Hilary R Sparkes
@hilaryrsparkes
Independent scholar and writer: Caribbean religious history, anthropology, and things folkloric. Fan of The Byrds and the gothic. Posts about Warwickshire folklore at @warksfolklore.bsky.social
#StillFlowering - Old Man's Beard aka Traveller's Joy in St Mary's churchyard, Warwick #wildflowerhour
Part of a stained glass window in the church of St Nicholas, Kenilworth
Burdock coming in to bloom in south Warwickshire today #wildflowerhour
Not sure what flavour of moth this is but it was hanging out on the patio early one morning last week. #SmalllBeauties
Fox and Cubs in the churchyard of St John the Baptist, Wappenbury
White bryony being photo-bombed by a nettle in Stoneleigh today #wildflowerhour
Soothing away frazzly days with an afternoon mooch round Warwickshire Lavender Farm
Stained glass in the church of St John the Baptist, Berkswell
Pyramidal orchid growing on the site of an old church in Nechells, Birmingham #WildflowerHour
This "skull" looks like it's taking a chomp out of the tombstone. (seen in the churchyard of St Michael's, Baddersley Clinton)
Scarlet tiger moth mooching around on alkanet near my house #pollinatorrpals #wildflowerhour
Summer solstice/Litha blessings 🌞🌞🌞 I love this time - so much mystical, creative energy swirling about
A piece of favourite folklore is that the Rollin’ Calf, one of the most frightening duppies in Jamaican folklore, can also appear in the form of a brindled cat. Something I remind my cat Millie of when she’s engaging in crimes against soft furnishings. #FolkloreThursday
The Georgian chapel is all that remains of the old church of St James, Alveston
Ox-eye daisies and field bindweed in the churchyard of St Michael's, Weston under Wetherley #wildflowerhour #churchyardflowers
Bee savouring some scabious in the gardens at Baddersley Clinton
Millie tuning in, turning on and dropping out at her catnip mountain #Caturday
In early 20th C Jamaican folklore, mice seen scurrying up and down cotton trees growing in graveyards were considered to be duppies (spirits) of the dead. #FolkloreThursday
Going for a cool green vibe as it's so hot today. so, some of the remans of the old abbey in Abbeyfields, Kenilworth
Gate designed by Inigo Jones, c. 1632, in the churchyard of St Giles, Chesterton
"You didn't really want to use this crate, did you?" #Caturday
Random Owl of the Month Postbox topper in Warwick doing an impression of me after a hip flask of sherry 🍷🦉