Mentha aquatica

Could also be Mentha aquatica var. citrata although in their typical English go-it-alone style, south of Gretna Green & north of Hastings Beach, it is known as Mentha × piperita f. citrata. Better known elsewhere on the planet as Eau de Cologne mint or bergamot mint. But these are all the cultivated variety of the common wild water mint which I suspect is what is in the Blip. On the top left photo with a wet Luna, there is a clump just to the right of her head.

In total, I know of three clumps the lady I mentioned the other day has planted at the water's edge of the small quarry lake we use to do our dog swims. By the time we went out after 19:00 it was thankfully empty and I took the opportunity to take a panorama photo to give some idea of how tiny the "Beach" area is with it's six small entries into the water and which is full up if three couples use the "right" tactics to spread out their towels & gear. Panorama shots do however make things look much larger.

The main lake, off-limits for dogs, is far more family organised & has the voluntary lifeguard station which was manned again today. I suspect they are there on most days in the school holidays. The German life-saving voluntary organisation, DLRG, is the largest in the world.

The number of deaths by drowning in Germany remains frighteningly high even if it has dropped so far this year in comparison to last year's spectacular long and hot open-air bathing season when 504 people drowned. In this year which has been a very short season so far, 65 of the 250 deaths are in Bavaria alone. The vast majority are male, overestimating their prowess and quite possibly with alcohol playing a role in some. However, the statistics on children learning to swim show 60% of German 10-year-olds are not competent basic swimmers. The decade long austerity measures have meant a large number of closures of public/school swimming baths. Communities are however challenging the closures and increasingly demanding facilities.

A pleasant walk followed the swim, It had rained quite a bit last night and we have a couple of changeable days ahead, all of which is great news for the environment. Weekend looking good but my swimming will be restricted to our swimming pool where I only have to fight with cats to spread out my towel. Our pool area is surrounded by thyme which has found its way into cracks in the paving stones and there is also water mint in the garden pond.