On the sunny day this week I saw a yellow Brimstone Butterfly. I bought a plum tree which is already sprouting its buds. I hope the wildlife will share the plums with me 🌱
Was that on Wednesday? I saw a yellow brimstone too on that day 🦋 I then read it was National Brimstone Lift-off Hour at lunchtime when a lot of male brimstones go in search of females.
The few days of warmth and sunshine here on the south coast with everything waking up after endless dreary days. Explored a little rural graveyard after a pub lunch sat outside which was full of birdsong, daffs, primroses, sticky buds and self seeded pretty blue anemone blandas smiling at the sun. It’s been a long grey winter for us with the weather reflecting life events but my heart is lifting in response to spring and am now tempted to go explore a local wood where I will harvest a few wild garlic leaves for cooking later in the year so thank you once again Lia.
Lightness and brightness in the morning, and lots of geese on the canal. It will soon be hissy season where I take my life in my hands walking down the towpath.
Rabbits running round the field across the river. A close encounter with a beautiful fox. A wonderfully noisy song thrush at dawn and dusk. Helpfully, also Friday's bird of the day on Merlin!
I have heard a woodpecker tapping, seen two hares playing and ducks have started hanging out by the pond. They come every year - The mother stays to hatch her eggs and then takes her brood away to raise them. So if we’re lucky we see their first little swim. Very exciting but also sad as we never know how many, if any survive. No lambs as yet but some very plump ewes in the fields in north Shropshire. 😊
Oh! My goodness! It seems that when I’ve noticed a glimmer of blue in that big old sky, the smaller garden birds are ever more prolific with their song. The robin, for me, still stands the tallest with its notorious trill wherever I may be. I’ve also managed to catch sight of the tiny wren bobbling about all over the tree and ivy at the bottom of our garden. Most impressive for me, has been a more prolonged time admiring a nuthatch whilst feeding. It’s dynamic black eyeliner and steely grey body shooting through the trees like a dart has been a treat this week.
The other real treat is my camillia bush in full flower. That just seems to have been dark green one day and now is bright red! Amazing!
Oh! And amen Lia, to the carpets of wild garlic slowly unfurling from the leaf litter - pesto making season commences!
Finally dry enough underfoot to cut back the dog wood, bringing in a few twigs to burst into leaf indoors, brilliant moon and stars seen from the bedroom window soothing a sleepless night.
Seeing the first blossom on a cherry tree, scarlet elf caps in the woods bright red against the moss, getting excited about planting the first season's seeds
On Tuesday my little garden pond seemed to turn into a jacuzzi, two frogs were creating a lot of turbulence! I was so happy to see them, and later the frogspawn, despite having emptied and re-lined the pond last year, such a marker for me of hope and renewal.
The emergence of daffodils, grape hyacinth and a multitude of blossoms, and an evening walk home that takes place in light. Birdsong in the mornings cheers my heart.
The frogs are back in our garden pond, probably my favourite seasonal marker of the year. There’s so much going on out there. You can feel the wheel turning.
On the sunny day this week I saw a yellow Brimstone Butterfly. I bought a plum tree which is already sprouting its buds. I hope the wildlife will share the plums with me 🌱
Was that on Wednesday? I saw a yellow brimstone too on that day 🦋 I then read it was National Brimstone Lift-off Hour at lunchtime when a lot of male brimstones go in search of females.
Yes it was! And it was around lunch time. Honestly it was so lovely seeing him 👐
I saw my first Brimstone butterfly, too!
How wonderful!!
The few days of warmth and sunshine here on the south coast with everything waking up after endless dreary days. Explored a little rural graveyard after a pub lunch sat outside which was full of birdsong, daffs, primroses, sticky buds and self seeded pretty blue anemone blandas smiling at the sun. It’s been a long grey winter for us with the weather reflecting life events but my heart is lifting in response to spring and am now tempted to go explore a local wood where I will harvest a few wild garlic leaves for cooking later in the year so thank you once again Lia.
May fair winds and sunny skies continue to lighten your grey.
Oh thank you Aster, signs of spring and lengthening days do indeed lighten my grey, just love those last 3 words
Lightness and brightness in the morning, and lots of geese on the canal. It will soon be hissy season where I take my life in my hands walking down the towpath.
Rabbits running round the field across the river. A close encounter with a beautiful fox. A wonderfully noisy song thrush at dawn and dusk. Helpfully, also Friday's bird of the day on Merlin!
Bed linen on the line for the first time this year, that beautiful outdoor freshness can’t be beat.
I walked through the woods on a sunny day, enjoying the light and shadows from trees. Spring birdsong lifted my winter-weary spirits…
I have heard a woodpecker tapping, seen two hares playing and ducks have started hanging out by the pond. They come every year - The mother stays to hatch her eggs and then takes her brood away to raise them. So if we’re lucky we see their first little swim. Very exciting but also sad as we never know how many, if any survive. No lambs as yet but some very plump ewes in the fields in north Shropshire. 😊
Oh! My goodness! It seems that when I’ve noticed a glimmer of blue in that big old sky, the smaller garden birds are ever more prolific with their song. The robin, for me, still stands the tallest with its notorious trill wherever I may be. I’ve also managed to catch sight of the tiny wren bobbling about all over the tree and ivy at the bottom of our garden. Most impressive for me, has been a more prolonged time admiring a nuthatch whilst feeding. It’s dynamic black eyeliner and steely grey body shooting through the trees like a dart has been a treat this week.
The other real treat is my camillia bush in full flower. That just seems to have been dark green one day and now is bright red! Amazing!
Oh! And amen Lia, to the carpets of wild garlic slowly unfurling from the leaf litter - pesto making season commences!
🧄
Finally dry enough underfoot to cut back the dog wood, bringing in a few twigs to burst into leaf indoors, brilliant moon and stars seen from the bedroom window soothing a sleepless night.
Beautiful bank of violets on our village roadside verge
Seeing the first blossom on a cherry tree, scarlet elf caps in the woods bright red against the moss, getting excited about planting the first season's seeds
The Little Owl has just emerged again after not seeing it for a few months. A relief and a delight!
On Tuesday my little garden pond seemed to turn into a jacuzzi, two frogs were creating a lot of turbulence! I was so happy to see them, and later the frogspawn, despite having emptied and re-lined the pond last year, such a marker for me of hope and renewal.
🐸
The emergence of daffodils, grape hyacinth and a multitude of blossoms, and an evening walk home that takes place in light. Birdsong in the mornings cheers my heart.
The frogs are back in our garden pond, probably my favourite seasonal marker of the year. There’s so much going on out there. You can feel the wheel turning.
A pheasant in the garden every day and carpets of snowdrops everywhere I look.