Aprils garden, beautiful things

Primrose

 April may have been cold, and flowers have suffered. Many which should be in full bloom are only just opening. There are however bright gems and jewels dotted around my garden, who's beauty illuminates the eyes and soul. 

A white, albino frittillery

The first tulip

Dotted about in my lawn are several types of naturalised bulb. The snowdrops are now a distant memory, but frittillery bloom in their place. Most of the frittillery are the snakes head variety, highly prized for the checker pattern of deep aubergine and paler purple. Some however are albino, and 
completely white. Whatever their colour they hang like curious anglepoise lantern.

Turks head lillies

Both the hyacinth and the smaller grape hyacinth are in their prime. The smaller grape variety form small clumps around the lawn. Both have a heavenly aroma.

Checker patterned Snakeshead Frittillery

The earliest of the tulip have opened. Less decorative than those that follow, they are closer 
to the original tulip cultivates.

Primrose, common easy to grow and with such a long flowering season are still performing beautifully, either the traditional yellow or the more modern purple, blues and reds.

Hellebore

Hellebore's, the Christmas Lanterns should really have all but disappeared by now, but maybe it is the unseasonably cool weather that has spurred them on to flower again.

The first blossom on the Victoria plum tree

 Just coming into season the fragile

Fat blossom buds on the greengage

 looking Turks head lily. These blooms are a reliable joy. They came free with an order about four years ago, and I was loathe to give them space. Every spring when they light up the little corner they were grudging planted in they bring me joy and do not deserve.

The trees are finally beginning to bloom. The pale beauty of the first blossom on the Victoria plum

Grape hyacinth

 are open, and the buds that bear the greengage and
 cherry blossoms are fat and round and expectant.
 I am hoping that this late start to the blossom
 season will mean the blossom will be safe from a
 late frost and that the harvest this year will be
 plentiful.

Daffodil walk through three woods, near Newent, Gloustershire.

View in Betty Daw's Nature Reserve

Betty Daw's Wood

Today I went on a circular Daffodil Trail walk, following a route on a leaflet from Gloustershire Wildlife Trust, (www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk ). It is called, "Discover Gwen and Vera's and Betty Daw's Wood nature reserves".  For my sat nav I found that entering "Four Oaks, Newent" got me there.

Also in Betty Daw's nature reserve

Gwen and Veras Field

I hope you can see from the pictures just how magnificent the woods here look at the moment. The daffodils are a bit past their best, but will still look okay for another 7-10 days. The wood anemones look absolutely fantastic, and the carpet effect of the two mixed together is magnificent.

View in Gwen and Veras Fields Nature Reserve

Dymock Wood

Poultry Park opens 10 am daily

 I would recommend, if you had young children, either to start at Dymock Wood, where there is room for about eight cars to park, or at Betty Daw's Wood, where ther is room for three cars. I would then just go round Dymock Wood,Turn right out of Dymock wood and then just along the road on the right is  The Poultry Park, (if your children like looking at a wide variety of chickens and having the chance to feed them). A little further down the road on the same side as the Poultry Park is the entrance to Gwen and Veras Field's Nature reserve. From the far side of this a footpath across an open field brings you to the back entrance of Betty Daws Wood Nature Reserve. The rest of the circular route is along roads and is not as magnificent as this part, so if Ihad young children who liked to run about I would then just turn back the same way I had come and enjoy the whole thing again.

View in Dymock Wood

A native Lent Lily Daffodil

The main point to these three nature reserves so close to one another, is that between them they hope to preserve the native daffodil species, "Wild Daffodil" or "Lent Lily". These are under threat due to fragmentation and neglect of their habitat, climate change, and the many more ornamental daffodil species that have been introduced by gardeners into their home gardens and then cross pollinate with the native species.

April wasteland, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire.

Lovely shaped tree

The most mistletoe covered tree around

 Inspired by

"The Wasteland


April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain
Winter kept us warm covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little with dried tubers.

TS Eliot 1922"

This year however the forgetful snow seems to have forgotten to leave.

The hour has moved forward into summertime, and with it our thoughts. No longer are we content to wear the heavy coat that stilted both our movement and out spirit. Awakening from the winter sleep of apathy and dull listlessness I find I want ti sing. I want to feel the warm sun on my limbs, and the soft caress of the hyacinth scented air. Like the bud I am eager to embrace life.

Too short in this life are we young enough to embrace all that our bodies are capable of, and old enough to value the day. On the starting block of the seasons of growth, flower and fruitfulness we find ourselves limbering up for the race of our lives.

Happily today, although the mornings are sharp and frosty, finally some warmth from the sun is reaching us in Worcestershire, and the skies are jewel blue and beautiful.

The still snow covered Malvern Hills

Interesting trees and sky