Spring Adventures
April 19, 2009 by Bird
Filed under Blog, Fauna, Flora, Good Stuff, Spring, Wild London
In the time since I last wrote here spring has arrived and I’ve been so immersed in it that I’ve neglected to share. Shame on me! From turning part of our tiny back garden into a vegetable patch, hedge planting in Hampshire, discovering a Neolithic Giant on a chalky hill and Osprey spotting in the Lake District I have a huge backlog of stories to tell… plus I’m off to Scotland again next week for another adventure. My itchy feet are giving me plenty to do and no time in which to record what I have seen. I love the busyness of spring, but capturing it is one task too many.
The gradual unfurling of blossom, then green, the release of delicious new scents into the air, the reappearance of old migratory friends (we were lucky enough to be there when the Swallows returned to Derwentwater) has felt like celebration after our unusually hard winter here. On the banks of the Thames, the dainty yet screechily foul mouthed Black headed Gulls have regained their smart summer plumage. A few weeks ago when I took the pictures below some were still growing in the handsome chocolate brown head feathers for which they are named, now all sport their fine new plumage as they squabble and wheel.
Crammed into an unpromising corner of our garden a small, self seeded plum tree has sprung up from a plum pit fallen from our neighbours tree; a week ago this little wild fruit tree was covered in delicate pure white blossom. Dandelions spring up in cheerful clumps wherever we turned the earth for planting, leaving me regretful at having to grub up their rubbery carrot like roots.
Sunflower seedlings bravely defy the slugs and snails, and in the rotton ash tree wood pigeons have settled into lazy displays of affection after the comical territorial disputes of early spring. I’ve been wandering the countryside, but spring in a small London garden is as beautiful and full of potential as anywhere I’ve been.
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Oooh, so pretty! Always best to enjoy it first–blogging is a secondary pursuit!
I agree Lana, and that’s why my blog is sprouting weeds… but I also love to share and sometimes I don’t know where to start
It’s been wonderful, hasn’t it?!? I am enjoying Spring, too. So much so that my blog has also suffered! Oh, well. I’ll update soon- and I’m looking forward to reading your stories!
I just popped by your blog Kit, and read all about the pirate fort… looks like you are busy having a LOT of fun over there and good for you, it’s lovely that we get to share
Holy cow…how did I miss this post? Lovely pics and I especially like your yellow flower and plum blossom there. It’s interesting to see what others have in their gardens, and no matter how far apart, we sometimes have the same greenery as a sort of connection…like our vincas!
The princess, Lucy, calls for her walk…catch up more with you later!
)
Holly, I think my feed might be playing up, not sure, but anyhow you found it in the end! I agree, one of the things I love about blogging is comparing the seasonal changes around the world with what is happening in my own patch, and sometimes the similarities are as surprising and lovely as the differences
Hi Bird ~ That is a very peaceful, loving and may I say, well written post. The lesser Celendine looks almost to perfect to be true – and the plum tree account is lovely.
In my garden, the dandilions have taken over…and very beautiful they look. I love spring and next week my ex and I are going up to Alnwick in the north for a few days and then over to the west coast and the Yorkshire Dales.
I missed these posts…one minute there was nothing and then suddenly I’m three posts behind. (tsk tsk)
love
henry
Hello Henry, I’m glad I haven’t appalled you with that tale of my mum and her African Violet
I’m an awful blogger, my posts are like buses, you wait ages for one then three turn up together…
Dandelions are among my most favourite of all flowers wild or cultivated – so generous and cheering! I’m so sad when I have to dig them up, but if we want broad beans then I have no choice
I’m so glad you love them too, people so often don’t value lovely things just because they are commonplace.
I’m glad also that you are getting to do some fun travelling as well as all that you do for work, I hope you’ll find time to share an adventure or two with us
Oh so lovely!
Thank you for sharing your part of the world with us, Bird! I love your pics. And your article too. A worthy read.
Do share some more… if you don’t know where to start, just start somewhere.
I certainly will share some more Brainteaser, I’ll soon have a bit more settled time and then there will be lots to write. And it’s true, I should just start “somewhere” – very wise, so thank you