Cry SPRING ……..and Saint George

April 23rd a perfect day to celebrate England’s Patron Saint..Saint George. Yep, Saint Georges Day, and for reasons I just do not understand here in England, we allow it to pass under the wire with out much if any razzmatazz.  We celebrate in style Saint Patrick, acknowledge both Saint Andrew and Saint David yet Saint George rarely a mention!

But no matter it was one of those rare events this year, a beautiful warm Spring day, a day just right for a walkies in the woods with my dogs. It was a day when you breathed in a fresh invigorating aroma that encouraged you to stay out much longer than you should adding a reluctance to head back to the desk.

Even though a mist still hung on the horizon this majestic Beech positively glowed.  The pathway was now starting to be edged with blankets of Bluebells…admittedly still along way to go before they flower.  Looking back in my diary, I see that this day last year, the bluebells were faded and well past there best.

Winters ravages have left its toll though some how I don’t think this fence will be getting a makeover!

Spring may be!   But looking back over the woods you can see that it is still bare and yet to acquire its spring coat.

Down by the lake a lone Heron was stalking the bank and as both Frogs and Toads have started to move about in numbers I rather suspect that his eye was peeled for Frog to add to his breakfast menu a change from fish….

The trouble is at this time of year Frogs and Toads, like the one below, throw caution to the wind, forsaking cover in the drive to find a partner to mate with…

Some of the Willows along the shore have at long last started to show signs of springs new growth and bulrushes are starting to shoot from the watery bower…

 

But I couldn’t pass by my favourite ancient Oak without acknowledging its very solid presence, its over stout trunk waiting for its crown of leaves, over 1000 year old and I hope many more to come.

Here’s to Saint George and the Spring.

23rd APRIL

© David Oakes 2013