Hi, I’m Charlotte, I write at a fairly modern but large oak table in our home in a Mid-Devonshire village. We moved here 2 years ago after a transient British forces life of moving around the UK and Germany. Here in my corner of Substack, you will find tales from a homebody who loves the balance of a local micro-adventure; uncomplicated parenting, childhood nostalgia, motherhood musings, lots of seasonal stories, gardening and helpful family ideas and resources. The seasons are entwined throughout our home, our family values, and are rooted within my personal growth. If you love the pace and patterns of Mother Nature then you’re definitely in the right place.
Welcome to my monthly look inside the hedgerow near our home. This particular lane is a favourite of mine as it starts alongside a small river and as you ascend out of the village you’re never far from the sound of running water from the network of farm ditches. When you reach the top of the lane there is a lovely view across farmland and a perfect spot for a sunset.
As I start this walk with our dog Rusty I notice that the cow parsley is dying back and is replaced with the similar hemlock water dropwort. Clumps of nettles are mistaken for a pollinator’s favourite, the hedge woundwort. Bush vetch, figwort and the proud, wild teasels add to the purple of the thicket.
The pink hues of the red campions, foxgloves, and wild geranium point us towards midsummer. The scent of the peachy honeysuckle and rambling roses make this walk a delight for the senses as I hear the chirping from the tits in the hedge.
Sunshine pom poms from the beaked hawksbeard point their prickly leaves towards the trailing glossy buttercups and meadow pea by my feet. The hedgerow is a constant reminder to see the beauty in our common weeds.
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