For those of you enjoying the day off, think of me working!
I always have to work on a Monday and about half of the Bank Holidays fall on a
Monday so a bit of rush, as usual, to fit the walk in.
Actually I've gone a bit wild today, only the floral
variety, it must be the influence of Chelsea Flower Show.
What a difference a day makes! I'm so pleased to be able to
show you the rhododendron almost in full bloom.
I took the left turn today and photographed some similar scenes to
those you have seen before but then found one of my favourite flowers, the
honeysuckle.
This is the native plant
growing wild in the hedge. I adore scented flowers, the dianthus group,
jasmine, herbs and have just discovered that the sweetest little clematis
growing over an archway in my garden has the most beautiful scent for such a
small flower.
A flower I was definitely NOT going to sniff was this digitalis,
the wild foxglove, it looks splendid growing on the side of the field but is poisonous.
This next plant is one I only discovered just a few years
ago. I'd seen it but didn't know what it
was. It isn't quite in full bloom yet but will soon open into small white
flowers and is another plant with a heavenly scent. The flowers can be dried or used fresh in
many recipes such as cheesecake or drinks (my father used to make a wonderful
elderflower wine). My employer is the
person who interested me in elderflower, she is a nutritionist who is also very
talented in many other ways. She is a
qualified chef and ran a very successful organic hotel and restaurant for years
and also teaches food and nutrition, how what you eat affects your health and
eating seasonal food. I used to dislike
soup until I ate the most delicious homemade soups made from either courgette, beetroot or carrot with
ginger. I even make it myself now. She
has a great knowledge of foraging in the wild for food so I tried to learn as
much as possible from her as I do love free food.
One autumn I was suffering from a sore throat and she made
me a really tasty drink. It was made from the berries of the elderflower that
(if not all the flowers are picked) are produced in the autumn. She had made an
elderberry syrup that, when mixed with hot water and a little honey, soothed my
throat while tasting delicious.
The last photo is my own little baby elderflower tree.
If left to grow in the hedgerow it will become a tree but mine kept being cut
down by the tractor and hedge trimmer cutting the other side so I nurtured a
little tiny piece I broke off and was thrilled when it rooted. Once the diseased plum tree was cut down I
planted this to fill the space and give it a chance to produce lots of flowers
and berries for me. I hope it will grow
quite quickly now it's in the ground.
That is nearly the end of the nature walk but I did try
again to take a video. It will be best
to turn the volume up and shut your eyes as my videoing is a little shaky but
the birds are chatting away.