Burley Old

 

Burley Old

Bluebell

 

So indicative of spring woodland the humble Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), a dainty drooping beauty which smells as sweet as it looks. There's an open stand of mainly oak alongside the course of the old Brockenhurst to Ringwood line near Osmonds Bushes, it's peppered with Bluebells, the scent as we passed this morning was heavenly. Their presence here indicates that the stand represents a pocket of ancient woodland.

Tyneham valley

Laying out her tapestry of vibrant seasonal hues, Spring has arrived in the Tyneham valley. Stunning.

Blackthorn blossom

 

Where ever you look the Blackthorn are in blossom, bringing hedgerows and woodland fringes to life, and it's now that you realise just how common this thorny shrub is. Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) comes into flower throughout early spring, though really comes into its own around now.

The opportunist

Nature, the great opportunist. How long do you reckon it would take for nature to completely obscure the works of man if left unchecked. I'd wager not so long.

Hold on they're coming.

Hold on they're coming, hold on they're nearly here. The buds are all there, bursting to open, and it wont be long before the entire floor of this wood will be carpeted in white and pungent Ramson flowers. I love this time of year; all energy and anticipation.

Ramson buds

I spotted the first Ramson (Allium ursinum) flower buds this morning, the wheel of the really is turning with speed, alarming speed in my opinion. Still, I'd better get my wild food head on, the season of the spring greens is upon us. 

Spruce tips

The fresh tips of the forest's Spruce (Picea abies; I think) have a quality that make them appear to luminesce, particularly so when set against the backdrop of a damp forest on a drab day. I understand that fresh spruce tips are edible, although I've not as yet tried them. I really should.

Greens

Presently the forest is bathed in the most wonderful palette of verdant greens; peak vitality. It's really a rather striking sight.

Crocus

With the fading days of winter upon us, the vibrant colours of spring are beginning to shine through, colours made even more vivid in the muted hued landscape winter leaves in it's wake.

A change of tune

 

The times they are a changing, and the nature of birdsong has definitely changed in recent days; gone are the subdued mournful songs of winter, songs much brighter are being sung in the canopy today. There's an air of anticipation and excitement amongst the chorus; I feel it too, I think we all do, Spring approaches, the game is nearly on.

Imbolc

 

Right on cue the new shoots of spring break on through.

Imbloc blessing y'all /|\ 

Stirring

 

Although even the most cursory glance outside will tell you (if you weren't already aware) that winter's grip is far from loosening, the landscape slowly wakes as Imbolc approaches; in the belly of the land the future stirs as above the first heralds of spring break through.

Backley

The Sun may have been out over the forest this morning, and lovely it was too; the winds though were bitter, coldest for a while I reckon. With the beautiful days we've enjoyed recently it's been easy to imagine winter vanquished; it isn't though, and we should remember we're not yet beyond the reach of winter's icy fingers.

The Ebble Valley

 

View over the Ebble Valley from South Down on the Ridge Way ox drove.

Bathing blooms

Willow (Salix) blooms enjoying the spring showers.

 

Early blossom

I spied my first Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom of the year on the bank of Avon Water near Ossemsley Ford; ’twas the only I saw too, and there were plenty of Blackthorn around; just a handful of flowers brightening a solitary branch. Flowering way before the pollinators take flight, Blackthorn being hermaphrodites, can please themselves. 

The Larch

Passing a small parcel of Larch I noticed well developed male flowers (strobili) and numerous small clumps of bright green juvenile needle like leaves just developing; a sure sign that Spring approaches. Thanks to episode 12b the Larch (Larix decidua) has always stuck in my memory.

The canopy cometh

It's nearly canopy time, high above the buds of Oak crowns are on the brink of bursting forth. It's always lovely watching the buds form and burgeon on all the different trees. The oaks are often the last to the leaf party, their arrival marking the beginning of Spring's end and heralding Summer's approach. The season of dappled light will soon be with us.

Cherry blossom

We've a bumper show of blossom on our cherry this year. If they set to a fruit, the birds will be happy. We've had this tree for 30 years, it was grown from a cutting/graft by a friend, it has moved when we've moved, it spent 15 years in a less that perfect spot, and suffered some heavy prunings too. I think it's happy with it's current position though, as year on year we're getting more blossom and fruits. It's certainly one of our gardens heralds of Spring proper.