Tags
historical site, insects, plants, ruined chapel, South Elmham Minster, Suffolk, walking, wild flowers
WARNING: OVERLONG POST
It was our 26th wedding anniversary the Thursday before last and we had intended to go out for a walk and take a picnic with us. However, the morning was very wet and, even though the rain had stopped by midday we decided that walking through long grass and along overgrown paths and then trying to find somewhere to sit and eat our lunch without getting wet would be too difficult, so we put off the walk until the following day. I did the ironing instead.
Friday was a much better day for a walk, with warmth, some sunshine and a fair amount of cloud. There was a light shower of rain mid-morning and another just as we approached our picnic spot but not enough to dampen our spirits or make the going, or sitting, any trouble.
As usual, I took my pocket camera with me and looked out for things of interest. You will have to excuse the quality of the photos; I have to take the pictures as quickly as possible so that I am not left behind. Also my camera has decided it doesn’t like pink and has changed all the pink flowers to blue or purple.
I quote here from my ID, ‘Harrap’s Wild Flowers’ by Simon Harrap ” The name (Meadowsweet) refers to its use in flavouring mead and other drinks, rather than a predilection for meadows, and also used as a strewing herb, scattered on the floor to freshen up the house.”
The plant gives off a very strong pineapple scent when it is crushed. It is an introduced plant, coming originally from east Asia and was first recorded in the wild in this country in 1871.
In olden times, this flower could be used to tell a girl whether she would marry soon. She had to pull all the expanded florets off the flowerhead and then put the rest of the flower inside her blouse, next to her heart. After an hour she should take it out again and if the previously unexpanded florets had blossomed, that was a sure sign that the man she was going to marry was soon coming her way.
By this time we had left the lane and were walking along a footpath between fields.
Harrap’s tells me it is ‘honey-scented when fresh but smells of new-mown hay when dry. Formerly believed to discourage fleas and was incorporated into straw mattresses, especially for the beds of women about to give birth, hence its name.’
I cannot confirm the information about the scent because: 1. I would have found it very difficult getting down low enough to smell the plant and would then have struggled to get back up again, so I didn’t. 2. The wind was blowing too strongly for the delicate scent to be discernible and 3. I haven’t got a strong sense of smell, anyway. We’ll just have to take Mr Harrap’s word for it.
This plant is one of the hop trefoils; its seedheads look like tiny heads of hops. Once the seeds begin to ripen the petals don’t fall off the plant but turn brown and the standard, the upper petal of the flower, folds down on either side of its centre line over the ripening pod like a ridged roof. If you click on the photo above to enlarge it and look about a third of the way up from the bottom, you will find a seed head in the centre. Does that make sense?
Another not-as-pink, pink flower. Here is a link to images of what a Pyramidal Orchid really looks like.
Ragwort is poisonous, its leaves containing an alkaloid poison that can remain in plants that have been dried with hay. Animals are not aware they are eating it when it’s in hay (though they will avoid it when it is growing in the field) and the alkaloids will destroy their livers in just a few months. Understandably, farmers will try to get rid of all the ragwort they find.
Our aim was to picnic at South Elmham Minster and we discovered it surrounded by trees. It is on private land but the owners allow walkers to visit it as long as they respect the place.
Richard, Alice and I had been here before, when we walked to it from St James in April 1995, nearly two years before Elinor was born! We hadn’t been back since, though it is only half an hour’s walk from our present home.
The entrance and path leading to the ruins of the ‘Minster’ were very overgrown which somehow added a frisson of mystery to the occasion.
There was a lot of Comfrey growing next to the path.
And there it was!
Instead of me writing screeds about this interesting ruin I will recommend this article for you to read, if you so wish.
We wandered around for a short while and then sat on the bench provided under the trees and had our lunch.
Below are a few photos of the ruins themselves.
Many of the trees surrounding the Minster were Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). Hornbeam trunks are said to be ‘fluted’ which might describe the tree above.
