Saturday 21 May 2011

What time is it, Mr Wolf?



Woodland and vale are flower-filled.



The hawthorn is laden with may blossom; this and the forgetmenots seem to have lasted for so long- they must have liked our long, dry period of weather in April & May.



I don't really know the difference between Ramson's garlic and wild garlic but they are both going over now ; dandelions are clocking to tell the time with every childish puff.



Old Man's Baccy laces the verges too



At Humford Mill the stones are stepping over a low River Blyth. In Bedlington's Woods bluebells dance in the shadow of the last tree to leaf -the ashtree so graceful........



In meadow clearings along our path pink campion vied for sunlight below bright, coconut fragranced broom.



Between Riverside Park, Hexham and Warden we walked along the banks of the Tyne



to the meeting of the waters and the Boatside Inn.



In gardens alongside the track, owners have thrown Welsh poppy seeds which now thrive among centaurea and aquilegia (columbine). I was surprised at how early the roses are in bloom.


The last few lambs of the year are still finding their feet at St Oswald's farm at Heavenfield.



Walking from Wallington we climbed to Rothley Castle;



spongy sphagnum squelched and cottontailed eriophorum blew us up to the folly (built by the Blacketts- or was it by the teetotal Trevelyans?)



and bluebells rang us down to Rothley Mill and back through Wallington's beautiful walled garden to the Clocktower coffee and cake!


What a beautiful month!

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