Footpaths, Flowers, and Fisherman's Smocks

Hello Friends!

Day Seven of Walk 100 Miles For Parkinson's challenge under my belt, and I broke the £500 fundraising barrier this morning!  I am still quite side swiped by the generosity of everyone!  

Evening seems to be my optimum time to go, and this evening my friend Charlene came with me. We are both taking Wild Welsh Herbalism Foundation in Botanical Wisdom {and my friend, Julie is taking her second year . . . it's a small world} and now that I have planted the It's A Small World earworm for you, I shall move on . . . 

From the path we trod, on the distant horizon across Saint Bride's Bay, the dark sliver of silver grey is Skomer Island, famous worldwide for it's Puffin and Manx Shearwater colonies.

Despite the unseasonably chill of this day in May, we had a lovely walk, taking a bit longer than I normally would, but we took every careful step {I nearly went over twice tonight} recording many of the countless plants along the way.  Memories of Sunday walks with my Nanna came flooding back!  She taught me more about the flora of Wales than I can remember now.  Bounded by high, Pembrokeshire stone hedges, we had a magical hour, and just in time for supper, we went to our separate homes to scroll through our photos on this journey of discovery into the wonders of the byways of the Shire we call home.

Here are some of the flowers and trees that we discovered, some of which we will be studying and learning about with Salena on our course.  I cannot wait, for, as those of you who know me well, I am at heart a wild Welsh woman of the western shores, and am like a little sponge, waiting to absorb all the information, and in particular, the Welsh folklore that surrounds these herbs and magic that lies therein.

Previously, I have spoken about the resurfacing of the once uneven bridle paths that circumnavigate the village {which is a city, as we know, but I always say if I wanted to live in a city I would have moved to Cardiff} This now gives a lovely, even surface for people with mobility issues, from those who are just a little unsteady on their pins, to people such as myself who use a rollator, or wheelchair and scooter users.

So, come with me, my Faerie Friends, and we shall while away the hours, here amongst the hedgerows high, in the kingdom of the Flowers 

Campion pink and Borage blue, with Buttercups of yellow hue

Germander Speedwell shines like tiny stars of brightest Peter Rabbit blue

Hawthorn flowers tightly wrapped up in their swaddling buds.  My mother taught me that the seeds were known as Bread and Cheese, but oh! there is a massive seed so many must be eaten if you are a tiny, hungry bird!

The ancient Elder tree, revered, most sacred of all trees, yields palm sized sprays of tiny florets that make the most amazing Elderflower Champagne in Spring, and a perfect drink to quaff on a balmy Summer's evening . . . followed by the shiny, tiny, darkest purple berries make an excellent cordial to ward of Winter chills and colds . . .

Did you hear the soft pad, pad of Mr Tod, as he stately strutted by last night? No, I didn't think you did, for his paws were wrapped in soft pink gloves.  The hedges are now full of the leafy rosettes that will soon be sending spikes of deepest pink towards the cotton candy cloud filled sky of Spring

The Bracken Dragon bares it's gnarly teeth, enough to scare away the snakes that long to lurk beneath it's shady canopy

Sow Thistle, Prickly or Common, my guess as good as yours, but such a statuesque stem of many flowering buds, it is a sight to behold

Sweet Cicely, a Summer treat, will give you something sweet to eat

Torpedo shaped, those lime green seeds will soon be turning black, and then in jars of honey, steeping slowly, will impart their liquorice sweetness to enhance my warming winter drinks

My friends, the day is done, 'tis dark outside, the moon behind the clouds her silver smile does hide. The candles are lit, and warming chamomile tea, sweetened with honey from the hive of a thousand bees, sits on my table waiting for me to take a pleasing sip.

For those who liked my plum coloured Fisherman's Smock, with which I am most pleased, I have another one, this time in teal, and look what was found in the pocket, dear Lucy Locket . . . 

It's one of those 

LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE

BIG!!!

In other news, Vinted is still one of my latest obsessions and I am looking out each day now for more of these Fisherman's Smocks in as many colours as I can find, for I am smitten with them, and love them over my other "smitten with" find, Llama Leggings {and before you ask, no, I don't wear the shorts!} as the quality is second to none, and they come in many lovely, quirky colourful prints!

Until next time

💙🌷💙