The Hornbeam nut forms with a three-lobed bract attached that sometimes grows as long as 5cms. This acts as ‘wings’ when the nut is released from the tree in the autumn.
I think the Hornbeams have been coppiced in the past though Hornbeams are usually pollarded. Local children have been making dens under the trees.
Above are two different plants with fruits covered in hooks. The stems and leaves of Cleavers also have bristles that cause them to stick to anything that touches them.
There was another exit path from the Minster which crossed the wide surrounding ditch. This ditch is fairly deep though my photographs do not show this at all clearly.
Woundworts have been used to stem bleeding and treat wounds since the time of the ancient Greeks. Formally, the leaves were usually used as a poultice. Ointments and infusions were also made with the leaves and the flowers made into conserves. In fact, the volatile oil in Hedge Woundwort does have antiseptic qualities.
We left the Minster and walked home in the sunshine.
I didn’t take many photos of our surroundings as we walked and most of those shots were not suitable. I am glad this one came out as it shows the countryside through which we walked. Old-fashioned small fields with high dense hedges. Lots of birds were still singing and wherever we walked we heard numerous skylarks.
Richard pointed out the cracked clay sides of this ditch. The water though not deep, was running quickly along and was particularly clear. We saw small fish swimming in it.
Unfortunately I couldn’t get into the field because of a deep ditch around it. I had to take my photos using the zoom on my camera.
I think the owner of this field has sown some wildflower seed mix here. I have never seen so many different flowers all in one field before. From what I hear from the stories of the elderly people I know at church, all the fields were covered in wild flowers like these when they were young. Intensive agriculture was becoming the norm thirty or forty years ago: hedges were ripped out and everything was sprayed to kill off the wild flowers and most of the insects. This was still being done when I moved to East Anglia in 1988 and the birds I heard regularly then and the quantities of moths, butterflies and other insects I used to see then are much reduced. I especially noticed the difference when I returned to East Anglia in 2006 after our 18 months in Somerset. Far fewer insects certainly. However, we had got used to hearing and seeing Buzzards during that 18 months while in Somerset and I was greatly surprised and excited to see and hear a Buzzard in Suffolk for the first time in 2007. They are well established here now.
You will be glad to know we all got home safely having met no-one on our walk and only saw a lady driving her pony and trap and I think a couple of cars along the lane.You will be especially glad to know that this is the end of the post!
jmcheney said:
Congratulations & thank you for sharing a lovely celebration of your 26th wedding anniversary. The countryside & wildflowers are beautiful. I am sorry for the ubiquitous vandalism. The vandals are always with us, no matter where, so very sadly.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much for your kind comment. I was so sorry to see that damage had been done to such an interesting ruin. People, and especially young people love to climb about on walls and do so much damage without realising it.
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H.J. for avian101 said:
I’m impressed with your knowledge of such a variety of plants, Clare. You are indeed an expert Botanist. By the way, Happy belated Anniversary! 🙂
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, HJ – you are very kind as always. 🙂
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clivebennett796 said:
What a long but lovely post Clare. So many flowers! Many I remember from childhood. Your writing and photos are a reminder to us all to slow down and look around and enjoy the beauty of everything. Thank you.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Clive. I apologise for the length of the post but I have hardly been out of my house and garden since April and I was overwhelmed by all the flowers I saw.
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clivebennett796 said:
Oh dear, Clare. I’m so sorry I hadn’t meant to imply anything about it’s length – my wording could have been better!. It was a lovely enjoyable post full of joy and wildflowers. Belated and very happy wishes for your Anniversary.
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Clare Pooley said:
It’s my turn to apologise to you, now. I had no wish to make you feel uncomfortable. I was not at all upset by your kind comment, I am just fully aware that I *do* write over-long posts and always mean to be more concise and fail every time! Thank you again for your generous support, Clive.
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Retirement Reflections said:
Happy 26th Wedding Anniversary, Clare. Thank you for sharing this with us!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Donna and it was my pleasure!
