Burgeoning Spring

IMG_4866Blustery showers, radiant sunshine, raging clouds and nodding ‘daffs’- it must be April again!

I was feeling a little sorry for the horses who live in a field, near to my home.  The ground has never fully dried out from persistent rain earlier in the year, and plodging seems to be the order of the day.  Not that they appear to mind, and there’s plenty of ‘dry’ field for them, if they decline to paddle.  I stopped to watch for a while. The grass must have been extra juicy for it’s drowning, because they were quite single-minded in their munching.  Excepting for one, very determined, guy.  I thought he was trying to eat the fence post, in a form of protest.  As I watched, it dawned on me that he was actually trying to dislodge it, rocking it back and forth with his teeth. Crafty fellow!  A getaway in the making.

While Jude potters around in her new found garden, ‘getting a little closer’ to new growth, I’ve been out poking in a few hedgerows.  My finds… a woodland creature, sculpted smooth by nature’s hand…  tiny buds of blossom, sparkling on bare branches… catkins aplenty.

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I’d wandered into Summerhill Country Park.  It being school holidays there are youngsters burning up energy on the BMX track. They wave at me and ask if I’ll take their photos.  I smile, and oblige.  Why not?

Those clouds are creeping up on me again, and it’s time to head for home.  In a gully I spot what I take to be wild anemones.  Bright yellow in colour, I promised to ‘ping’ Tish if they crept into a post.  There’s a lot of nature sharing going on these days.

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I don’t expect Jude will mind them either.  And she’ll know if anemones can be yellow as well as white, and blue.

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Funny, they look just like buttercups when I view them up close, but they were twice as big.  I’ll never make a botanist.  Do join Jude in her Garden Challenge.  This month the theme is Macro.

127 comments

  1. I don’t know about all this burgeoning Spring stuff when we’re heading into winter but since our winters are nowhere near as bad as yours, it would be churlish to complain. I like the yellow ones – they’re pretty.

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  2. Ah, this did brighten my day, Jo! Yellow is such a cheerful colour. As we do not see the sun because of all the showers…i’m so greatful for your little sunshines! Have a great weekend!

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  3. Nothing better than finding a flower where you don’t expect it. I too would fail a test if I had to name each flower in my yard, let alone what I discover on a trail.

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      1. I’ve been sidelined this week by a sore back but still planning to get a hike in this weekend. The spring flowers this year abound due to the rain we have received here in Northern California. Been busy pulling weeds from the garden. A great time of the year to be enjoying the outdoors.

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  4. Hi Jo! I’m popping in to say hello although I’m not back to blogging properly. I miss you and your beautiful walks, always a delight. You had smiling me at your first photo of the catkins – I love them 😉 Have a lovely weekend…and thank you for checking in on me during a difficult time. Mum is recovering, now I need to do the same 😉 I hope all is well with you…big hugs dear Jo ❤ xx

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    1. Hello sweetheart! Good to hear from you. 🙂 I’ve looked on FB for an update and I hoped things were going better so I’m very happy to hear you say so. I didn’t like to intrude, Sherri, but it’s nice to have company sometimes, even if it’s only online. Sending hugs back to you. 🙂

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      1. Arggh…I’ve been bad at keeping up to date on FB but will put a post and few pics up there today as you’ll see 🙂 Your online company has helped me more than you know dear Jo…thank you so much… 🙂 xx

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    2. I only visit FB to do my promo on the other walks on a Tuesday or otherwise if I’m in transit (bus to Dad’s 🙂 ) and have a spare few minutes, Sherri. It’s good for keeping in touch with distant friends but I don’t want to know what everyone has for breakfast. Ooh, I can be mean! 🙂 🙂 More hugs, sweetheart. Going offline soon- Algarve bound Wednesday. Take care!

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      1. I hear you Jo, I’m the same. I don’t understand the need to post every waking moment. Boring!!! So even more I appreciate you taking the time to leave your kind message when I posted about my mum ❤ Oh how lovely…back to your beautiful Algarve! Have a wondeful time lovely lady, see you when you get back! 🙂 xx

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  7. I didn’t think I’d be the first to say they’re Celandines, gorgeous eh? Woohoo spring has me all excited, I’m glad you’re getting some before you go away, Mind you, it’s been really cold here in the mornings, Lovely catkins against blue sky and the horse is very cheeky!

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    1. A joy for the eyes? Sometimes I use the translator but often I just guess, Annalisa. You can probably tell which times 🙂 🙂 Happy Friday to you too! Sending hugs 🙂

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    1. I was pleased with them, Seonaid, because often I’ve taken shots and they look quite insignificant (or blurred, of course 🙂 ). Happy Springtime to you!

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    1. And skitter around with the lambs? 🙂 🙂 As I stroll through my comments each day I try to keep track of anyone I haven’t seen in a while and I was just about to pay you a visit to check how things are. And here you are! 🙂 🙂 Thank you!

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  16. I haven’t seen the word ‘plodging’ in many a long year. So descriptive. 🙂 Love that horse working on his escape plan. Those buttery anemones really do remind me of buttercups, and I’ve always loved the sight of catkins. Beautiful post, Jo, but I really would have loved to see those daring young BMX-ers. xx

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    1. I just knew somebody was going to ask, Ad, and I might have known it would be you. 🙂 If you must know, I included a gallery of them but then thought better of it. ( It didn’t fit especially well and didn’t do anything for my reputation as a sports photographer 😦 ) I’m much better at catkins- even the moving ones. 🙂

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  17. Mother Nature seems to be a big tease over here across the pond. Just when we think Spring has arrived, she tosses a little more snow our way!

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