Spring at last
Emerging from winter's slumber into spring's splendour
I love the mellowness of autumn, and, truth be told, I love the stark, bare beauty of winter too. But then spring comes, and my love for the natural world is renewed on an even grander scale. As buds and blossoms burst forth and the landscape finally turns green once again, I feel so full of joy and hope and ready to cast off the layers I’ve built up during the dark half of the year, both physical and metaphorical.
I write this having just returned from an after-work walk down a quiet lane leading out of my village and out towards open fields. I am so grateful for the lengthening days and lighter evenings which allow me to finish my day whilst it’s still light. I’m currently suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome in one of my wrists and, in all honesty, it’s been making me pretty miserable, along with all the doom and gloom in the news at the moment, so I needed cheering up. Today was the hottest day of the year so far at 20 degrees celsius and I thought a walk in the warm sunshine would do me good. And I was right.
As soon you pass the final house on the lane, you feel as though you’ve stepped out of the present day and into the pages of the “What to Look for in Spring” Ladybird book from the 1960s. Time seems to just stop and, even if just for those few moments, nothing else matters, and I feel safe from the stresses and strains of the modern world.
Spring wildflowers are appearing in abundance now, and birdsong is at its best as the mating season gets underway. For me, the song of the chiffchaff is always my sign that spring is here. This little non-descript brown bird makes a noise just like its name, and I always make a note of when I first hear one each year. This year it was on 19th March. I will do the same when I here the first swift too, usually in early May.
When I go forth on such a pleasant day
One breath outdoors takes all my cares away
It goes like heavy smoke, when flames take hold
Of wood that’s green and fill a grate with gold
- from ‘April’s Charms’ by W.H. Davies
By the end of my walk I felt lighter of mood and much more grounded in the present moment. I find that being out in the fresh air, amongst nature and in green spaces I am much more mindful, I can feel my shoulders drop and become less tense, my heart rate slows, and any worries I have seem to just melt away. Ok, they don’t go away completely, but for those few moments, I feel part of something much bigger, and all my cares seem insignificant compared to the beauty around me.
Nature Notes from April………some small observations
I’ve been keeping a list of all the wildflowers I’ve spotted so far this spring:
Germander speedwell
Red dead nettle
Dog violet
White dog violet
Chickweed
Daisy
Dandelion
Wood anemone
Primrose
Cowslip
Lesser celandine
Ivy leaved toadflax
Ground ivy
Lesser stitchwort
Green alkanet
Wishing you a beautiful and joyous spring. Until next time….