Description
It is the tail end of winter, frost is crunching beneath our feet, and we are both following our noses like bloodhounds. We are in search of wild garlic. The scent gradually thickens, gets more intense, and finally, we stumble onto a riverside bank to find the jackpot. To this day, I’ve never seen wild garlic quite like in Cumbria. And it brought more joy than just an addition to our soups and salads.
I found our last winter in the Lake District difficult. We’d moved to the region to wait for a hospital operation that kept getting cancelled. With each delay, our prospective world cycle journey got pushed further back. And after two failed attempts already, it was beginning to feel like it might never happen.
The surgery finally took place in the middle of winter, with a month of relentless pain that followed. I try not to wish time away, but enduring this in a cold rural building was character-building, to say the least. And something only manageable with Sarah’s help and love.
After almost a month off my feet, we saw a break in some particularly bitter conditions and went for a slow walk along a familiar lane. The sun shone, blackbirds whistled, and quickly, I noticed that sweet scent in the air. Walking past the snowdrops to see the very first signs of the wild garlic is something I will remember for a long time to come. It helped me through the rest of my recovery, reminding me that all things come and go.
We frequented this walk, watching the seasons change, the snowdrops fade, bulbs open, and wild garlic bloom. This photo was taken right in the middle of spring, when I was fully recovered, and it felt like this gate led on to a wide-open world.
Print details
• Printed on premium C-Type Fuji Matt photographic paper
• Available in multiple sizes
• Made to order
• Carefully packaged for delivery
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— Josh & Sarah
