When today's showers finally stopped, I had a lovely walk up Laverstock Down and Cockey Down.

Sometimes when I walk up the Downs, I do so fairly quickly, emphasizing the cardio aspect of the uphill walk.

Today I appreciated the cardio workout, but I also literally took time to appreciate the wildflowers, collecting a few to bring home for identification.

I think the rains over the past week have really brought out the blooms in the wildflowers, and the hills were awash in beautiful colors. There were the whites of the cow parsley and hogweed, the yellows of hedge mustard and smooth hawksbeard, the blue of the delicate harebell, and the purples of common knapweed, purple clover, marsh thistle, and pyramidal orchids.

At the top of the Downs, I looked across towards the city and cathedral, over the wheat and barley fields, now beginning to ripen, and highlighted with the scarlet of scattered poppies. The wheat was waving in the wind, while the gusty breezes were bringing the dark shadows of cumulus clouds racing across the fields. The sun was warm on my arms and legs as I walked down the hills to home. I took my cap off to keep from losing it in the wind, but put it back on at the bottom of the hill to protect myself from the strong sun.

At the bottom of Laverstock Down I looked up and saw a furry animal at the top looking striaght down at me. For a split second I thought it was a miniature deer, but felt foolish for such a silly thought when the large hare decided he had enough of me and hopped off madly down the other side of the hill.

When I reached the houses, several neighbours greeted me. I had a real sense of being uplifted from walking the Downs.