Since the last
chapter I have had an intense burst of exam marking, with no time to
go into the garden. Now I get back to it and find it is nearly
summer, never mind spring. The beech (Fagus sylvatica) in the hedge
is coming into leaf at last, and so is the oak (Quercus robur).
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| Beech buds opening |
New leaves are
particularly lovely. We have one or two big clumps of fern where they
have just turned up. Now the fronds are uncurling.
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| Fern uncurling |
There is a cowslip
(Primula veris) in the meadow, and a carpet of bluebells.
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| Cowslip |
These are,
I must admit, not the native British species but the vigorous Spanish
bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica). There were already one or two in
the garden before we arrived and they have spread and spread. If
anyone doubts that dandelions brighten up any patch of grass, look at
this.
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| Dandelions |
Today it was hot
enough to sit out and read a book. An orange tip butterfly
(Anthocharis cardamines) passed through. It must have woken from
hibernation. There were plenty of gnats and hoverflies, and various
bumblebees. Best of all, a sudden shrieking told me that the swifts
(Apus apus) are back. About seven rushed back and forth, shouting
shrilly and loud. I would have said this was a little earlier than in
most years. It is so good to see them, all the way from Southern
Africa.
And today I saw my
first two-spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata) of the year. Quite apart
from looking nice, they play a big part in keeping the aphid
population under control.
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| Ladybird |
So do the frogs.
Breeding is over, but there are plenty of damp, shady places in the
garden for them to lurk in.
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| Common frog |
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