still stands with the impressive words as they were made a thousand years ago, but the Viking fortifications had to be excavated and researched. Our knowledge have changed by the excavations of the royal fortifications, especially at Trelleborg and Fyrkat and the 5 Viking ships from Roskilde Fjord. The castles and bridges were found by coincidence, and there might be more discoveries like that in the future.


Fyrkat, inside the ring bank, 16 longhouses were placed here


Fyrkat, the house sites are marked with poles

Trelleborg near the town Slagelse at Zealand is one of the socalled ring castles from the Viking period. It is dated to 980 A.C. and probably built by Harald Bluetooth. It is one of four known ring castles unique of the Danish area. They are all built from a strict geometric ground plan with a circular bank and large houses inside the bank. Although the houses probably were built by people who only partly - or not at all - were professionals, they were managed by very skilled building masters. Outside the banks of Trelleborg were found burials of more than 150 Vikings and also some regular mass-graves. Trelleborg was the first excavated Danish ring castle - and the other following castles and houses were given a common name "Trelleborgene" and "Trelleborghusene". Although they are different, the fortifications all have the same general plan and an almost identical arrangement of the castle site. The Danish Viking fortifications are Trelleborg at Zealand, Fyrkat in East Jutland (Himmerland), Aggersborg in North Jutland (Vendsyssel) and Nonnebakken in Odense (Funen).


Trelleborg, reconstruction of longhouse(notice vertical uprights)


Fyrkat, the strong oblique oak uprights

As a building tradition the "Trelleborghus" belongs to the Viking period's common farm house. This common type, the longhouse, was used in northwestern Europe for many years. People and livestock lived under the same roof. Trelleborg was built ab. 981 and Fyrkat almost at the same time and with almost identical houses. The oak for the houses was cut down in the winter 980-81. Outside the ring bank at Fyrkat is a reconstruction of one of the large longhouses in the castle site. 16 houses like this were placed inside the ring bank. The Fyrkat-house is 210 m2 and built in 300 m3 rough oak timber. It is 28,5 m long and the curved walls give 7,4 m at the broadest place and 5 m at the gables. The roof is supported outside by oblique uprights, which made it possible to avoid or use fewer uprights inside the large common room.


Fyrkat, the longhouse inside


Fyrkat, at the entrance young swallows and a Viking pattern

The longhouse is divided inside in 3 rooms with a large room in the middle and 2 gable rooms. In some of the houses at Fyrkat were found traces of broad benches along the wall. It is estimated that 32 persons could sleep comfortably in a hall like this. There are few furniture findings from the Viking period. Only the richest people could i.e. afford a free-standing beds like in the ship burial at Oseberg (Norway). Or a throne. This was a sign of high status. Chairs are rare, but footstools and milking stools are not unusual.


Fyrkat, impressive oak

Hørdum church, North Jutland, runestone,Thors fight with the big snake
(click to enlarge)

In rich peoples' houses the walls might be covered in painted or carved panels or in wall carpets. In the Oseberg-burial was an artificial tapestry depicting some history of that time. An occassional poem from a wedding in the late 900s displays mythological scenes carved in the panels of a large house in Hjardalid at Iceland, where the feast was celebrated. One of the themes was Thor's fight with the Midgårdsorm (mythological snake) - a popular theme in Nordic art.


Vejle Ådal (river valley), the Ravning bridge

The most advanced fortifications in the Viking period was at Trelleborg, Fyrkat, Aggersborg and Nonnebakken. The bridge in Ravning is contemporary to these castles and at almost the same time were several smaller bridges built all over the country. The contemporary time between the castles and some of the bridges indicates they were the part of an overall plan. Already from the 700s people in England were obliged to take part in fortification and bridge-building and in military service. The Danish Viking fortifications were built during the German occupation of Sønderjylland and probably meant to be a response to the German threat. The castles and bridges were seemingly designed to enable a quick mobilization of warriors and provisions. A system like this was used by the Romans already in the 300s-400s and exactly the same in the 800s by the Franks and the English.


