Walking near the river Chess

This is Jesus’s continued conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus’s words are continuous with no interruption from this learned man.

‘For God didn’t send His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. Those who believe in Him are not condemned but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the only Son of God. And this is the condemnation. Light comes into the world, and people love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. For everyone who does evil hates light, and doesn’t come to the light because their deeds are evil and they do not want to be reproved/reprimanded/told off.’

Jesus continues in John 3: 17-21…but lets follow the word reprove and see what Solomon said long before Jesus.

Do not reprove a scoffer, or they will hate you, reprove a wise person, and they will love you.

Then this thought written by the same person:

There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way, whoever hates reproof will die.

The actual words are in Proverbs 9:8 and Proverbs 15:10.

It is a Monday but we spent time walking this weekend which included part of the 10 mile Chess valley path. The river Chess is one of the world’s rare crystal – clear chalk streams passing through the Chilterns. Our walk lead by my husband, Roy took in the villages of Chenies and Latimer. These picturesque villages in south-east Buckinghamshire were both anciently known as Isenhampstead. However, in the reign of King Edward III of England the land was split between two barons: Thomas Cheyne and William Latimer.

My photographs will high light the river, the amazing fields of wild plants gone to seed and a cottage garden coping with the sun of three heat waves.

The eye moves easily along the path of green where the clear waters of the Chess follow the movement of the chalk bed and as one looks more closely their cool clarity is enticing.

A pattern of greens as grasses are fed by different quantities of water.

Cress plants grow well beneath its calm surface filtering the sun’s rays.

Reflections and shadows add to the enjoyment of its cooling presence. The beautiful Chess.

Then there are the drier stretches of the walk through wild plant meadows all in seed.

The breeze carried seeds with fluffy white filling the air. One plant I hadn’t seen before was Phacelia tanacetifolia. It was in seed so I didn’t see its lavender- blue coiled, unrolling flower spikes. It is well suited to full sun and sandy soils with its architectural seed pod standing proud against the grass. A common name for it is fiddleneck.

This plant is a magnate for polinators and is also a green manure.

Leaving the open areas of stubble,and unmowen land, the path we followed, lead through varying areas, including fine woodland providing dappled shade seemingly unaffected by the heat we have experienced.

Then my final photographs are of a cottage garden in the late afternoon.

We gardeners, have on the whole left the grass to go yellow and looked after the plants needing water. Shrubs and well established plants we all hope will be alright. Our beloved English gardens coping with this heat!

We had experienced some relief from the sun with clouds and a light breeze on Sabbath and this walk with little up hill was easy to follow. The area is well signposted for walkers and is pleasantly quiet.

A good afternoon in the company of fine friends and a distinguished river.

Take care,

Sandy 🙂