Buttercup Fields

Feeling a bit chubby today, probably for no reason, so it was decided to get myself running in the interest of not being chubby, which I'm probably not.

Ran 9km in the end, up to the rugby club, round the cricket ground a few times, and then home. Trying to to get too downhearted as I did so.

It does help, getting out there. It's reading the news that is doing for me.

The buttercups are emerging in the pasture fields, turning them steadily more and more yellow with every passing day. Always reminds me of the old "Buttercups" cough medicine adverts.

Plenty of other wild flowers to see, but again, not too many insects although I did see an orange tip male patrolling a roadside verge. Hopefully he met the female I found fluttering on the other side of the road.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 02.05.20

Helleborine Time

I got a bit stuck today. I had intended to walk to Kelham Hall to see the snowdrops today, but the path was blocked by ploughed field behind the rugby club. Ploughed fields in winter months are no good for walkers, as you end up carrying about half the field with you on your shoes by the time you leave it.

This is a very hatable thing, and I do indeed hate it.

So I just restricted myself by walking around the club and heading back into town, watching the flock of around 200 redwing fly around the ground; they were using the second pitch for feeding and were far too easily spooked to let me get within a mile of them.

Earlier in the day I'd visited the library and was surprised to see no dwarf iris growing in their usual place, but the green and oriental helleborine are in flower. I wonder if it had been a milder day today if any wakeful bees would have been having a feed. It won't be long I'm sure, although we are having a brief cold snap tonight; it is getting very chilly out there, in my garden where the outside bulb has failed and I have taken delivery of a mega plant that was formerly at the parental home.

"Parental" rather than "My Parents". It is so hard to have to write that.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 03.02.2020