Fyrkat , area downside the ring bank with the western corner of a newly re-established lake


Fyrkat, the restaurant and angelica, a typical plant for a viking site like this.


replica in Sterling silver of Viking jewelry
Two bracelets found at Fyrkat, put down by an upright. Small rings were attached to the bracelets , they were used for payment. The pendant is the famous Dragon-Brosche found at Zealand. (The jewelry is my own, but I have borrowed the bracelet-photo from Skalk Magazine. Replicas of various Viking jewelry are sold from i.e. Museum shops or special jewellers. )

A woman's grave at Fyrkat:
There were many similar graves at Fyrkat. This woman was buried in a wooden body of carriage. She had been given a rich equipment, cloth, pearls, silver jewelry, knives, a whetstone, a spinning stone in burnt clay, a pair of scissors for fabrics and several boxes, among this a sewing box with sewing materials. Her dress was unusual, she had rings on her toes and much fine jewelry, i.e. a Gotland buckle and a pendant, which possibly origins from the northern Russia. These exotic findings indicate that she or someone close to her had travelled wide and far. Nothing suggests that the burial place is younger than the castle, and the woman was probably buried at least 15 years after king Harald's official transition to Christianity. The heathen burial customs had not changed at Fyrkat, and this grave contained several things with magical or supernatural importance. The pendant might symbolize a pagan god- and some of her magical things were seeds of henbane, a piece of jawbone from a pig and a pellet.


Jelling, the Jelling stone, Denmark's birth certificate

Harald's conversion meant abolition of the heathen cult celebrations, but the church had to compromise to hold on to the newly converted. It was especially difficult at Iceland, where the Icelanders accepted to take Christianity as an official belief, if they were allowed to follow their ancient customs like eating horse meat, to blote (sacrifice) to the ancient gods in their home and to expose babies. Many Danes probably also worshipped the ancient gods and sacrificed to them in the traditional way long after Harald's conversion. Towards the late 900s it seems that the Danes stopped eating horse meat. New habits developed slowly and it took a long time, before Christianity achieved any power on peoples' minds. The heathen burial customs were not abandoned until the final of the 900s. The transition period is clearly seen in the findings from the burial places at Fyrkat, which was built at least 15 years after Harald's conversion.

Harald's organization was never put to the test, and both fortifications and bridges were not repaired. They fell quickly into decay. The fortifications were used for various reasons for some time, probably as a residence for a local king or official - but they gradually fell into ruins. The bridges needed constant repair, and they were replaced by stone edged fords. Harald died between 985-987 and his son Svend was now king. Harald had become very unpopular caused by the ambitious and expensive ring castles and bridges. The whole plan was an economic burden to the Danish people, and Svend did not spend money to repair the fortifications or the bridges. The Germans were now occupied in feuds with their Slavic neighbours - and Svend 1. Haraldsen had other ambitious plans.

Source:
Politikens Danmarkshistorie bd. 3, "Da Danmark blev Danmark", 700-1050,Peter Sawyer, 1988.


photo Fyrkat July 2010: grethe bachmann & stig bachmann nielsen, Naturplan Foto
photo Trelleborg, Hørdum church 2003/2007: grethe bachmann

Monkshood/Stormhat

Aconitum napellus


Aconitum napellus in Botanical Gardens, Copenhagen.

Monkshoodis native to Europe and Asia, and there are over 250 species of Aconitum. It is the most poisonous plant in Europe. The Danish name Stormhat refers to the flower which reminds of a warrior's helmet. Another Danish name Venusvogn (Coach of Venus) is due to that its four sepals remind about a coach and the honeyhides are like two doves. The English name is Monkshood. Other names: Monk's Blood, Leopard's bane, Women's bane, Devil's helmet, Wolfsbane - the name Wolfsbane origins from a legend about wolves telling that they were so hungry they eat from the roots of the plant and died.

The Latin aconitum comes from the word akos meaning poison, referring to the contents of the strong nerve poison aconitin in the plant. Its roots have occasionally been mistaken for horseradish. The juice was since ancient times used as an arrow poison, and it is said that emperor Claudius in the year 54 was killed by this poison. Some scientists are of the opinion that Socrates was forced to drink the juice from monkshood and not from hemlock. While legend suggests that Cleopatra was killed by a snake bite, many historians actually believe that she committed suicide by swallowing a lethal drug cocktail made of opium, aconitum(wolfsbane) and hemlock.

Monkshood has got a long history as a poisonous plant. During the Roman period the plant was often used to get rid of criminals and enemies, but was also used in medicine. Later it was banned, and anyone growing Aconitum napellus could have been legally sentenced to death. Recently it has been used in small doses in fever disease, nerve pain and shell shock, but also more recently in murder plots. All species contain different poisonous alkaloids - the aconitin gives numbness. 2-4 g of the root is enough to kill a grown person. The dried flowers may cause sneezing. Even the pollen is poisonous to people, and there have been serious problems in Greece with honey gathered from monkshood. Poisoning may also occur following picking the leaves without wearing gloves; the aconitine toxin is absorbed easily through the skin. From practical experience, the sap oozing from eleven picked leaves will cause cardiac symptoms for a couple of hours.