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margaret21 said:
Belated good wishes for your anniversary! Your knowledge of flowers is impressive and illuminating. I still struggle quite a lot on my walks to identify many of the plants I see. A lovely celebration of a Slow Walk – the best!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much for your kind wishes and comment, Margaret. Having not been out very often recently I was amazed at the variety of flowers currently in bloom.
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DoF@theinfill said:
Lovely and best wishes to you all 🙂
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much and best wishes to you, too! 🙂
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(Kitty) Cat Strawberry - Meow! said:
Congratulations on your 26th anniversary Clare. 🙂 I love a long post full of your beautiful photographs and wow such a lovely place to go for a walk and visit. So many beautiful flowers and I have to say I love that green bettle just sitting on the daisy, the moment I saw that photo (before I read your caption) I was drawn to that thing and wondered what it was, lol.
Such a shame the Minster has had vandalism, whether intentional or not people often don’t think about the consequences of climbing and sitting/walking on walls or taking pieces of it with them when they visit such old locations. I hope that the place can remain open and that people can respect the area more.
I hope you are doing alright amid all the madness that’s still going on in the world. It’s wonderful you have such beautiful places to visit as nature really is the best place to be and can take our minds off of our troubles, at least for a while. 🙂 Take care ❤
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Cat! This world is crazy at the moment, isn’t it?! I am okay though have had quite a few health issues during lockdown. I have been told that everyone shielding like me will be allowed to go into shops and other buildings, as from 1st August. That will be a relief!
I am glad you liked the green beetle though the photo isn’t very clear at all! They are worth searching for because they are so shiny and beautiful.
I hope the Minster stays open, too because it is such a peaceful place and I really mustn’t leave it so long again before I return there! Best wishes and take care xx ❤
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(Kitty) Cat Strawberry - Meow! said:
Oh I hope your health is okay now and it wasn’t anything too serious? 😮
That sounds great although remember that you were never disallowed from going into shops it was just a recommendation/advice 😉 🙂
I hope you will be able to visit your mum again soon too, are you able to stay in touch with her via zoom or something? I have to admit I’ve never used zoom in my life, lol
The world is definitely acting ver ystrange and things just seem so weird right now. I’m staying away from news broadcasts in general and most of social media as there’s been so much anger on twitter and other sites I’ve visited lately. Staying away from all that media and just living life feels so much more relaxing and better for my mental health. I hope you and your whole family are all well and are taking care of yourselves too ❤ I'm sure the world will get back to normal with some time, I don't think I want to live in the 'new normal' forever, lol.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Cat. ❤ I am okay about not going into shops etc. I really dislike shopping and it has been great leaving it up to my husband for a change. I have started visiting Mum again as neither of us have been going out and my husband has been very careful when he does, so I am sure we haven't passed anything on to her. That was one of my main worries at the start of the pandemic, that I would infect her. However, we have all been free of the virus, for which I am very grateful. I have had all sorts of other worries which have made me anxious and a little depressed, which isn't like me at all! This has contributed to the arthritis flare-up and the stomach pains I have had for weeks. Both are now easing, thank goodness. My younger daughter has decided that Twitter is toxic and tries not to go on it very often. She has been very anxious as has my elder daughter in Sheffield and not being able to see her has been hard. She is coming to visit us as soon as she can once I am no longer shielding. Take care, Cat xx
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(Kitty) Cat Strawberry - Meow! said:
Oh Clare, I’m so sorry you’ve been having so many problems. ❤ Please try to focus on positive things and looking forward to good things happening in the future, I know that worrying about a lot can make all sorts of physical symptoms much worse. I know as I've had some problems myself lately with everything that's been going on. It's been such a stressful time for a lot of us but we shouldn't be afraid of this virus, it may be a new strain and scientists say some scary things on television but it isn't at the level of the black death or plague or anything so scary, lol. And the vast majority of people survive it even if they do catch it, we just have to be careful to take care of ourselves and mental health has a big effect on our immune systems. Being stressed out lowers our immunity so stay positive ❤ 🙂
Your daughter has the right attitude when it comes to twitter. I've not encountered the same toxicity when it comes to Instagram but maybe that's because I am careful to only follow those who spread happy and positive messages and pictures 😀
Take care and don't watch or read the news. I know it sounds weird but if you try avoiding it for a few weeks it makes you feel happier 😉 🙂
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Clare Pooley said:
🙂 🙂
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John Bainbridge said:
Lovely blog, though saddened at the vandalism. The wild flowers have been lovely this year. Our cameras have the same problem – they seldom capture the richness of the colours.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, John. I was disappointed with the photos not only with the colour reproduction but also my inability to capture anything in focus! I was absolutely amazed at the variety of flowers in bloom.
