Flutterby Patch

Foxglove country

It's foxglove time here in Lakeland and Beatrix Potter, who lived in the area, added these tall pink flowers to several of her illustrations. Here is an example from 'The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck'.

..... 'Jemima searched for a convenient dry nesting place. She rather fancied a tree-stump amongst some tall foxgloves'..... (Sounds idyllic doesn't it).

Foxgloves above Tarn Hows. This lovely place was one of the many Lakeland 'beauty spots' bought by Beatrix Potter to save them from destruction by developers. It is now owned and cared for by the National Trust.

The narrow lanes round here are all edged by foxgloves so tall and heavy-headed they almost topple over.

This is Brantwood, the home of John Ruskin until his death in 1900. With magnificent views over Coniston Water and the mountains beyond it is open to the public and there is a vast selection of Ruskin's work on display.

Just look at the view Ruskin got from his upstairs windows. Across the lake is the village of Coniston and the mountain that watches over the village has the splendid name 'The Old Man of Coniston'.

Close to Brantwood, and taking shelter from the wooded hill behind, is this pretty stone cottage which is typical of those found around the area.

Once you have looked round Ruskin's house you are free to explore the garden he created. On the edge of the garden, next to the car park, are some enormous rhododendrons. Just look at the height of this one!

As it was such a hot day I walked along the lake shore.

But all too soon it was time to return home. On the way back we passed the lovely Yew Tree Farm which was once owned by Beatrix Potter. It was used in the recent 'Miss Potter' film as the location for Hill Top her Lakeland home. Yew Tree Farm is now owned by the National Trust and remains a working farm. The traditional tea room in the house was first opened to visitors in 1933 and is the perfect place to enjoy light refreshments on a hot day.

I'm ending this post with more foxgloves. When I was a child my granny always treated me to a glass of lemonade and chocolate biscuits on this pretty plate with a pink foxglove design. It was part of an art deco set dating from 1930 but sadly only plates and saucers remain. They are now in my safe hands!

Time for some light refreshments I think.

Until next time,
Eli

An evening in June

On a warm June evening I love to visit the Kentmere valley and slowly amble my way up the narrow winding lane to the village.

Farmsteads and cottages nestle amongst the trees in the shadow of rugged Lakeland hills.

Warm evening sunshine bathes fields of golden buttercups and the only sound comes from distant birds soaring high above.

It takes about an hour to reach the head of the valley on foot but once I reach the post box I know village life is close by.

The air is cooler now, evening shadows are lengthening and I hear children playing in a nearby garden.
 

The sweet sound of a choir drifts from St Cuthbert's Church.

The churchyard is managed as a wildflower meadow which must surely be at its best in the month of June. I stop to admire its beauty and wonder how many brides have walked up this pretty pathway to make their vows.

'God's Acre' is the perfect name for this peaceful flower-filled place where villagers are laid to rest.

'I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills
from whence cometh my help' (Psalm 121)

Man and nature live happily side by side in Kentmere.

All too soon the air turns chill and I know it's time to head for home before darkness falls.

So back down the winding lane I go, past the clusters of sleepy cottages and fields of dozing sheep.

And in my head I keep a little picture of St Cuthbert's Church amid its sea of wild flowers nodding in the late evening sun.

Until next time,
Eli

P.S.  St Cuthbert's is a charming unpretentious little church. You can take a little look inside by clicking on this link. The pretty oil lamps that once lit the church still hang from the ancient ceiling but are now electrified and the colourful kneelers are stitched by local parishioners. Before you leave do please stop in the doorway to admire the view back down the lovely Kentmere valley.

Queen Anne's Lace

During May and June the English countryside effervesces with clouds of Queen Anne's lace; it's everywhere.

Such a wonderfully descriptive name!



 Hundreds of dainty flowers make up each flower head.

Without fail every year I tell myself I'd like to grow it in our garden. But its a prolific spreader and I know it would quickly take over. So each year I resist the temptation to scatter a few seeds.

Recently I found this magazine illustrating pretty pink varieties and of course had to buy it in order to read more. Needless to say I found temptation on every page.

For example.....imagine living in this country cottage fronted by a wild flower meadow awash with Queen Anne's lace. Wouldn't it be wonderful?

We'll never have our own wild flower meadow but do have a small patch of lawn that is left to grow a bit wild.

We have a sprawling sort of lawn that is fairly damp and gets cut throughout the season. About 15 years ago we discovered a couple of wild orchids growing there and they are slowly spreading. And so we now delay mowing the orchid area until they have died down in August. The longer grass on the right is where they grow and it is here that we have decided to create our 'little meadow'.

Here is one of the orchids, a 'heath spotted'.
 

In one of my garden books is this picture of a lovely 'managed' meadow that is part wild and part mown and that seems to me to be the perfect solution. A mown area for walking on and a pretty wild flower meadow area for bees and other insects to enjoy.

And so I have bought some seeds (English meadow mix) which I will scatter in the orchid area later in the season. Of course my little meadow won't look anything like the picture on the packet, nor will it resemble the beautifully managed meadow pictured in the book, but it will be fun to see what grows there and of course insects will love it. The seed mix doesn't contain any Queen Anne's lace which is perhaps just as well because it would probably take over.

I'll report back next year with a progress report!!

Until next time,
Eli