Ooooh how lucky you are to have swifts nesting opposite! 'our' swifts are back too (I just published an article about them funnily enough) and I was SO excited to see them! Every time I hear a faint scream a huge smile appears on my face. Very much relate to your thousands of photos of the sky... With no swifts! We've had some spectacular skies here this week though, including some stunning rainbows!
Ah the swifts. I’m involved in a project here in BS16 to put up Nest boxes and raise awareness as sadly they are red listed now. The loss of nesting sites is a real issue as people improve fascia’s and the little gaps they use are lost. I was in London on Monday and was amazed to see big group of swifts screaming and feeding over Hyde park. I also saw a group of fluffy Egyptian goose goslings being shepherded across a path into the lake by their parents, the watching humans (myself included) cooed and took photos. Closer to home my wisteria is absolutely astonishing at the moment, heavily scented and masses of flowers. Definitely time to sit outside with a glass of something to soak it all in.
The play tree is fantastic! Here in Edinburgh the blossoms have peaked and we're seeing gorgeous pastel carpets of petals all over. I've gone out without a jacket TWICE. But it's also been quite the week for sea haar - I watched it rolling in over the city yesterday afternoon and walking home felt apocalyptic (and chilly). My seasonal observation of the week though is that it's Eurovision week!!! Truly one of the highlights of my year.
I wish we had swifts here, for some reason we don’t get them where I am up north. The sand martins have returned though, we saw them skimming across the River Ribble this week, in and out of the cracks in the sandy bank. That’s definitely my summer starting now.
The first Saturday in May is the Kentucky Derby horse race here in the US. My neighbors, who are from Kentucky, host a party every year. We attended our first one 17 years ago! Because it comes near the end of the university school year for me, it always feels like the kick-off to summer.
it feels like a glorious riot of growth and gorgeousness - just in the last week or so, so much has changed! The bluebells have peaked, the cow parsley now looks wonderful. There are cathedral-like beech tree boughs along one road i cycle along regularly. I find them so moving! their majestic overhead arches are newly bright, fresh green and bathe me in a kind of life balm!
We had a baby rabbit in the house, took us ages to get it to leave without my cat joining in. A red legged partridge came into the utility room and wouldn't leave until I had fed him. Our brand new hedge made up of trees and bushes from around the garden is thriving and looking great. I love Spring!!
Loving your pictures this week Lia- the doggy bluebell sniffing one, the living play tree and the May blossom out! NB we have swallows her, but no swifts! As for my three this week- as Ella B says it’s getting harder and harder just to be confined to three! With the warmer spring- like weather finally!- everything’s in my garden and surroundings is gorgeously bursting forth in lush and generous profusion. But first up - the coronation party we attended in our local Warm Hub was wonderful - especially the stupendous crown on a cushion cake we all enjoyed ( and coronation quiche with no soggy bottom) I’ll post a pic on Sunday it was <that> good and tasted great too! No 2 would have to be our long awaited bluebell walk in the woods at Routin Linn ( site of famous cup and ring markings in the rocks too) amid silence / birdsong and fresh air like you wouldn’t believe. The sheets of blue punctuated with white stitch wort, yellow bedstraw and unfurling ferns. It was bliss. And lastly days spent in the burgeoning garden with the sun on my face- pricking out, potting up, planting all my veggies in the raised beds and feasting my eyes on the garden looking at its best with bluebells, forget me nots and masses of yellow Welsh poppies which appear at this time of year everywhere.
I realised yesterday there were three blue tit fledglings chirruping sweetly, directly above my head, in the thick reaching ivy of my garden wall. So fluffy.
This week I’m mostly noticing green - everywhere! The trees are beginning the fill out, the grass looks luscious and my veggie bed has sprouted different shades of little green things 🌱🌿🌳🍃 so promising and uplifting.
So happy the play tree lives and is still there bringing joy 😊
We had a family coronation picnic at work which turned into a very British picnic when the heavens opened and we had to move inside! Proper dramatic thunder storm followed. Amazing cakes though and the children had a crown parade.
It’s been sunshine and showers all week in Paris but we did get an amazing double rainbow yesterday 🌈
A fox, a bit bedraggled after a recent shower, loping along the pavement outside my house, en route to who knows where - but looking for all the world as though he owned the place.
Swifts near our friends in Preston area, blue tits hatching in my daughters nest box, wonderful Italian meal in West Cumbria while visiting another friend.
