Beautiful Bankholiday Bluebell Bonanza, Callow End, Worcester.

Bluebells

Wild garlic by the side of the stream

 The bluebells I had spotted on Malvern Wells Common and the first bluebell in my garden appearing yesterday made me excited about the prospect of a bank holiday walk with friends and family, so I thought I would check out the bluebell walk, (as described  in detail just over a week ago). I expected to find the wild garlic in flower, and so was surprised to see their heads still shrouded from bloom. Soon they will be beautiful- but not yet.

Hawthorn blossom

The hedgerows though are splashed with wide swaths of hawthorn blossom, also known as May
blossom and seen in folk lore as a good omen to a
 fruit full growing season.

The skies today are the azure blue of the Mediterranean sea, and brought back warm memories of holidays.

The azure blue sky and an old tree

The lambs are now much more self assured and are grouping themselves with their peers rather than hiding in mother sheep's shadow. They are stocky and have delightfully pudgy rolls of fat around their thighs and necks. Charmingly they gambol the very
 picture of robust health.

But the woods of course are the highlight. Delightfully dappled by the warm spring sunshine they are enchantingly mystic looking. A peacock butterfly flutters by grabbing my attention, and the song of birds fill my ears with angelic cheer. The bluebells are open. Not yet at full strength- but by the weekend they should be in their prime. Proper delicate English bluebells modestly hang their shy bonny blue heads. The intricate shape of these perfect bells so precise and artful, natures pure design.
 The woods adorned in these precious sapphire jewels
 could not be more lovely.

Blue bell detail

Dappled sunshine in bluebell wood

Rejuvernation therapy, Malvern water treatments.

The path just behind the postbox

Seating area in the little dell

 One of the thing Malvern is famous for is hydrotherapy. The development of a system of water based therapies, designed to aid recuperation from various illnesses including TB and consumption, was most popular during the Victorian era. It is the reason Darwin came to live in Malvern, as he hoped the new therapies would cure his daughter. They didn't, and she died and was buried in Malvern Abbey. It was the loss of her that caused him to reject religion and gave him the strength to stand up to the church of the time, and publish his scientific theory of evolution and natural selection.

The snow now has melted in all but the highest parts of the hill. I went for a walk, starting out from behind the large post box, up past Joyners Meadow, and then past the Narnian gas lamp above Saint James's church.

Whilst walking I saw teenagers running and leaping, throwing themselves into the snow drifts and rolling down hills. They were a little like new born lambs, all newly lengthened limbs, ungainly and jerky. Although many off the hydrotherapy's are now discredited frozen water, in the form of snow, has a miraculously rejuvenating quality. All the cool strutting cynical attitude associated with the teenager wishing to be a proper, "grown-up" suddenly falls away to reveal the child behind the emo facade.

Joyners Meadow

Panoramic shot looking over West Malvern from pathway

View near the Narnian gas lamp by St James well

Snow and newborn lambs, Good Friday, Malvern

Although it hasn't snowed now for about four day's, and even though it is sunny and warm enough to go walking in, still their is sun on the ground. Sheep due to give birth, and those with new born lambs really need to be kept inside to keep them warm and safe. These lambs have all just been born in the last few days.

Newborn lambs with their Mum's