Showers were forecast but we were not daunted. Our fortitude paid off. We walked in the dry. We now often repeat parts of previous walks and Cowmire Hall has featured here before. Whilst its architecture is harmonious within the locale it is unusual in having three storeys which reminds me of a story about my father. He was a professional property and rating valuer and often appeared in court on behalf of clients with rating appeals and the like. Father was being cross-examined by a clever London barrister.
Barrister
"Mr. Robinson, how many floors does the property have?"
Father (who we suspect hadn't actually visited the property)
"Not as many as your argument on behalf of your client.'"
Uproar!
Cowmire is yet another venue for the present fashion for producing gin with endless different flavourings - unfortunately they only sell it to retailers by the case and there is no tasting facility so once again we passed by.
On a linear walk we go one hour there and one hour back. Today we had options of road junctions and branched off on one then returned and still needed more time, so we set off another new branch and then another. Calculations for estimating turn round time became complicated, especially for me who wrestles with problems of spatial awareness - not good for one who spends lots of time interpreting maps (especially when walking south.)
Pete is as good as anybody I know who is not an out and out expert at identifying wild flowers, usually including their Latin names, but he was stumped by two hedgerow flowers we encountered. I suspect they are not all that rare, but we would be grateful if somebody can provide identification.
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| Cowmire Hall |
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| A good showing of easily identified Rosebay Willowherb |
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| The old county boundary between Lancashire and Westmorland |
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| Identification please for this and one below - both located in a hedgerow |
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Our complicated wanderings messing up our time estimation.
The ex Lancashire/Wetmorland border sign was photographed at the bridge on the road just above the "d" of Bridge in Bridge Ho. bottom left of centre
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The small blue flower is one of the Vetch family and the other is a Campanula, Bellflower.
ReplyDeleteBC - Thanks for that. I have consulted my Marjorie Belamy Wild flowers of Britain and Ireland There are 14 different vetches listed and I can't match any of her immaculate paintings to my photo. Again there are 13 campanulas but not one that looks like mine. If you have an illustration of either of them or find a link on the Internet I would be interested to have a look. I do find wild flower identification difficult - the ones I referred to above have such little resemblance to each other within what is supposed to be their specific family.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm incorrect then, but I don't think so. Try...
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicia#/media/File:Vicia_orobus1_eF.jpg
https://www.claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk/products/campanula-glomerata-superba
BC - Thanks for the links. I think the campanula in the ;link is a blue cultivar whereas mine is white. Is mine an indigenous wild flower?
ReplyDeleteOops! I see I've got them switched. Now it all makes more sense.
ReplyDeleteHope all is clear.
ReplyDeleteThe Campanula reference was just to get you in the correct genus. Yours is probably wild, the colours do vary as we saw with the orchids.