the field - april

 

Horse Chestnut

 Fresh greens, blue skies, wildflowers starting to bloom - I just love spring. The field is changing daily with new things to spot. Butterflies are about too - Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood. 

The first Bluebell

Bugle : Germander Speedwell : Common Dog Violet

Thyme-leaved Speedwell

And what is this tree I wonder, next to the Horse Chestnut? It seems like a Sycamore or a Sweet Chestnut but I'm not so sure. Any suggestions welcomed...

The Field in January : February : March

easter in the mountains

 

Over the long Easter weekend, we took the caravan over to one of our favourite campsites near Dolgellau to spend some time in the wonderful mountains of southern Snowdonia.

 

The weather was glorious, the cuckoos had returned, violets; bluebells; wood sorrell were in flower. We scrambled up and down mountains passing waterfalls, old ruins, beautifully constructed stone walls, farmers in the middle of lambing, lizzards basking in the sun.

 

 

 

 

We passed old slate mines that make you stop and wonder... what huge amounts of effort and activity were once here all now eerily quiet.

 

 

 

 

The boys enjoyed an interlude at the beach in nearby Barmouth.

 

Before some more mountain walks in the foothills of Cadair Idris, joined by family and friends.

 

 

We returned home sun-kissed, windswept and refreshed... with mountains of washing to get through! 

We also explored an old ruined chapel which you can see here over at Christ Church Welshpool

the hawthorn tree - april

The hillside was full of the sound of chiffchaffs (recently arrived for the summer) and as I approached the hawthorn tree, a pair of jackdaws also wandered towards it. A great tit was sitting in the tree itself, calling. Spring definitely is in the air.

Spot the bird...

The silhouette of the tree is looking different from last month with the leaf buds bursting into life and the fresh green leaves emerging.

 

One of the many country names for hawthorn is the 'Bread and Cheese Tree' as the young leaves are edible. The 'bread' refers to the leaves and the 'cheese' the flower buds. I have yet to try them! A lady in her 80's recently told me that as a child she would eat young hawthorn leaves in a sandwich. I have also read of a liquor being made of the leaf buds with brandy (perhaps a little more tempting to try!)

 

It was a delight to discover growing underneath the tree, a cluster of violets amongst the grass. Violets are one of my favourite spring flowers.

And this plant was growing in amongst the grass. I couldn't find it in my wildflower book when I came to identify it, so maybe it is a grass or plantain? Any ideas as to what it is would be most welcome!

Joining in with Loose and Leafy's 'Tree Following' project - do check out other trees being followed here

The hawthorn tree in March

garden posy - march

Wallflowers - what a wonderful scent they have. I was given this lovely vintage glass, now vase for my birthday earlier this week - a perfect match! (thank you Ruth!)

Garden Posy: January : February

walking down memory lane(s)... bwlch-y-sarnau

 

It is becoming quite a tradition to celebrate my birthday by going out on a 'Birthday Walk'. This year I wanted to rediscover the hills and lanes of my childhood. 

Bwlch-y-sarnau translates to 'pass in the hill' and is a tiny hamlet consisting of a handful of farms and cottages high up in the Radnorshire hills. We moved here in the 1970's from the Midlands and were one of the few English families to move to the area. We embraced rural life here - a way of life that has barely changed over the centuries. My sister and I attended the local school (see a celebration of the school here) and went to Sunday School at the chapel at the top of the hill.

As a family we helped out on the neighbouring farms at shearing time and to bring in the hay. We roamed the hills, collected wood from the forests and picked berries along the lanes - a wild and free childhood! It was these hills that helped to shape me into who I am today and to share them with my family and dear friends now was very special.

 

 

While searching for the correct footpath (they are rarely waymarked!) we stumbled across this wonderful old farmhouse. A new farmhouse had been built next to it. The original house was hauntingly beautiful in its slow decay. The front door was ajar, almost inviting you in... 

Back on the right path, past lichen covered trees and posts and up to the top of the hill. The skies up here are huge - this is why I love big skies...

And here is the house where I lived... how blessed I was to of ever lived here!
I think a return visit is needed with a sketchbook as I'm feeling very inspired to rediscover and record this area further - the hedgerows, the wildlife, the farmhouses, the chapel.

the field - march

 

In between the rain/hail showers, a walk around The Field to look for signs of spring... 

What was immediately apparent was the change in birdsong. Chiffchaffs having arrived home after their winter absence, joined the songs of robins, wrens, chaffinches, blue tits and plenty more.

 

 

The moles have been busy with lots of fresh molehills. We always make a bee line for molehills to see if they've dug up any interesting treasures! You can often find broken pottery and old clay pipes.

 

We went up to the top of The Field with the hope of finding blossom on the blackthorn trees, as I've seen some elsewhere. However these trees are obviously a little behind being in a less sheltered spot maybe.
Down through the wood and this mighty beech tree caught my eye. I love how others have obviously been drawn to this tree as well, and left their mark.

Bluebells are beginning to emerge through the leaf litter.
Leafbuds are bursting on the elder.

And the sticky horse chestnut buds are springing open with the freshest of green leaves.

 

Luckily I had the camera in hand when a pair of long-tailed tits arrived. What amazingly long whiskers they have!

New leaves are emerging on the brambles. The hawthorn leaves are still curled up tight in their buds, waiting awhile...

 

Celandines sprinkled the grassland all over the field. A couple of early butterflies were out too, a small tortoiseshell  and this comma above.

How wonderful to see all these signs of spring!

The Field : January : February