Red Clover, Trifolium pratenseAfter such a wet summer and cold winter, I feel rather depressed sometimes because the weather is still too cold most days, to get out onto the road. Simply because it feels even more colder when you're sitting still. And hanging about taking photos, doesn't help either! Looking through my spring photos of last year, is the one way of thinking positively about those lovely warming days of spring. What will come up first? Lesser Celendine? Common Dog Violet?
You know, when people ask others what (wild) flower reminds you of spring? they always say Bluebell. But Bluebells only start flowering in March/April. I have recorded many beautiful wild Flowers by then. Like those mentioned above! Others, which will appear soon are various Ferns.
I will do another post on Ferns, later on, because I have always been madly in love with these plants. As you can see below (2nd picture) green-veined Butterflies like Ferns too. This was taken in summer, obviously. Ferns are evergreen, but in early spring they sprout new fronds (toothed leaves) with spores. (their version of seeds)
I love the way they uncurl.
On a Dutch website I was reading that they are expecting plants and flowers to appear much later than 2008 or 2009. In some cases perhaps as much as 38 days later, as a result of a bad summer and severe winter in 2009. Could this mean that I have to wait this much longer for my spring flowers too? I hope not!
Anyway, here is what I am expecting of spring. Besides, I now have my macro lens, which would make the photography of my favourite flowers even more exciting than in the past few years. and that of bugs too, of course, as long as they cooperate, of course.
One of the first to appear, the Common Dog Violet, Viola rivianana
also an early one, Lesser Celendine, Ranunculus ficaria
although a member of the Buttercup family, it grows in clumps, rather than plants with long single flower stalks.
The Clovers are real favourites of me. The white one has a gorgeous scent too. I have both Clovers growing in my garden and they are great for photography, I think.
A very early one in flower, and an unpredictable too, is Gorse. It is growing all over 'round here.
The Gorse, Ulex europaeus
if you are a homebrewer; white wine of Gorse flowers is absolutely beautiful!
Woodsorrel, Oxalis acetosella, will open up in and around March, although it will only fully flower in June.
In April I wwas able to photograph interesting growths like these:
Photograph: Glengarriff Wood.
In April:
When I might spot this lovely Scarlet Pimpernel, Anagallis arvensis, sometime, and if I don't, I might still see it over late summer.
And Ribwort Plantain too(pictured at the top)
In May you might come upon:
if you are a homebrewer; white wine of Gorse flowers is absolutely beautiful!Woodsorrel, Oxalis acetosella, will open up in and around March, although it will only fully flower in June.
In April I wwas able to photograph interesting growths like these:
Photograph: Glengarriff Wood. 
In April:
When I might spot this lovely Scarlet Pimpernel, Anagallis arvensis, sometime, and if I don't, I might still see it over late summer.
And Ribwort Plantain too(pictured at the top)
In May you might come upon:
No spring would be complete without the appearance of our Bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta
and for a little taste of Garlic while out on a walk, or a ride, take a nip of one of these flowers, Alium triquetrum. Do not dig up any of the bulbs though.
And then in May:
Ragged Robin, Lychnis flos-cuculi
Dog Rose, Rosa canina
Yellow Flag Iris, Iris pseudacoris
Someone told me today: "Spring will come sometime..
And then in May:
Ragged Robin, Lychnis flos-cuculi
Dog Rose, Rosa canina
Yellow Flag Iris, Iris pseudacoris
Someone told me today: "Spring will come sometime..
Spring this year has been a strange one, some of my spring bulbs are much earlier than last year and yet the rest are pretty much on schedule… Even with all the snow we’ve had!
ReplyDeleteMy Snowdrops have been out for around a month now, last year they still weren’t out by now, however the Iris/Crocus were now out, this year they’re pocking their heads up and I can see the purple petals almost ready to open up, so they’re pretty much at the exact same stage.
To me the Bluebells so signify Spring, however since they come out very late they’re actually verging on being a summer flower!
English Bluebells are my favourite, since childhood. They hold a very special place in my heart, a space I don’t think I’ll ever forget.
Thanks, Liz.
ReplyDeleteI often thought that the warmer climate here, compared to a much colder Holland, did not always mean early bulbs sprouting much earlier than in the colder Holland. Perhaps spring bulbs do need the stronger frost rather than the warmer weather of our SW corner. Mind you, we did have a 24 January Iris in flower in Riverside in 67/88. And guess what? Another very cold winter!
(Here too, the bulbs are much further than they were last year.
Thank you for sharing your memory of the Bluebell.
Beautiful pictures Yoke. I too am longing for spring. I believe we get it a lot later than you do there. With the mild winter we've been having it's going to be interesting to see what spring and summer will be like and how it will affect the plants.
ReplyDeleteWe have alot of gorse bushes in the fields behind my house, I only recently found out that you can make wine from the flowers. The downside however are the prickly spines. Is it worth the pain?
ReplyDeleteCrow, you do have a very late (and thus shorter perhaps?) spring than down here. I love you talking of the "mild winter" Crow! We used to have those, down here on these islands. LOL!
ReplyDeleteCaptain Shagrat, thank you for visiting my blog. Yes you can make gorgeeous white wine from the Gorse flowers.
Taking the flowers is another matter though. My friends had made it, with help of the kids.