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John Bainbridge said:
It seems to have been a very rich year for flora.
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susanpoozan said:
What a lot of plants you can identify, I am so impressed.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Susan. I hope you are keeping well.
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susanpoozan said:
Luckily I am as is my family, I hope it is the same for you.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, yes we are all fine. We have been very fortunate.
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Annika Perry said:
Happy Anniversary, Clare!! 😀 We celebrated our 21st yesterday and I’m still astounded how the years have flown by! Oh, how strange about your camera changing the colours … I love the photos of the wonderful nature which seems to be flourishing more than ever! The Minster looks amazing and seems to be surrounded by an incredible atmosphere. I loved learning a bit about it and hope the vandalism wasn’t too bad; so sad to see it stretches even to such rural parts of the country!
Hope you and your family are all keeping well. Take care, Annika xx
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you so much, Annika and a belated Happy Anniversary to you, too! We are all fine as I hope you are, too.
My camera is wearing out, I think and my ability to take photos seems to be deteriorating as well! You are right about the atmosphere there. It was so calm and secluded but also had that special aura that many really old places have. I hope to be able to go back again soon.
Take care xx
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Genessa West said:
Congratulations on your 26th wedding anniversary Clare! I was fascinated by this blog, and learned so much about wild flowers and their history. How wonderful to have all this so close to home.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Genessa. We had almost forgotten about this place though always intended going back ‘some time’. We usually celebrate our anniversary by visiting somewhere but as I still can’t enter buildings and I’m trying to avoid travelling any distance we thought this was an opportunity not to be missed. Take care xx
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Jill Weatherholt said:
Happy anniversary Claire! Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures. You are blessed to live in such a beautiful area. The wild flowers are gorgeous. As for the vandalism, it’s always so sad to see. I hope you and the family are all doing well.❤️
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Jill. We are indeed very fortunate to live here, out of the way and very secluded. We are all well, thank you as I hope you and Derek are, too ❤ ❤
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Paula Bardell-Hedley said:
Many congratulations on your 26th anniversary, Clare. 🥂❤🎈
Fabulous pictures. You live in such a lovely part of the world.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Paula – you are very kind. I hope you and your partner are still coping well xx
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derrickjknight said:
A fascinating and informative post. I particularly liked the Meadowsweet and trefoil/shamrock stories. You did well to keep up and produce all these photographs. Congratulations on 26 years.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Derrick. The post was a bit of an overkill but I think we have to think of it as at least three posts in one!
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unionhomestead said:
Happy Anniversary from me, too. Love that the ironing still got done 😊
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much! As for the ironing; I could go out the next day with a clear conscience and a feeling of smugness. Hehe!
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reggie unthank said:
A delightful walk in the countryside. Thank you Clare.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Reggie. I hope you are keeping well and many thanks again for your entertaining ‘bonnet’ post.
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East of Elveden said:
Nice to read this, Clare. The minster is certainly an evocative place – peaceful and mysterious. I visited myself a few years ago at a different time of year. I do love those hornbeams. https://eastofelveden.wordpress.com/2017/04/20/the-minster-in-the-saints/
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much. I really enjoyed reading your wonderful post; you are quite right about the atmosphere there. It is a very special place.
