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

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

Hellebore and Daffodils

Hellebore

The snow still hasn't gone. A blanket of four or five inches still covers everything.

On close inspection my hellebore and daffodils have still survived.

Hellebore are also called Christmas Roses, and come from the Balkan region of Europe and so are quite frost resistant.  Some purist prefer the white type, but I like a bit of colour so the brighter and more purple/red the better.

Daffodil, or Narcissus may seem very ordinary plants to us these days as the bulbs are so cheap to purchase an.d once planted flower reliably ever year. They once were prized for their great beauty, which is why they share name with the character Narcissus, from Greek mythology who was so obsessed with his own beauty that he drowned in a pool as he stared at his own reflection. For me though the cheery yellow of the common varieties reminds me of childhood and the scent is delightful. 

At least the cat's seem to have finally got used to going out in the snow.

Daffodil

My two cat's being brave.

Snow in March- inspires poetry.T

 It is still snowing here, which although beautiful is rather annoying, which has inspired me to write this poem.

Snow in March

A white Christmas
A child's delight
Virgin, pristine, pure
Most festive sight

But March is almost over
Cold still your lying there

Tank Quarry clock tower

A suffocating blanket
Of beauty and despair

Beneath you flowers try to grow
Searching for the sun
Please melt and then reveal
Their colours bright and fun

By Izzy B. Silver

Snowdrops

From left-right, Benji and Bella keeping warm

Snowdrops

 It snowed again overnight. A beautiful light dusting like icing sugar on a sponge cake. My cat's were not impressed, they hate snow, and couldn't be persuaded to leave the sofa.

Signs of spring are everywhere in my garden. There are buds and green shoots everywhere and the first flowers have appeared.

The sun is doing it's best, and so by lunch time everywhere not in shade was again green and warm.

Hazel catkins

Primrose

Snow in the shade

No snow

West Malvern Community Wood

West Malvern Community Wood, new section.

 A fresh layer of snow has fallen today. It is incredibly beautiful. Went for a walk around West Malvern community woods and park. It is amazing how different a place can look. Fabulous.

The swings and slides did look rather spooky though.

Oak Tree.

West Malvern Park, "avenue"

West Malvern Play Park

Snow

Briefly this morning, the outlook was snowy. Here is the only picture I managed to take before it melted.