Pex Hill, Cheshire

lovely blog...that oak tree is wonderful, as for those plants i think the first one is a kind of geranium & the second one looks like a berberis but i could be wrong!

Hi Wiston, Amazing tree ! I thought the same as Elsiemay but couldn't find pictures in my book to confirm - Aha! could go to the alphabet thingy at the bottom of the page and have a look . . . be back soon.

The little flower is a wildflower (it wasn't growing in a garden but we saw them dotted about in a few places at the side of the trails). It will be interesting to see if you can "name that plant in....10 seconds...!" lol Thanks Elsie and SBell.

I'm not much good at identifying a lot of plants yet...but I can name some....nettles and clover are in the photo! Hope you're suitably impressed! lol

In the first pic I see geranium, oxalis and nettle. The second one does look like a berberis. The first photograph is stunning WL. It's strange that your camera is letting you down sometimes and then at other times just giving you great results! I love that tree!

very impressed!...think that first one is Hedgerow Cranesbill as it looks like one in my wildflower book

Karensue....it could be the photographer! hehe (actually I used the zoom lens to photograph the ladybug and it doesn't take great photos with that setting)

Yes I agree, the tree is most interesting....I did think I should lay down and take a photo of the underside of the tree....but I decided not to tempt fate...I might have trouble getting up again!! lol

lol..you've let us all down WLass!! :))))

Oh my.....sorry Karensue...I'll try not to do it again (or until the next time)....lol

lovely interesting blog Wlass, lovely ladybird and i love to see the shapes of the trees in autumn to, the plant looks like a Geranium to me, i have one similar, glad you enjoyed your walk ;o)))

Lovely blog the tree is great it must be quite old. Like everyone else I think the pretty pink flower is Herb robert a wild geranium.

Thanks San and Mavis....and others....I'll now know what this pretty little wayside flower is....nature provides some lovely scenery and blooms...

Pleased you enjoyed your outing and your Toddle through the woodland, its good to get out and explore all the treasures that nature provides, I also agree wild gerainium and the lovely Berberis and the oak tree is tremendous!

Glad you agree about the great outdoors, PP. :)

Very interesting. The quarry must be sheltered, and a nice place for a walk, and for plants to grow.

In the 1st pic I see Clover, Oxalis, and Stingy nettles. Don't know the 2nd one sorry.

It appears the consensus is berberis, Hywel. My brother-in-law looked at the photo last night and said the leaves are dusted at this time of year which makes them appear silvery. Not sure if the dust is from mites or what...but you can apparently get it off the leaves easily.

Yes, it's a lovely place for a walk and fairly easy on the trails too. I did have some fun when we exited the quarry via the 3 or so sandstone steps. They were a bit steep between steps for me...thought hubby would be pushing my backside to assist but I managed it in the end between railings and my trust walking stick. lol

I am trying to imagine you going up the steps lol. (laughing with you, not at you !) Must have been fun :o)

I expect the 'dust' is a sort of mildew at this time of year.

Lovely walk! I'm envious!
Check out Old Knobbley.. that oak at the top of the page is quite old and it rang bells. I'm a fan of the ancient oaks of Britain.

Thanks for the Old Knobbley recommendation, Lori...it looks interesting. Oak trees really impressed me when I first arrived in the UK....they have so much character and ooze strength.

Seeing your first photo of the Cheshire trees..It reminded me of a book which I would like to recommend to you, Whistonlass. Actually there are two books by Thomas Pakenham about the ancient trees of England/the world. The photographs are just breathtaking... and the reason I mentioned old Knobbley to you was that I came across it while surfing around trying to remember the earl's name! I have put both books on my Christmas wish list. Hubby and I are bookish... so I know when I ask for a publication there are no quibbles or questions asked!

Lori....there is only our bedroom and the bathroom in our house that is not filled with either books or bookcases...even down our hallway we have three. I did cull a lot of my own books a couple of years ago but still have a fair number.

Hubby has tons (we even have some in boxes in the garage...just ran out of room!!) and he still scours charity shops and brings more home! lol

I'll look out for the two books you mention by Thomas Pakenham. I think you and I must share a love of trees, and especially the oak. :)

Quercus robur... yes...being a Canadian I have a partiallity for Acer platanoides...recently bought a small Japanese Maple... love trees...but the old ones in the Pakenham books are so special. would love to meet them first hand but I guess it's best that they keep their anonymity. I was surprised that in the pictures of Old Knobbly that they allowed children to stand on the branches. I was yelling "get down out of there" before I could stop myself.
We have a number of what is called "pin" Oaks here in town. The leaves are smaller but the tree grows straighter and taller than Q. robur. Perhaps the subject for a blog.
I took the walk with you and looked at the pics of the old quarries... the Mseries highways seem to intersect in that area?..have you ever used Google Earth? it is amazing. I googled my own address and it took me right down my street and I could look at my house as if I was driving by in a car!! the three D is still a bit frustrating as I'm not that good at manoevering and all the buildings seem flat. then of course, there's the privacy aspect of it...what a world.

Yes, Lori....I have used Google Earth when it was first launched in the UK quite a few months ago (maybe longer) but don't remember how to now...lol

Pex Hill is very near to the M62 motorway and the M57 if that was what you were asking...I wasn't too sure as you called it "Mseries highways"...have I got that wrong?

I found the road on Bowen Island where I grew up when I looked at Google Earth and identified it by the old stump that grew at the front of the property where a huckleberry bush is still growing....and it's a good 25 yrs. since my dad sold the acreage. What I'd give for that chunk of the Island now! The bush was still there in the big, rotting stump (I'd estimate the stump is about 8 ft. tall, but very wide at the base). My dad cleared the land himself with a crossbow saw (no chainsaws in those days...in the 30's) and dug both wells. Better stop now, Lori....I'll go on forever about that place :-)

I'm beyond worrying about privacy....I think big brother is watching anyway.