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Peter Klopp said:
Clare, you have an eye for the small and wonderful details that nature offers us to see. I especially like the photos of the wildflowers in the lush English countryside. It seems you had a lot of rain in the last little while because green is the dominant colour in all your pictures.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Peter. We have certainly had more rain this year than last year when we were in drought conditions. We could still do with more rain this year as the ground is very dry and the ponds are drying out. But yes, it is still very green everywhere, I am glad to say.
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Laurie Graves said:
Happy anniversary! What a splendid place for a picnic. Sorry to read the minster has been vandalized. A pony and a trap? Sounds like something out of an E.M. Forster novel.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Laurie. It was a lovely place for a picnic. The lady with the pony and trap is often to be seen driving about the lanes. I am sure she has enjoyed these past few months with less traffic on the roads.
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Laurie Graves said:
I bet she has!
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Rachel Ball said:
Happy anniversary! Beautiful post. Why is it that the places near to us are the ones we so infrequently visit?!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you Rachel. I have always wondered why we don’t do more local visiting; perhaps we think that we will always have time to visit because it is near, but we never do!
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Lavinia Ross said:
That was a beautiful virtual tour of the Minster grounds, Clare! Thank you!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Lavinia and thank you, too! I hope you and Rick are well.
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Lavinia Ross said:
So far, all are well here. Our area is not a Covid hotspot, but we are being very careful.
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Clare Pooley said:
I am glad! Our area has never been a hotspot either and we are being very careful too.
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New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
Wow, that was a lot of flowers for one walk! You’re lucky to have such a place to visit.
I loved you explanations of the flower names, like knapweed. I’m surprised I’ve never read about that, or how meadow sweet has nothing to do with meadows. No wonder I never find it there!
Any day you find an orchid is a good day in my opinion, and you found some pretty ones.
Congratulations on your anniversary. May there be many more!
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Clare Pooley said:
You are very kind, Allen – thank you. I was so amazed at the quantity of flowers in bloom where we were walking. I haven’t been out very often during the past few months and perhaps that had something to do with my surprise. I love to find out why plants are so named – it is usually a very down to earth reason in the language of the time.
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New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
I’m glad you were able to get outside and see all of the flowers. There’s nothing else that perks me up like they do!
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Clare Pooley said:
It was a wonderful day!
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tootlepedal said:
I am surprised that you got home at all after stopping to take so many flower pictures. But I am glad that you did stop as the pictures and information were very interesting. Thank you.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Tom. I do apologise for the enormous quantity of photographs; and poor ones at that. I hadn’t seen so many flowers in bloom at the same time before and then couldn’t decide which ones should be left out of the post.
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tootlepedal said:
I know that feeling very well Clare, but I enjoyed all of your pictures.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Tom.
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Richard Sutton said:
A lovely walk, Clare. I followed you to the end. Thank for sharing your extensive knowledge of wild flowers. Almost a complete flora of Suffolk! A lovely meadow to end with – how sad we have lost so many of these.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Richard. It was a marathon post to have to read and I apologise. We have lost so many meadows and wild places; we are very fortunate that some of the farmers and landowners here are trying to right the balance.
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bitaboutbritain said:
I thoroughly enjoyed that, Clare; so much I don’t know about our flora. So – THAT’S meadowsweet – I’ve read about it being used as a floor covering and now I know what to look out for. Have you thought about creating a little library of wild flowers and trees on your blog? Love the look of the Minster, of course, but simply don’t understand the moronic minds of some people.
And belated best wishes for your anniversary!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Mike. No I haven’t thought about a library; what a good idea!
Btw, I have written a review of your history book on Goodreads and hope to write one on Amazon as soon as I can.
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Liz said:
When I see ‘overlong post’ on your blog I always think ‘oh good’! A belated happy anniversary to you and Richard. I loved pouring over your photos – what a lovely set of nature notes. And such beautiful, evocative plant names. A gorgeous start to my Sunday morning, thank you!
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Clare Pooley said:
You are so sweet, Liz! Thank you.
