Thursday 3 May 2018

The Merry Month Of May


This has been a crazy Spring. And looking back through my photos and blogposts I see that most of the preceding years have been just the same. But, despite the wild fluctuations in the weather, the trees and plants are patiently going about the business of growing leaves and flowers. 


There are only a few bluebells in my local wood, a contrast to the sea of blue we saw in  Hitch Wood last week, but every bit as welcome.


And "Lords-and-Ladies", arum maculatum, beginning to show in the damp, shady places.


A few years ago I remember sitting on this fallen log. Then the fungi, mosses and beetles got to work on it, slowly breaking it down. Now there's a miniature garden growing on its rotted wood.


 Some early flowers of Red Campion growing beside the stream.


The little River Mel's clear waters slip silently through the shadowy green tunnel of trees. A Kingfisher zipped through like an electric blue spark.


Hands up who wants to be a tree! Hundreds of seedlings volunteer to take over any space in the wood. Almost all them will fail, of course.


In the meadow the Horse Chestnut trees are bearing their "candles" of blossom. They are so much part of the English scene that it's hard to believe that they are not native to this country at all, coming originally from the Balkan peninsula.


The footpath leads through the little gate beside Topcliffe Mill.


One side of the churchyard has not been mown and the wild plants and tulips intermingle haphazardly.

For the last couple of photos I'm going back a couple of days to a visit to Paxton Pits Nature Reserve....


A nesting box and a spectacular growth of yellow fungus.


And one of the smaller pits associated with gravel extraction, now managed for the benefit of wildlife. We were hoping to hear the singing Nightingales as I have in other years. Apparently they are there, though they were frustratingly silent on Tuesday.


Take care.



20 comments:

  1. Horse Chestnuts have been introduced here too and are fairly ubiquitous. It's amazing how we are never satisfied with what grows locally and always seek to bring in something new - often to the detriment of the local ecosystem.

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  2. Red Campion and Lords and Ladies - brought back such good memories of my childhood John - lovely photographs.

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  3. Beautiful collection of photos! We had a hard frost here on the 1st of May this year, but it soon thawed as the sun rose! I've noticed a few bluebells that will soon flower along the lanes to school this week but the horse chestnuts are not so far ahead here and they are with you!

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  4. A fabulous collection of photographs, I always enjoy my visits to your blog.
    Thank you.

    All the best Jan

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  5. You have so much natural beauty around you, and so much greenery! I love the look of that little river, and the shot of the mill is gorgeous.

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  6. Things are much further on there than here, though it's amazing how fast it's greening up now it's started. You do live in a pretty part of the world.

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  7. I want to be buried in a churchyard like that! And yes, a crazy spring. We went from bare trees to leaves in a matter of two days. They were almost bare when Larry went to the hospital, and covered in green when we got home. I am expecting a hot, dry summer. We shall see.

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  8. Everything is so lush and beautiful. I am envious.

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  9. Nothing better than a spring stroll to take in the new green leaves and flowers!

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  10. It's a reassuring thought that most plants and trees manage to survive, no matter what the weather is like. Your photos are lovely John. I like the view of that 'left alone'-churchyard with the wild plants.

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  11. A beautiful spring is happening there. I love the yellow fungus on the tree. The ones on the sides look like hands to me in a grasping embrace.

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  12. Your flower pictures always make ne feel very homesick for England. Lords-and-ladies, haven't seen one for ages! I don't think they grow here. I am happy to say I'll be in England later this year, and I'll visit all the wild flowers that I remember!!!!!

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  13. Beauty everywhere, I love the little River Mel and its reflections. The flowers are gorgeous. I enjoy your walks through nature, you always come back with beautiful fantastic photos to share.
    Thank you!

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  14. Beautiful green and flowers everywhere!

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  15. I'm sure the souls rest happily in that unmown cemetery. Thank you for lovely pictures, John.

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  16. Delightful photos of Spring's arrival in your area. I love the miniature garden on the decaying log. I spotted the first red campion of the season in our local bluebell woods yesterday:)

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  17. what wonderful wild nature, "le joli mois de mai" !

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  18. ...going about their business of growing leaves and flowers," and doing it so well. Right now they are so young and beautiful. It seems it just can't get any better than now.

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  19. beautiful images; i can almost smell the damp earth.

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  20. I enjoyed this post with all the photos...just perfect. I wish I could get out to see some of nature.

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