When the witches had to fly, they used an ointment made by monkshood. A legend says that the giant Hercules had to fetch the dog Cerberos from the land of the dead. The raging dog's foam hit the ground and monkshood grew up. In magic the monkshood can be used to wash and clean sword and knives like an incense. Aconite was also said to make a person into a werewolf if it is worn, smelled, or eaten. They are also said to kill werewolves if they wear, smell, or eat aconite.

Shakespeare, in Henry IV Part II Act 4 Scene 4 refers to aconite, alongside rash gunpowder, working as strongly as the "venom of suggestion" to break up close relationships (Iago in Othello).In the third book of the Brother Cadfael series, Monk's Hood, the herbalist Cadfael uses aconite as an ingredient in a liniment, which is later stolen and used to poison a victim. It is occasionally referenced in other situations as well. In the British TV series Heartbeat, in the first episode of series 8 (1998), the poisonings are eventually found to be due to common monkshood root mistaken for horseradish and made into sauce in the pub. Monkshood is also mentioned in Thelema's sacred books, Liber LXV: "Wolf's bane is not so sharp as steel; yet it pierceth the body more subtly."


photo September 2008, Botanisk Have, København: grethe bachmann

Village Green/ Village Pond/ Gadekær

Open Air Museum, Hjerl Hede, Jutland

In England a Village Green is usually a common open area which is a part of the settlement. In Denmark the village green is not a green area, but a pond, the Danish name is gadekær. Once every village in Denmark had a gadekær - still most villages have one, and the interest for re-creating the pond as it once were in the good old days is growing.


Elsegårde gadekær near Ebeltoft, Mols, Jutland

Maybe the village pond was the earliest grounds of the village and the very first starting point from its birth. It was a common property and a part of the soul of the village. Through many centuries the village pond was important for the social life. It was a stamping ground. The blacksmith cooled his work there; vessels and barrels were put into water to become denser; the farmers washed their tools and wagon wheels, and the horses and cattle were watered; the children played by the village pond - and last but not least it was a water tank in case of fire.


Elsegårde gadekær, Mols, Jutland

When the farming grew mechanized the village pond was now only a water tank/fire pond. The broad flat banks of the old pond meant that it occupied a lot of space, but now it was changed into a deepened and smaller basin, from which it was easier to pump up water. In some villages the village pond later disappeared and in other villages it was neglected, but now there is a growing interest for re-creating a gadekær as it looked in the good old days.


Elsegårde gadekær, Mols, Jutland, Yellow Iris

A gadekær is usually protected area. It has a recreative importance for the community, but also a considerable nature function. The restored pond has to be as close to nature as possible. It is not allowed to set out fish in those small closed lakes/ponds, since this causes a uniform and poor flora and fauna. In some place in Denmark people set out Chinese grass carps in their village pond which was a complete mistake.


Elsegårde gadekær, Mols, Jutland

It is not indifferent which plants and fish are put out in a village pond. Besides being careful as to fish it is also necessary not to make the pond a feeding place for ducks. It is important to let the natural fauna and flora appear of itself. The surroundings have to be open to the south and to the west to give place for the sun. It is about obtaining clean clear water - and maybe also create a little place for people with tables and benches.

In a large lake-like village pond fish and ducks can live without causing a too heavy impact to the water quality .


Estruplund gadekær, East Jutland

photo 2004/2008: grethe bachmann

A Walk in Skagen in July

Cosy Corner


Yellow-Red


A lovely quiet street


A new "Skagen-painter" and Lilacs


Main street


"Life is simple not easy" -shopping in main street


Yellow house, red roof, white-painted fence - that's Skagen


Eating ice waffles in the heat - a musician at the pharmacy.


One of the market places


The "Kaffehuset" shop with coffee, tea, chocolat, gifts, wine, olive oil, candy etc. - everything exciting for children and grown-ups.


Main street


Brøndum's Hotel and a room with a view to the main street in Clausen's Hotel.


The dominating red and yellow and white


Café "Jacobs" inside and out (click to enlarge all pictures )


Main street


Fashion and Lego in top floor


Flower shop


Just Skagen


People at market place


Skagen Havn with sea-food-restaurants


Skagen havn


Skagen Havn, the door to the left leads to a very fine fishdealer's shop.


Sea-food-restaurant "Pakhuset"


Two cyclists resting at the fishing port. The guy seems to be very tired. It was a hot day, and if they have been around in the Skagen area on the cycling paths, then they have had a hard tour. It's a longer trip than immediately expected!



photo Skagen July 2010: grethe bachmann