April's Garden

Spring got off to an early start this year but then some colder-than-average weather slowed everything down. But today I took advantage of a bright sunny day to take a walk around the Botanic Garden in Cambridge. Schools are on Easter holidays so I sought out one of the quiet parts of the garden.

Most visitors follow the gravel paths around the garden but few realise that there's a mown strip that leads among the trees on the eastern side of the garden. 

It's known as "The Fairway" and it would not look out of place at Augusta - emerald grass and beautiful trees but without the irritation of a small white ball!

At this time of year the "rough" at the side of this Fairway is dappled with the yellow of cowslips.

It's the best place in the garden to see trees bursting into leaf. Some are in full leaf while others are just beginning to push out tiny buds.

Others are heavy with blossom.

There are also occasional glimpses between the trees of other parts of the garden, above is part of the Winter Garden that we saw in January.

And that's the little shelter in the Scented Garden where we wandered in March. It's taking shape nicely after the work that was being done back then.

A pair of crows were strutting about in that proprietorial way which they have perfected. Jays and Magpies were also laying claim to perches in the branches.

Just enough sunlight is filtering through the new foliage to light up the fresh growth at ground level.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed our little hack along the Fairway. I'll leave you with a little portrait of the one of the faces of Spring.....

Take care.