Park End Moss from Wells Garth
28th March. At Wells Garth water cascades from the rock face and, from a seat of outcropping limestone, I look down toward Park End Moss. If there are flocks on the water they're visible from here.
Solitude. The bird-hide looks out onto a pool where the wind sets waves racing. Wigeon, teal and gadwall hunker down and shelter. Little grebe are calling and a pair swim out on the water. It's rough out there so birds shelter from a blustery wind. No sign of the marsh harrier this morning.
On the fringe of Park End Wood blackthorn is in flower. Light fades and a there's a sudden sharp shower of hail, quickly over.
How different yesterday in Park End Wood with scarlet elf cup, primroses, daffodils, wood anemones and the first bluebells. The day grew warm and lambs and their mothers lay in the sun in a pasture approaching Sizergh Castle.
At Park End Moss farm there are damson trees coming into flower. Damsons, a speciality here. Weather at their season of flowering will determine if the flowers are pollinated and what the damson crop might be. Last year's damsons were abundant.
Solitude. The bird-hide looks out onto a pool where the wind sets waves racing. Wigeon, teal and gadwall hunker down and shelter. Little grebe are calling and a pair swim out on the water. It's rough out there so birds shelter from a blustery wind. No sign of the marsh harrier this morning.
On the fringe of Park End Wood blackthorn is in flower. Light fades and a there's a sudden sharp shower of hail, quickly over.
How different yesterday in Park End Wood with scarlet elf cup, primroses, daffodils, wood anemones and the first bluebells. The day grew warm and lambs and their mothers lay in the sun in a pasture approaching Sizergh Castle.
At Park End Moss farm there are damson trees coming into flower. Damsons, a speciality here. Weather at their season of flowering will determine if the flowers are pollinated and what the damson crop might be. Last year's damsons were abundant.
On Helsington Barrows there's a blackthorn which is always the first to flower. Blackthorn spreads by suckering so it appears to go walking and it spreads out around the taller, older shrub in full sun and sheltering by a stone wall. The younger shrubs are in buds of a deep cream. Blackthorn, the name suggests something dark and stark. But lichens adorn the twigs and the opening flowers are intricate in colour.
Weather to keep you guessing what might come next. After a sudden drop in temperature came a shower of hail. Up on Scout Scar escarpment the sun shone, for a while. Then rain clouds gathered over the fells to the west and I watched them coming, to be engulfed in rain.
Sharing unsettled weather sees a bonding of kindred spirits. Next day, a Sunday, brought blustery winds and rain for much of the day. The few who do venture forth are loving it, and telling you so.
30th April comes with a cold and blustery wind. Chiaroscuro down in the Lyth Valley as a farmstead gleams white in sunlight, then is lost to darkness. In the new-laid hedge, bordering a Holeslack orchard, hawthorn comes into leaf and blackthorn flowers. The first bluebells show beside flowers of dog's mercury. Marsh marigolds give a splash of yellow in the lake fringe. Chickens strut amongst daffodils in SIzergh orchard. The damson whose ripe fruit attracted September red admirals and comma has creamy buds and one or two flowers. Up on Scout Scar blue moor grass flowers, as always at Easter tide.
Sharing unsettled weather sees a bonding of kindred spirits. Next day, a Sunday, brought blustery winds and rain for much of the day. The few who do venture forth are loving it, and telling you so.
30th April comes with a cold and blustery wind. Chiaroscuro down in the Lyth Valley as a farmstead gleams white in sunlight, then is lost to darkness. In the new-laid hedge, bordering a Holeslack orchard, hawthorn comes into leaf and blackthorn flowers. The first bluebells show beside flowers of dog's mercury. Marsh marigolds give a splash of yellow in the lake fringe. Chickens strut amongst daffodils in SIzergh orchard. The damson whose ripe fruit attracted September red admirals and comma has creamy buds and one or two flowers. Up on Scout Scar blue moor grass flowers, as always at Easter tide.
1st April
The damson with an aura of Red admiral last September is bursting into flower. Two days and there are far more blossoms. Daffodils bloom in the grass.
The damson with an aura of Red admiral last September is bursting into flower. Two days and there are far more blossoms. Daffodils bloom in the grass.
RSS Feed