Things are changing fast. By the weekend every picture I've taken will be out of date - so here's an interim report . . . of Spring.
Alexanders. There are thousands of them here but they don't grow all over the country and I'd guess the majority of Loose and Leafy readers are unfamiliar with them. I'll give them more space in another post. Meanwhile, suffice it to say that this little cluster of flowers is, in real life, only a couple of inches across. When you look at the plant in passing, you just see lumpy umbelly things - light yellow. It's the leaves which attract more attention - big and dark and glossy. So, in advance of looking at the whole plant - here's a close up, I think it's beautiful. (When the summer gets going, they'll smell nice too.)
Hawthorn leaves are still delicate. When the sun shines on them, they are light and fresh and one's spirits rise.
It's easy, though, to miss the flower buds forming.
These are about 3mm.
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| Blackberries - some leaves are bursting. Not many yet - but here they come. |
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| Still spiky and leafless - blackthorn. |
A few flowers are opening. Seeing the first blackthorn flowers open is always an exciting moment.
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| And the elder shoots we've been watching. |
You can tell the weather is dry. When it rains, the orange lichen turns green.
A bulletin, then, this post.
Everything is racing.
More soon!
Spring should be re-named sprint.
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12 comments:
Love the yellow lichen!
It's always nice to see the fresh green growth that comes out in the spring. Looking forward to your updates especially with the Alexanders once they are in full leaf!
We have a racing spring here too...maple flowers finally burst on March 13th 3 weeks early....I love your elder sprouts...so cool.
The Alexanders are lovely, they look so lush. You're right, spring is flying by, it only takes hours for something to become old news.
I love the Alexanders too, I'm so glad we have them in our area. It's amazing the pace of spring. I have been monitoring the magnolia buds this week but with all the fog we have had, has slowed things down!
Sarah
I love the photo of the Blackthorn against the clear blue sky. When you get a nice Spring day, it's really nice - invigorating, not hot.
Alexanders are, apparently edible but have a bitter taste, have you ever eaten them?
I'm hoping that my hawthorn will flower this year for the first time. I've also got a 'proper' blackberry on the plot which usually flowers and fruits well. Flighty xx
Gorgeous Spring photos. I'm familiar with the name Alexanders and know it was a pot herb. I've seen it growing in the garden at BayLeaf at the Weald and Downland Museum in Sussex - and I still wouldn't recognize it if I saw it growing! It's very annoying!!
Beautiful reminders of what's to come for us soon too. Your photos are excellent
Jeg kom bare lige forbi.
Gode billeder.
Tak for kigget.
Ha` en god søndag aften.
Wow, your hawthorns there in Dorset are way ahead of our's here in Pembrokeshire. Most of the buds are not burst yet.
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