Blossom is Out!

 It doesn't look good, because the weather has been so flat and battleship grey, but blossom is out everywhere in town.

Perhaps not 100% yet, some trees still have the flowers in tight white buds while others have opened out, stamen reaching out towards a sun that just hasn't been there yet this spring.

Their blooms wait for the pollinators, but they aren't yet there, hiding away after a nice end to winter, as a freezing front sweeps down upon us. 

Plum, blackthorn, and cherry all - braced for the frost and snow.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 07.03.23

Bees, Bugs and Flowers

 I hurt my leg running, and so the last two days have been really annoyingly low energy without me doing anything like proper long walks. I tried to have one this afternoon, but my leg was aching and my stomach was IBS-ing, so I turned round and went back home.

I feel very bloated. Where is my super thin body from the first lockdown!

Goings on in the park today, as a bunch of schoolkids did a balloon release in memory of a 6th former who died suddenly last week. At least it wasn't some idiotic anti lockdown protest, but I was still edgy about it happening. Also, we really need to steer folk away from doing balloon releases, it's a waste of helium and an environmental hazard.

I know, all judgemental. 

Not cold today, but not very bright. Still, I saw my first 7 spot ladybird, and the blossom is smelling wonderful, it's really at its peak now. Few bumbles around, no honeybees and we need a much brighter and warmer day to see any brimstone butterflies. 

I hope I feel in better shape when it comes.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.03.21

More Blossom and Blue Carpets

 After a super active Saturday, Sunday was a very lazy day indeed and only today did I get out for a proper walk, a two hour stroll around the park and the cemetery again.

During the day off, a lot seems to have happened nature-wise, perhaps triggered by the milder and brighter weather today. All the trees in the park orchard are now in blossom, and a chiff chaff could be heard singing from an invisible vantage point somewhere within. 

A butterfly fluttered by too, my first of the year. I didn't get a close look at it, but the colour was suggestive of small tortoiseshell, or perhaps a comma. A few honeybees were at work in the blossom, but not as many as I would have thought, and none were willing to pose for a photograph. 

Over in the cemetery, the crocuses continue to decline slowly, but there long lines of daffodils along the paths, and beautiful blue carpets of glory in the snows. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 15.03.21

Big Time Blossom

 On a day where the weather never quite worked out what it was going to be, apart from bloody windy all day, I went off to the park to see if the blossom in the orchard was out. 

The answer was yes - big time!

The orchard in spring is a favourite place of mine; warm days bring bees and butterflies to the sweet smelling blooms in large numbers. Too cool today though, and the only buzzer I saw was a queen buff tailed bumble high in the canopy of a blackthorn tree. 

I also love the blossom to study the very subtle differences in colour and smell between the flowers, often in the same tree. For example some flowers have pink stamen, others green. I don't know whether this sexes the flowers or not, but it can be very marked. 

Also some blooms are a very creamy white, others pure, while others have hints of pink or green about them. Knowledgeable folk will immediately know what tree has which, but I am not a folk who has the knowledge.

It is spring, but not very springlike yet with the weather. Hopefully that will change soon.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 13.03.21

A Fresh Dose of Blossom

Another weekend, more flooding, another storm. Jorge is busy whipping through the Midlands, as I type this my plants outside are preparing for another few hours of being knocked over in their pots.

At least the new blossom hasn't been blown off the trees, although the magnolia pods are being blown off the branches and lying on the floor, looking like the sort of furry testicles contestants on "I'm a Celebrity" have to eat.

I haven't got the heart to visit our cricket ground, but the River Devon has burst its banks for the millionth time this winter and you can see where the park runners have been diverted to avoid going waist deep in the floods; their footprints have churned up the paths in different parts of the park. I wish I could be doing that again but I'm always shattered on Saturday, and I'm worried about my knees and hip.

I noticed last evening that the Blackbirds have started singing deep into the dusk, one was giving a real blast last night somewhere near my garden.

Still haven't seen any bees, but as soon as we get warmer weather they will be out chaffing away, not to mention some chiffing as well.

When that happens, and the first brimstones fly, we will know that Spring has begun.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 29.02.20

Magnolia and Blossoms

After a long old week at work with not a massive amount of sitting at my desk and being on my feet, my body was very unco-operative today  and did not want to do any exercise whatsoever.

I am thus rather angry at it, and have given it a good telling off.

I did however make it to the park for tea and a walk round. The neighbourhood magnolia trees are now coming into flower, white as a swans wing, on my way to the park, and in the park itself blackthorn and hawthorn are decked in a thick dressing  of sweet blossom.

Attracted to this delicacy I saw another newcomer for the year today - a red tailed bumblebee queen. But a coy one, so no photos.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 01.03.19

First Hoglet of the Year!

I was walking home last night, when my eyes picked up a dark blur of movement from the small park near my home.

I knew straightaway it was a hedgehog, it's how I spot them! The surprise was that it was so small, only a little hoglet who has presumably made it through its first winter and is now out on the prowl for food.

Hopefully I will see a lot of hedgehogs this warm season, they seem to have been doing well locally the past couple of years.

Today I went out for a very slow and gentle walk, not wishing to strain my leg, and came across various pretties on the way round, listening to Liz Kershaw's 6 music show with an interview with the always very charming Marc Almond. It was mainly grey, so no butterflies but a few bees kicking around, including the slightly tired female flower bee I've photographed below.

I was slightly tired too, when I got home so I had a bath lasting an hour!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 01.04.17