Butterbur.

Yet another unusual plant.

Petasites hybridus will be well known to many. Its flowers emerge directly from the ground just before or at the same time that the leaves begin to show. As the summer arrives the leaves become huge and completely hide the remains of the flowers. They are like a giant rhubarb and indeed in some places it is called wild Rhubarb or Butcher's Rhubarb.
In fact the leaves were used in past ages for wrapping butter. They are pliable and fold without breaking and they feel cool. They will grow up to 4 feet tall.

This afternoon in perfect weather we went to buy some new walking poles for me. I have had the old ones for fifteen years and at a rough calculation have used them for almost 20,000 miles. We buy them from the house of the physiotherapist who designed them. My extra is a view of the Lakeland fells from her garden. Quite a nice place to live I think.