We live in the countryside, but not in a remote location as it is only 3 miles to the former fishing village of St Ives and 4 miles to the former industrial town of Hayle. One of the advantages of living here is that we can walk straight out of our front door and into country lanes lined with Cornish hedges and native wild flowers. It is always a pleasure to walk the lanes around us to discover what is in flower at a particular time of year. In May it is the cow parsley that dominates, the delicate lacy umbellifers creating a foaming, frothy edge to the road. Intertwined are Red Campion which take over from the native English bluebells by the end of the month and bright glossy buttercups. Lesser Stitchwort shine among the darkness of the ivy leaves and brambles and Common Vetch, with its long twining stems that have curly tendrils on the ends and jewel bright pinky-purple flowers, weave their way through the tapestry of other colours.
One of our favourite walks is down the steep hill past Alice then along the road to Trencrom Hill car park and around the hill. Preferably when it is dry and not muddy! Brambles are beginning to green up, Hawthorn replaces Blackthorn and everywhere is lush and green.
It tends to be a slow walk as we are constantly stopping to photograph the flowers or listen for buzzards or watch butterflies and bees. Foxgloves are beginning to open their flowers – give them another couple of weeks and they will dominate.
The colours are just wonderful – red, pink, purple, blue, white and greens of all shades.
On the base of the hill are beautiful tiny bright blue Veronica chamaedrys (gemander speedwell or angels’ eyes), a weed in most gardens, but glorious in this environment. They are replacing the lovely purple Dog Violets which are now disappearing back underground.
It’s not a long walk, but it is always an interesting one.
Cornwall in Colours 
We don’t have hedgerows, but we have much land that is “unimproved” so there are many things to see. My husband brings home many native plants from these abandoned sites.
Unimproved land is good 🙂
The benefit of living in a “declining” part of the country.
I used to like driving along those country lanes. Thanks for reminding me of their beauty. 🙂
Hard to keep your eyes on the road!
But one should, with all those speeding native drivers! 😉 Well, to tell the truth: that’s what I remember from the Cotswolds, actually.
Similar here Pit!
😉
So gorgeous! 😍
A beautiful walk. I too love seeing the flowers in our hedges change as the season progresses, many of the same, though very little red campion and locally few foxgloves.
The red campion is very noticeable this year.
I have it in the garden and it is doing well there too
Serene in green, Jude! Those hedgerows are almost toppling over they’re so full! 🙂 🙂 D’you have to keep a wary eye out for motorists in those lanes, or is it too early for that? 🙂 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
You don’t get much traffic along these lanes, more horses! I thought you’d enjoy a look at the English spring that you are missing 🙂
It’s a tad warm here, but I’m not complaining. 🙂 🙂 Up to my ears in Azores emails and info! Getting close now and I’m excited.
How long are you there for? sounds like you are turning into Cathy – should be a good few posts out of this trip 🙂
I wish! Cathy is almost jet set 🙂 🙂 With a supportive husband while mine is a loveable grump with a dodgy foot 🙂 13 nights, I think. 6 hotels, 4 islands, interconnecting flights and ferries. It could end in tears but I’m staying positive.
Beautiful Jude. No better place to be.
What a gorgeous location Jude – the flowers and hedgerows are amazing! 🙂
Foxgloves coming out now so it will be all change again – pinks will dominate!
Love pinks! 🙂 🙂
The lanes are looking very girly right now, frothy white Cow Parsley with deep pink of the Red Campion on the upper tier.
Must look stunning! I think it’s been really warm with you? Our daughter in London was having an outdoor BBQ with friends yesterday – apparently it was 27 degrees! 🙂 🙂
London is always hotter than anywhere else in the UK and especially Cornwall – we have sea breezes being surrounded by the coast. Highest temp here probably 19 degrees. And wet this morning!
Well if it’s any consolation we are in the midst of wild winter storms and it’s gone very cold – off to light the wood fire soon 🙂
Expected in winter, but it would be nice if we could have some summer heat! I’d like to be able to sit outside and read a book at some point 🙂
I find myself noticing more and more in the hedgerows, it makes me wonder what I did before. I must have walked around with my eyes closed when I was young! Yesterday I found something in the valley park and have idea what it was.
Wonderful photos. So very stunning