May, 2022
Thursday 5th
Red campion blooms pink from crimson buds. Cranesbill and cow parsley spring into flower. The green of meadow grass is dotted white with the dainty lace of pink-veined cuckoo flower; and swollen buds of sycamore erupt, spewing rivers of green leaf and newborn blossom.
Sun-kissed raindrops cling to stalks, and the grass is graced with spots of warm orange as a marbled-winged butterfly settles on stitchwort.
Sunday 8th
Flowers of crabapple hang in pink showers over swathes of bluebells. Grass is stippled yellow with tormentil and blue with germander speedwell.
By the ruin of the Colour Pole, fell ponies doze, goats graze with their young kids, and rabbits dart to and from the undergrowth.
The air is fragrant with the vanilla spice of common hawthorn blossom. Hampsfell is studded with early purple orchid and dotted white with daisies.
Orange tip butterflies and pearl-bordered fritillaries flit over cranesbill and red campion, and frogs bask in raggy blankets of pondweed.
On telegraph lines, there are swallows, and at the onset of evening, the ethereal call of a curlew.
Thanks, George . . . Fortunate aren’t we, having stuff like that on our doorsteps. A lovely read.
Thank you, David. Yes we are very fortunate indeed.
A change of style, George, which is always worth doing to refresh yourself. At times, the intensity of the focus upon the leaves and flowers of the hedgerows was reminiscent of ‘The Wind in the Willows’.
That’s a mighty compliment, Martin. Thank you.
Well that was a treat. So many familiar faces from the New Forest when I was growing up. I’ve not heard that called witches butter, excellent name.
Thank you, Geoff. Delighted you enjoyed it. Witches’ butter is indeed an excellent name.
Brilliant – you are like a Lakeland Richard Jefferies.
Thank you so much, John.
Very nicely done, and informative as always.
Thank you, that’s very kind.
Really good article(s) ! Don’t think I ever heard of Lesser Celandine before. They are among my favorites of your photos. The forget-me-nots too. And the kid.
Thank you, Neil. The kid was adorable. Lesser celandine flower early which makes them a welcome sight. They are supposed to be natural barometers, unfurling their petals in good weather and closing up against the wind and rain. They’re all gone now. Replaced by buttercups or crowfoot, which they superficially resemble l.
I was looking for inspirational poetry in my books yesterday, but found it here in words and wonderful pictures.
Hanna
That’s a lovely thing to say. Thank you do much.
George, thank you for sharing such an enjoyable diary and processional, elegant writing and wonderful photos. The obvious sincerity of this paean to your corner of the earth is heartwarming, and even the intrusion of news from the Ukraine fits in, honest reporting, like becoming aware of ominous buzzing from a disturbed hornet nest. The colors may change and fade, but I will remain green with envy that this wealth of nature is available for your lunchtime strolls.
Thank you, Robert. That’s a wonderful compliment. I love the hornet nest image.
P.S. I’d wanted to comment on your Loweswater article, that the tale of supernatural death has prompted me to add to my List of Dangerous Things to Avoid, Even if Properly Sanitized After Usage Near Wrong End of Horse: “Crupper/Horsey Bits of Demonic Leathergoods Leaping Out At You in Stairwells/Entanglements & Possible Stranglings,” actually a brand-new category.
Yes, very wise. Perhaps they should come with a government health warning.
—and someone asked me the other day: ‘have you any holiday plans this year’?
Christina (Cockermouth)
Yes, indeed! We are very lucky living where we do. Cockermouth is beautiful.