Kentmere, where water-tracks drain down the fell-side Life begins at the spring-line, where water bubbles up from the earth. There are nameless water-tracks where seep and trickle sustains an intricate flora. Micro-habitats whose ecology is become familiar. How will today match what I’ve found here before at this season? Where water drains off the fell-side, down into the River Kent, here I hope to find the flora I love. Becks run dry, the sun scorches plants growing on hot rock but where there are water-tracks fed by springs a weave and tangle of flora flourishes.
Will it be too late in the season for starry saxifrage, a plant I’ve found in the fells on rare occasions? Here on 12th June 2009, a mass of flowers. In twelve years there is change. I remember a richer flora on the flood-plain close to the RiWver Kent, richer than I see today.
Here is starry saxifrage, a first impression, then a leisurely study. A few flowers and clusters or rich-red seed-heads. A fortnight earlier and we’d have found more flowers. Starry saxifrage whose long rosy flower-stems and rosy rosettes of basal- leaves are fed by spring-water. The white flowers of starry saxifrage are cushioned in a saturated moss of green stars, the marsh forklet.
Here is starry saxifrage, a first impression, then a leisurely study. A few flowers and clusters or rich-red seed-heads. A fortnight earlier and we’d have found more flowers. Starry saxifrage whose long rosy flower-stems and rosy rosettes of basal- leaves are fed by spring-water. The white flowers of starry saxifrage are cushioned in a saturated moss of green stars, the marsh forklet.
In my archive I find the images I took on 12th June 2009, starry saxifrage and marsh forklet moss. They are still here. Back in 2012 I was thrilled to find starry saxifrage. I don’t think I noticed marsh forklet, not sure I knew the marsh forklet back then. Now it’s a favourite. I photographed abundant flowers but did not tease-out each plant to show structure, as now I try to do. There is beauty in detail and pattern. We linger here, curious and questioning, considering this micro-habitat and why these plants thrive here in just this place. I knew the moment I saw the flower that I had found starry saxifrage- field-guides highlight flowers but now we consider the plant entire.
Here is a hymn to water, to sunlight and cool shade. After mid-day we are walking south, into the hot sun. Rough fell ewes and well-grown lambs shelter in the shadow of the barn wall, by The Tongue. When last we came here the ewes were about to give birth. Feeling the heat, we are mindful the news and the heat-dome that hangs over British Columbia, a global challenge.
Here is a hymn to water, to sunlight and cool shade. After mid-day we are walking south, into the hot sun. Rough fell ewes and well-grown lambs shelter in the shadow of the barn wall, by The Tongue. When last we came here the ewes were about to give birth. Feeling the heat, we are mindful the news and the heat-dome that hangs over British Columbia, a global challenge.
Look closely at this photo-sequence and you will make discoveries. There are green blade-like leaves of bog asphodel. And the marsh forklet isn't the only moss. There are deep coloured, saturated sphagnum mosses too. Long flower-stems of starry saxifrage rise erect through the moss, as seed heads. Others fall and lie across the mosses, their stems tracing back to lovely rosettes of leaves.
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