Navelwort

Up bright and early and off for a walk with Sheila. We went to the north side and did the copper mine walk - info here if you're interested. Sheila is a native of these parts but had never done this walk. It was wonderful - the most amazing thing was the amount of primroses and violets just everywhere. The highlight though was meeting Seamus, an acquaintance of Sheila and also the owner of the land on which the old mines are. He was full of information and knew every field, every road, every house and who it had belonged to for ever. He and his family now live in a bungalow, as is tradition, but the old farm (abandoned and just used for storage) is just across the road and looks very very interesting!! I might have to ask nicely.

By the time I came home the weather had hotted up and a deckchair was dusted off and a spot of contemplation was necessary at the edge of the pond.

This by the way is navelwort It grows everywhere in the walls, this was on the wall of an old cabin, and produces tall tapering flowers and is apparently good for corns and kidney problems - I'm not quite sure how you apply it! Apparently the Romans called it Venus's navel and associated it with love-making. I've just read that bit and there was no more information so you have to use your own imagination at this point. !!! Odd and rather attractive.