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Liz said:
💕🌸
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Lisa G. said:
A pony and trap – that sounds charming, especially as you didn’t come across any other people that day. I was sorry to picture you ironing on your anniversary, but your eventual picnic seems like it was very nice. It’s always good to stretch out these celebratory days, if one can! Happy Anniversary! (Do you know if there is a Greater Burdock, and how much larger it is than the so-called Lesser?)
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Lisa. Actually I quite enjoy ironing and it was good to get it out of the way so that I could enjoy the picnic with a clear conscience! We don’t go in for much celebrating, either birthdays or anniversary, and this year there was no chance to go out for a meal or visit a place of interest, which is was we usually do.
We see the lady who drives the pony and trap quite often and in fact I tried to take a photo of her a few months ago at the beginning of the lockdown. It wasn’t very successful because that little pony nips along at quite a rate and they had nearly disappeared round the corner before I’d got my camera focussed!
Yes there is a Greater Burdock but I haven’t see it round here yet. The leaves are rounder and it grows taller than the Lesser Burdock. Most of my books on plants say that the Lesser B. grows to about four and a half feet tall and the Greater B up to six and a half feet tall. However the Lessers that I saw were much taller than me and I am 5 ft 4 ins tall (or short!) Perhaps the soil was particularly fertile?
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Luanne said:
Happy anniversary, Clare! What a lovely post! I learned so much, and I also felt nostalgia although I haven’t been there, mainly because so many of the plants reminded me of Michigan wildflowers, so different from where I live in Arizona now. The vandalism is horrific. What is wrong with some people? I will never understand. The whole notion of destruction is traumatic to me anyway.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Luanne. It must be difficult at times, living in a part of the country that is so different – hotter and dryer – from where you came from. When we are stressed it is a comfort to return to where we feel at home and this pandemic has been more than stressful!
I love living in the countryside – so different from where I grew up in a town close to London! I wouldn’t go back there for anything! Yes, vandalism is rife everywhere and no-one thinks of apologising if they damage something by mistake. Everyone seems to think they are entitled to do as they wish all the time. But I won’t get started on that! Hehe!
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Luanne said:
Oh, tell me about it. I don’t know what is wrong with people today. It really weighs on me lately. I am craving more and darker greens and the kinds of “Victorian” flowers that I love. Probably because it’s our hot season right now, just awful.
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Clare Pooley said:
Oh, Luanne! Poor you xoxo
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Ste J said:
A belated happy anniversary, it’s good to streatch my legs with your blog again, I do love your adventures, and all your photos. Your journeys in nature are always lovely.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Ste. Your visits and kind comments are always very much appreciated.
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Andrea Stephenson said:
Happy Anniversary Clare, though I’m not sure you should have done the ironing on that day!! I wasn’t expecting these wonderful ruins when I saw the title of your post, they really are atmospheric.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Andrea. It really was a great day out, especially as my conscience was clear about the ironing! There is a tangible atmosphere at the Minster; very calm and peaceful. It is known that there was a Saxon building on the site before this Norman one and that the Saxons built on the site of a Roman temple. Some people think that there was also a Pagan temple or burial site there before the Roman one! A very special place.
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Val said:
Wow, you’re better at naming plants than I am, I’m still struggling to find out what’s started growing, uninvited, on our patio! Anyway, thank you – it was a delightful tour! 🙂
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Clare Pooley said:
You’re very welcome, Val and thank you so much for your kind comment. We get all sorts of plants coming up on our patio as well. So difficult to get rid of any unwelcome ones!
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Val said:
And – belated happy anniversary!
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Clare Pooley said:
🙂 Thanks, Val!
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Charlotte Hoather said:
Many congratulations on your 26th wedding anniversary but ironing on the day ….. Clare…. mine would have been ‘we put up our feet a watched a nice romcom film’ :).
I love it that you know the names of all these plants and their purposes I only know the common plants but I do love English meadows and woodland. It really frustrates me that people have to put up signs to tell vandals to stop – its the same with litter bugs – very annoying.
