Mexican Fleabane

 

There's beauty in simplicity. Mexican Fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus) only arrived on these shores in late 19th century though quickly naturalised, especially in coastal regions. It maybe a new arrival but it's already become part of to the family to the extent of having plenty of localized names like Miss Jekyll's Daisies or Falmouth Daisy, many seaside towns having their own name. I love them, so bright, so colourful and such a long flowering season too, the insects love them as well.

Gorse flowers in the morning sun

 

Somewhere in the forest there's always gorse in flower.

Flag Iris

Iris pseudacorus

True blue

 

There are Bluebells and there are Bluebells, and these are our native bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), the English Bluebell. In the forest they don't grow as densely as you'll often see them in other woods, no carpets as such here, in the forest their presence is more understated, loosely spread clusters to isolated individuals; here amongst the ancient stands of Studley Wood, at the far north-east corner of the New Forest. They're a beautiful little flower, a bell shaped flower with deep violet blue petals and upturned tips, all delicate and dainty like. Don't think about bothering them, they're a protected plant, and not just by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, no, they're under the protection of a higher authority, it's said that if you trample or pick a Bluebell flower you'll have the Fairies to answer to. You don't want that.

Imbolc

 

Imbolc is here, enjoy the first feast of spring and the excitement it brings. With the first signs of life renewed, our hearts with light and love imbued. Said to mean 'in the belly', a reference to the pregnancy of ewes, Imbolc more broadly represents the imminent burgeoning of spring. Blessings at this time of new beginnings y'all.  

Elderflower

As appears the lot of all blossoming trees this year, the Elders (Sambucus nigra) are showing copious blooms. I understand that the excess has been driven (in part at least) by last years hot weather and the freezing stretch at the beginning of the year; apparently, due to climatic changes trees are blooming 2 weeks earlier than they were 30 or 40 years ago. Can't be right.

Wood Sorrel

 

Back from Glastonbury, Geoff and I went for a wander in the forest, pausing a while to mark Beltane at a favourite spot on the bank of Red Rise Brook. All about the forest is coming to life, numerous small flowers bejewel it's woodland floors and one of the most attractive is the delicate and subtly coloured Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella). Emerging from the mossy floor, opening and closing as the intensity of light dictates, and indicator of an ancient woodland, Wood Sorrel is common amongst the forest's stands.

Blossom

Every year this tree on the bank of Red Rise Brook puts on a magnificent display of blossom, and this year's no exception; what a sight. Being early out, before much else has stirred, the pink flowers really stand out, even at a distance.

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.

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.

Perpetually in flower

Perpetually in flower, at any time of the year somewhere in the forest the Gorse (Ulex) is flowering and adding colour to the landscape.

Rain drops keep falling

It may well be summer, although in traditional British fashion it rained for most of our walk this morning, and quite heavily at points. Throughout the stands the forest's Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) had their heads bowed in gratitude.....well, either that or in submission. 

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. 

Gorse

Due to the overlapping cycles of Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Dwarf Gorse (Ulex minor) and Western Gorse (Ulex gallii) there's not one day a year that gorse isn't in flower somewhere in the forest.

Common Broomrape

Common Broomrape (Orobanche minor), a plant which reflects beauty and ugly in equal measure. It's been a good year for them. The narrow strip of old woodland alongside Hinton Avenue has been full of Broomrape, usually you'll see a handful here and there though this year they've carpets small areas. I don't know if that's a good sign or not, Broomrape's a parasitic plant. It's an odd one too, no leaves, just a flowering spike protruding from the ground.

Apple blossom

 

There are so many points in nature's ever turning wheel of the year that I look forward to, after all, each season offers up so many gifts. Few gifts though are as fragrant as apple blossom in spring sunshine, it's a heavenly scent, dreamy...it's easy to see why they're associated with love and sensuality.  The Common's apples are just edging into blossom now, with the very first flowers opening up to the sun. Catching their fragrance is a real joy, a joy that over the last decade has grown in abundance as several new apple trees have appeared and burgeoned around the Common. 

Blackthorn Blossom

Where ever we've walked recently the Blackthorn blossom (Prunus spinosa) has been spectacular. It really is quite the show in places.  

Catkin

Catkins like beautiful yellow fireworks are exploding all over the common, tis their season to shine, and shine they do. The willows are certainly putting on an impressive show. They appear so profuse this year too, or maybe it's simply I'm noticing them more, that their presence is a welcome sign of continuity in our turbulent world.

 

 

Crocus

Amongst the mature trees and stones deep swathes of crocuses carpet the old section of New Milton cemetery, they really do make the finest of shows.

Pyramidal Orchid

Now there's a thing I wasn't expecting to to see today, a Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis), beautiful. We were on our way to the lotty when I spied this solitary orchid in a spot I'd never seen them previously, uncharacteristiclly in a rather shady spot too.  I'd usually have been keeping my eye out for the orchids we'd see across the varied landscapes we roam, of course, not this year. So this was a lovely thing to see, a welcome treat. We're blessed with a wide range of orchids around the places we visit, in fact some rather rare ones. I'm hoping to go watch the Summer Solstice sun rise from Badbury Rings, which is always particularly abundant, both in variety and quantity...hoping.