Birley Lane
When you make a solemn promise you should keep it. Yesterday, I promised to share some pictures I took during my five mile walk in the shadow of Stanage Edge. It was a walk I principally undertook for the physical exercise as I have plodded that particular route a good number of times over the years.
Not far from "The Apple Core" bench, there are some seldom-visited woods. It occurred to me that this being the right time of year, the woodland floor might possibly be bedecked with wild English bluebells so I took a little diversion and I was right!
"English bluebells have narrow, deep blue flowers with petals that curl back, a sweet scent, and leaves that are about 1.5 cm wide. Spanish bluebells, on the other hand, have wider leaves (around 3 cm), pale blue or white flowers with open tips, and no scent."
On many occasions I have tried to capture faithful images of English bluebells with my camera but I have never been entirely satisfied with the results. To come across a fallen cloudy haze of bluebells in secret woodland during the month of May is an experience that can seem quite magical. So I tried again...
Animals seen yesterday. In the third picture you can see Hathersage Church across the valley...
As I was trudging up the long track that leads to North Lees Hall, I met up with another solitary walker of around my age. We fell into conversation about this and that until his ****ing mobile phone rang insistently. He said it would probably be his wife.
"You never know. It could be your mistress!"
"Tell you what, if I was to get myself another woman, my wife would know about her first!"
I laughed and he answered the unapologetic phone. It was indeed his wife. So I walked on - our conversation unnaturally cut short.
I have taken lots of pictures of historic North Lees Hall since I retired and here's one more to end this promised blogpost...
North Lees Hall - built in the 1590s
I don't think you failed with the bluebells at all. That photo of the bluebells is lovely, but it did not meet your expectations I'm guessing. As always, lovely photos of your walk around a part of England I'll probably never get to see in real life.
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice thing about blogging - sharing our home areas in words and pictures.
DeleteI like the way the two lambs are looking at you. They are deciding if you're dangerous.
ReplyDeleteThey were wary of me and when I moved closer they got up and went to their mother.
DeleteI love that last photo of the bluebells; the color is lovely.
ReplyDeleteIn real life even lovelier. Human eyes are much better than cameras.
DeleteThe drifts of bluebells look beautiful. All the photos are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAnd you are beautiful too Elsie!
DeleteAny walk with sheep, is a lovely walk.
ReplyDeleteEspecially if you are a shepherd heading to the abattoir.
DeleteThey are tasty little critters.
DeletePerhaps hikers wifey was asking: "What do you want for your tea?" Sounds a pleasant walk.
ReplyDeletePerhaps she was saying, "I am tracking you online and you appear to have stopped by North Lees Hall. What the hell is going on Albert?"
DeleteYet more lovely photos to feast our eyes on. There's something magical and mystical about rarely trodden lanes in hidden woods.
ReplyDeleteSome years I forget to seek out the bluebells and before you know it the displays have faded away.
DeleteThe woodland bluebells look beautiful. I have some self-seeded ones in my garden - I'm just off to check whether they speak English or Spanish.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I read that taking just one native bluebell bulb from woodland can make you liable for a £5000 fine.
DeleteYou are probably right. I promise mine were not stolen from woodland, but self-seeded probably by a bird. A few years ago I had a random clump suddenly appear. Now I have have about 10 clumps.
DeleteMost bluebell bulb thieves say, the plants were "self-seeded probably by a bird".
DeleteGood action shots of those animals!
ReplyDeleteBaaaa! Moooo!
DeleteWhat we call bluebell (blåklocka) in Sweden = Scottish bluebell or harebell in English. In 2021 it was chosen as our national flower symbol (floral emblem).
ReplyDeleteA good choice.
DeleteI think you did a fine job of capturing the sea of bluebells. Lovely! But some things are meant to be seen with our own eyes, I guess, for the fullest appreciation of them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the little lambs! And that is a fine cow, as well.
I know you like to see farm animals and I almost wrote that those pictures were gifts for you in particular.
DeleteYou've probably told me this before, but what kind of camera do you use? I want a good but not-too-expensive camera so that I can finally get halfway decent photos (they'll never be as good as yours!). My old cell phone camera is just awful.
ReplyDeleteMy camera is a Sony bridge camera Jennifer. There are a few versions but now probably twice as expensive because of Trump's tariffs.
DeleteI took photos of fields of bluebells last week also, although ours look a little bit different than yours. Still, so lovely to see. Thanks for the pics from your hike - I enjoyed seeing the animals watching you.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that the animals did not attack.
DeleteI know what you mean about photographing bluebells -- but your photos are pretty darn close to the real thing. I don't think cameras do heather justice, either.
ReplyDeleteI hold any photo compliment from you in high regard.
DeleteMay I use the bluebell photo ?
ReplyDeleteI don't know what you mean by "use" John but for you of course mate!
DeleteNice shots, but I do know what you mean about colours being hard to capture as the eye seems them, at times. I find blues particularly problematic.
ReplyDelete*sees*, not seems, of course!
DeleteBeautiful pictures from a beautiful walk, thank you!
ReplyDeleteBlue flowers against the backdrop of their green leaves and/or grass never appear in a photo the same way as we see them with our own eyes, do they. I don‘t know how many times I have taken pictures of forgetmenots, but those pictures need my personal memory to convey what I wanted to capture.
You do live in a most lovely part of the country. The photographs are gorgeous.
ReplyDeletefab pics - well done
ReplyDeleteI find it impossible to capture the true luminous blue of bluebells, singly or en masse. So beautiful to see though.
ReplyDelete