Stay safe and well, best wishes to you and all the family,
Charlotte x
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Charlotte. Hehe, I don’t think I’d ever get Richard to watch a romcom film with me no matter what the occasion! We usually fall asleep within minutes of a film starting much to the annoyance of our daughters!
In fact, the ironing is my excuse to watch all sorts of favourite films and series – it makes the job go past much more quickly and I can’t fall asleep because I iron standing up! 😀
Best wishes and take care my dear, xx
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Charlotte Hoather said:
Try ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ or Just Like Heaven’ I even persuaded George to come away from his piano to watch.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thanks, Charlotte ❤
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Jane Sturgeon said:
Sorry for being so late! Happy 26th Anniversary to you both, with much love. I loved your comment that it was raining on the day, so you did the ironing.. ❤ Your knowledge of wildflowers is broad and I loved all your pictures and the link to the interesting article about the Minster. How sad that there are those who don't respect our heritage. What a lovely walk, lovely Clare and thank you for sharing it with us. More love flowing to you all, always. ❤ Xxx ❤ ❤
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you so much, Jane ❤ ❤ You have no need to apologise; you have recently moved house!
We don't make a big deal about our anniversary. We try to do something pleasant on or around the day but we never bother with gifts. This year the pandemic meant we couldn't travel far and as I'm still shielding we can't visit places. I really don't mind ironing and it meant I went out for my walk the following day with a clear conscience, even a sense of smugness! 😀 The site is a very special place and there is a definite feeling of peace and 'ancientness' there. Much love and hugs ❤ ❤ ❤ xxx
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wholelottarosie said:
It’s wonderful to be married for so long and happily time. ❤ ❤
Happy 26th Wedding Anniversary to you both, with much love, Clare! ❤ ❤ I wish you many, many happy years together as a couple. My parents were married for 63 years.
Clare, I am very impressed with your interesting long article and your knowledge of such a variety of plants and I love all your photos..
Stay safe and well, best wishes to you and all the family,
Greetings from Germany … Rosie
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you so much, Rosie! ❤ ❤ I hope you are keeping well and safe in these strange times.
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Laleh Chini said:
Happy anniversary Clare. May hit 50 years healthy and happy together, I pray for you.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Laleh!
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Laleh Chini said:
🌺❤️
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Elizabeth Melton Parsons said:
Wow, I truly enjoyed this post Clare. Too many to mention, but a few of my favorites–the ruin for sure-very romantic, the pineapple weed, the interesting tree….Thank you for sharing. ❤ ❤
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Elizabeth Melton Parsons said:
I’m so happy you finally got your anniversary walk and picnic. Happy 50th!! And here’s to 50 more. Hugs.
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Elizabeth Melton Parsons said:
LOL… I meant 26th. Got distracted there for a minute and wrote 50 without thinking. Forgive me.
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Clare Pooley said:
Of course! Hugs ❤ ❤
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Elizabeth xoxo
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you so much, Elizabeth. I am so pleased you enjoyed it. Best wishes and keep well and safe ❤ ❤
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quercuscommunity said:
I was. to be honest disappointed. Having been promised a long blog post I was only just getting into my stride when it ended. I could have spent a lot more time with you and the flowers.
Congratulations on the wedding anniversary – this is a lesson to our younger readers – romance is all very well but picnics and ironing last longer..
I didn’t realise there were two Elmhams, so I learnt something important today. I’ve been meaning to go to one of them for some time now. It wouldn’t do to turn up at the wrong one.
My Olympus has started removing pink/mauves recently and I took some rather strange pictures of Herb Robert the other day.
All the best for the next 26 years!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Simon. Cameras don’t seem to last long with me.
North Elmham is probably the village most people visit. The ruins are in the village and are looked after by English Heritage. There is a Saxon cemetery near by and there have been Saxon, Roman and Neolithic artifacts discovered there. South Elmham is a collection of tiny villages with no shops, three pubs nearby (1 in Homersfield, 1 in Flixton and 1 in Rumburgh) and a brewery which might still have a restaurant after lockdown in St Peters. The ‘Minster’ is in a copse in the middle of fields, a bit of a walk over the fields from a lane in the middle of nowhere! I love it!