A peaceful hot air balloon ride over bright yellow fields and the winding river Ouse in York :)
Ooooh how lucky you are to have swifts nesting opposite! 'our' swifts are back too (I just published an article about them funnily enough) and I was SO excited to see them! Every time I hear a faint scream a huge smile appears on my face. Very much relate to your thousands of photos of the sky... With no swifts! We've had some spectacular skies here this week though, including some stunning rainbows!
Ah the swifts. I’m involved in a project here in BS16 to put up Nest boxes and raise awareness as sadly they are red listed now. The loss of nesting sites is a real issue as people improve fascia’s and the little gaps they use are lost. I was in London on Monday and was amazed to see big group of swifts screaming and feeding over Hyde park. I also saw a group of fluffy Egyptian goose goslings being shepherded across a path into the lake by their parents, the watching humans (myself included) cooed and took photos. Closer to home my wisteria is absolutely astonishing at the moment, heavily scented and masses of flowers. Definitely time to sit outside with a glass of something to soak it all in.
The play tree is fantastic! Here in Edinburgh the blossoms have peaked and we're seeing gorgeous pastel carpets of petals all over. I've gone out without a jacket TWICE. But it's also been quite the week for sea haar - I watched it rolling in over the city yesterday afternoon and walking home felt apocalyptic (and chilly). My seasonal observation of the week though is that it's Eurovision week!!! Truly one of the highlights of my year.
I wish we had swifts here, for some reason we don’t get them where I am up north. The sand martins have returned though, we saw them skimming across the River Ribble this week, in and out of the cracks in the sandy bank. That’s definitely my summer starting now.
The first Saturday in May is the Kentucky Derby horse race here in the US. My neighbors, who are from Kentucky, host a party every year. We attended our first one 17 years ago! Because it comes near the end of the university school year for me, it always feels like the kick-off to summer.
it feels like a glorious riot of growth and gorgeousness - just in the last week or so, so much has changed! The bluebells have peaked, the cow parsley now looks wonderful. There are cathedral-like beech tree boughs along one road i cycle along regularly. I find them so moving! their majestic overhead arches are newly bright, fresh green and bathe me in a kind of life balm!
We had a baby rabbit in the house, took us ages to get it to leave without my cat joining in. A red legged partridge came into the utility room and wouldn't leave until I had fed him. Our brand new hedge made up of trees and bushes from around the garden is thriving and looking great. I love Spring!!
Loving your pictures this week Lia- the doggy bluebell sniffing one, the living play tree and the May blossom out! NB we have swallows her, but no swifts! As for my three this week- as Ella B says it’s getting harder and harder just to be confined to three! With the warmer spring- like weather finally!- everything’s in my garden and surroundings is gorgeously bursting forth in lush and generous profusion. But first up - the coronation party we attended in our local Warm Hub was wonderful - especially the stupendous crown on a cushion cake we all enjoyed ( and coronation quiche with no soggy bottom) I’ll post a pic on Sunday it was <that> good and tasted great too! No 2 would have to be our long awaited bluebell walk in the woods at Routin Linn ( site of famous cup and ring markings in the rocks too) amid silence / birdsong and fresh air like you wouldn’t believe. The sheets of blue punctuated with white stitch wort, yellow bedstraw and unfurling ferns. It was bliss. And lastly days spent in the burgeoning garden with the sun on my face- pricking out, potting up, planting all my veggies in the raised beds and feasting my eyes on the garden looking at its best with bluebells, forget me nots and masses of yellow Welsh poppies which appear at this time of year everywhere.
May blossom - like yours, ours is a week or so into flowering so still lots of tight buds but enough flowers out to eat one or two.
Also swifts, a low-flying pair about 6 feet anove my head.
Warm sun and torrential rain.
The sea's warm enough for a proper swim.
I realised yesterday there were three blue tit fledglings chirruping sweetly, directly above my head, in the thick reaching ivy of my garden wall. So fluffy.
This week I’m mostly noticing green - everywhere! The trees are beginning the fill out, the grass looks luscious and my veggie bed has sprouted different shades of little green things 🌱🌿🌳🍃 so promising and uplifting.
So happy the play tree lives and is still there bringing joy 😊
We had a family coronation picnic at work which turned into a very British picnic when the heavens opened and we had to move inside! Proper dramatic thunder storm followed. Amazing cakes though and the children had a crown parade.
It’s been sunshine and showers all week in Paris but we did get an amazing double rainbow yesterday 🌈
Just beautiful! May is my favourite month of thr year for so many of the reasons described here x
A fox, a bit bedraggled after a recent shower, loping along the pavement outside my house, en route to who knows where - but looking for all the world as though he owned the place.
Swifts near our friends in Preston area, blue tits hatching in my daughters nest box, wonderful Italian meal in West Cumbria while visiting another friend.