June, 2021
Tuesday 1st
A cavalcade of outcasts throngs the lane: crowfoot and cranesbill, red campion and cornflower, sticky cleavers, stitchwort, rosebay willow herb and Welsh poppy. Queen Anne’s lace is hosiered in stems of pale purple—an ominous impersonation of poison hemlock. Prickly thistle and stinging nettles guard white petal quartets of garlic mustard flower. Forget-me-nots sway flirtatiously. Seeking the breath to power flight, dandelion clocks jostle to give the time of day.
A glorious irreverent tangle, a profuse carnival of delight and danger, a wild, unkempt riot of vitality in proud defiance of the prim ordered gardens over the wall.
Friday 18th
Dog roses and oxeye daisies. Apple roses, custard yellow and confetti pink. Cow parsley is losing its white lace and donning leaves of princely purple. Wild honeysuckle entwines the hedge sycamore. Above fallow fields speckled red with sheep sorrel and dotted yellow with buttercup, curlews glide and voice their trill plaintive calls. Foxgloves are tall cascades of purple bells, and the air is sweet with the smell of hay.
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.