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quercuscommunity said:
I have a new camera but have clung to my old one like a coward and haven’t tried the new one yet.
My first major camera problem came when I saw a great sunset, took a picture on my phone and found the phone took 90% of the colour out. I now enhance a lot of my sunset shots by using landscape settings which leave the colour in. It’s all very confusing when you have to add clour to get the camera to show it like it is.
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Clare Pooley said:
It is all much too difficult! 😀
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quercuscommunity said:
It certainly is now that you have to go on-line for instructions instead of being given a book to carry round! 🙂
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Clare Pooley said:
Yes! 🙂
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roughwighting said:
I love the wild flowers. So much more than wild humans who destroy and don’t stop and smell the wildflowers! Your photos are great, and celebrating an anniversary is even greater. xo
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you so much, Pam. I hope you are keeping well. xoxo
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roughwighting said:
💜
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Cynthia Reyes said:
It’s a wildflower-y kind of post! Interesting flowers, some with curious names, which always makes the walk longer and more enjoyable. I wouldn’t mind having a plant with a very strong pineapple scent in my garden. It would remind me of Jamaica — except I might want to eat that plant, and you didn’t say whether it’s edible.
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Clare Pooley said:
It is edible!
https://www.wildfooduk.com/edible-wild-plants/pineapple-weed/
It also grows in Canada!
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/pineapple-weed-is-an-unlikely-treat-1.3146335
Thank you so much for your comment, Cynthia!
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Cynthia Reyes said:
Good to know.
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sherijkennedyriverside said:
I love that you warned the post was long, but honestly I was so interested, I don’t think I would have noticed. Happy Anniversary, Clare! What a nice way to celebrate the day. I just had our 21st Anniversary, and we decided to picnic at the coast. It was about a 3.5 hour drive each way, but lovely to get away for a day trip.
This was a wonderful post. Thank you for your informative tidbits regarding the various plants. I especially like the notes on historical uses. So interesting. I hope to be back to follow that link to read about the ruins. Such a shame it was vandalized. It truly is a treasure and one of the things we lack here in the US, other than some of the native peoples more ancient ruins and cave paintings in the Southwest – which are certainly interesting. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for stopping by to see my posts. I’ve been rather absent while heading an Anthology project and communicating all my energy’s worth with local authors and artists. Now that it’s complete, I’m hoping to tune in to my worldwide blogging friends more again. 🙂 It was a fun project and I’m pleased with the resulting book. So worthwhile, and a great way to rally together when we were completely shut in this Spring.
Take care, my friend! Nice to see this post showing you’re lively and engaged as ever. 🙂 – Sheri
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you so much for this lovely comment, Sheri! Your anthology project sounds fascinating and what an interesting way to take your mind off the awful pandemic!
I have been trying to catch-up with reading all the blogs I follow – I had got way behind and I do like to know what everyone is doing 🙂 . I read the posts but haven’t had the time so far, to comment. It was so good to see posts from you again and to know that you are well. I hope you and your husband have coped okay for the past few months. I dread to think what this coming winter will be like!
Take care xoxo 🙂
Clare
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sherijkennedyriverside said:
We’ve done well, though it has been odd and at times discouraging. I think we’re all feeling concerned about the upcoming winter, but we’ll just have to keep on keeping on, I suppose. Take care! – Sheri
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Clare Pooley said:
And you, Sheri!
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Resa said:
HAPPY 26TH ANNIVERSARY! (belated)
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Resa xxx
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Nathan Rogers said:
So much variety! I loved the pic of the tree near the ruins.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Nathan. That tree is really special!
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Nathan Rogers said:
And happy anniversary!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Nathan. 🙂
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willedare said:
Your knowledge of plants is beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for letting us join you on this anniversary adventure.
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Clare Pooley said:
You are very kind, Will – thank you.
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