Spring is Sprung!

Spring is Sprung!

Blackthorn blossom

This is the time of year when my fingers start to twitch for the wild flower identification book I have on my shelves. No matter how well I get to know the flowers that I see in our neighbourhood, I always find that at this time, I've forgotten the name and need to refresh my memory.

Near to my home when I walk our dog are twittens. A twitten, for the uninitiated, is a small footpath or alleyway which leads you through from one road to another. Some have been used for many, many years. The one near to me follows on from an old footpath leading to the village near to our town. The 20 year housing development that we live within is built around this path. They act as short cuts. What is particularly good about them is the variety of plants that seem to grow in such a small area, (relatively speaking) and what a joy they are to walk through.

Cow Parsley

At this time of year, normally from about mid April until the end of May, the walker is treated to the white Blackthorn flowers, arriving before the leaves; the Lesser Periwinkle, its purple flowers creeping around at ground level, looking very star-like; wild Forget-me-nots can also be seen, with their pale blue flowers; also stands of lilac and white Honesty, which this year have been particularly good. Finally, there are the Hawthorns, their leaves just breaking out in readiness for their amazing white or pink blossom.

Then there are the plants whose flowers aren't quire so striking but whose structures make a statement, nonetheless –  the Alexanders and Common Cleavers ; the Nettles, which are at present around knee height, their vibrant green hues looking non-threatening – until you touch them; and the feathery leaves of the Cow Parsley which are just about to shoot up their long flower stems with the most fantastic white umbels.

All too soon, as these wild plants continue to grow, especially the Nettles which seem to overtake everything else; this twitten will become strangled for space, with alternative walking routes needing to be found as the path becomes blocked. That is, until the local authorities deem it the right time to cut all these plants right back. Then until the autumn, with the flood of different berries from the bushes, we have to wait until the twitten once more impresses.

Spring is Here

Snowdrops at Bishopstone

It is a very hackneyed phrase but Spring is definitely in the air, The snowdrops have been around for a while now, with their superb glossy white petals nodding in the breeze. Daffodils seem to be at different stages of growth - from the green bud just appearing in between the leaves, to the flower bud starting to colour and open up, to the full blown flower. The small Tete-a-Tete daffodil has to be my favourite, but there again, I've always been a sucker for miniatures of almost anything, flowers included.

We have been out and about recently, taking a ride out to Litlington, where we were most surprised to see, at one side of the road, water almost like a lake right up to the edge of the road. It was even in areas where would normally go for a walk. Although we had seen similar sights a couple of year ago, when we had all that rain over the winter, we weren't expecting to see it at this time of the year. Talking to an inhabitant of  Litlington, they said that it was caused by the sluices being blocked, so water hadn't been able to get out. He also told us it had been like this throughout the  whole winter.

When we visited High and Over a few days later we were treated to a spectacular view of the Cuckmere river and the extent of the water penetration of the fields. Other people were there who, on chatting to them we found were regular visitors to this spot, who also were amazed at the sight. And yet another person told us it had been caused by blocked sluices.

View on 10th March 2015

Whatever the cause it was a fantastic sight to
see.

Normal View from High & Over