April, 2022
Wednesday 6th
A liminal time between seasons. A time of frost and sun, bitter winds, and cherry blossom. Verges dotted yellow with celandine, coltsfoot, daffodil, and dandelion, now augment their flower palette with pink and blue forget-me-not, white-petalled stitchwort, Persian blue flowering green alkanet, and bunched grains of violet as the first bluebells yawn sleepily into bloom.
Blackthorn hedges that have wintered as boxed skeletons of bare twig, erupt into blossom like showers of confetti on a bridal procession, while hazel and hawthorn bud with promise.
Tuesday 19th
Deep green verges transform into regal swathes of gold, violet and daisy white, as drooping tepals of bluebell augment the stitchwort and dandelion, white-petalled mustard and butter-yellow celandine.
Buds of sycamore burst into maple leaves, ridged and ruffled, syrup-red, while limbs of hazel spawn toothed hearts of textured green.
Hawthorn branches are leafy profusions while blossoming twigs of blackthorn form white Easter crosses replete with sharp crowns of thorns.
Friday 29th
Stalks of new fern are furled like shepherds’ crooks to corral tender young leaves. White stars of wild garlic spring from a culinary sea of bright green: ramsons, cow leek, bear garlic—the healing herb of the Celts and Romans.
Dandelions turn to clocks, while flowering vetches form bonnets of twilight purple among the shimmering waves of white stitchwort.
Soot-black buds of ash turn green and crack open to birth new leaf. Hawthorn sprouts clusters of tiny green buds, whitening in anticipation of a May blossoming.
Young shoots of cow parsley are graced with tiny white flowers, and the verdant long grass of the verge harbours the first pink petalled inflorescences of herb Robert.
Thanks, George . . . Fortunate aren’t we, having stuff like that on our doorsteps. A lovely read.
Thank you, David. Yes we are very fortunate indeed.
A change of style, George, which is always worth doing to refresh yourself. At times, the intensity of the focus upon the leaves and flowers of the hedgerows was reminiscent of ‘The Wind in the Willows’.
That’s a mighty compliment, Martin. Thank you.
Well that was a treat. So many familiar faces from the New Forest when I was growing up. I’ve not heard that called witches butter, excellent name.
Thank you, Geoff. Delighted you enjoyed it. Witches’ butter is indeed an excellent name.
Brilliant – you are like a Lakeland Richard Jefferies.
Thank you so much, John.
Very nicely done, and informative as always.
Thank you, that’s very kind.
Really good article(s) ! Don’t think I ever heard of Lesser Celandine before. They are among my favorites of your photos. The forget-me-nots too. And the kid.
Thank you, Neil. The kid was adorable. Lesser celandine flower early which makes them a welcome sight. They are supposed to be natural barometers, unfurling their petals in good weather and closing up against the wind and rain. They’re all gone now. Replaced by buttercups or crowfoot, which they superficially resemble l.
I was looking for inspirational poetry in my books yesterday, but found it here in words and wonderful pictures.
Hanna
That’s a lovely thing to say. Thank you do much.
George, thank you for sharing such an enjoyable diary and processional, elegant writing and wonderful photos. The obvious sincerity of this paean to your corner of the earth is heartwarming, and even the intrusion of news from the Ukraine fits in, honest reporting, like becoming aware of ominous buzzing from a disturbed hornet nest. The colors may change and fade, but I will remain green with envy that this wealth of nature is available for your lunchtime strolls.
Thank you, Robert. That’s a wonderful compliment. I love the hornet nest image.
P.S. I’d wanted to comment on your Loweswater article, that the tale of supernatural death has prompted me to add to my List of Dangerous Things to Avoid, Even if Properly Sanitized After Usage Near Wrong End of Horse: “Crupper/Horsey Bits of Demonic Leathergoods Leaping Out At You in Stairwells/Entanglements & Possible Stranglings,” actually a brand-new category.
Yes, very wise. Perhaps they should come with a government health warning.
—and someone asked me the other day: ‘have you any holiday plans this year’?
Christina (Cockermouth)
Yes, indeed! We are very lucky living where we do. Cockermouth is beautiful.