An Amazing ……MAY DAY

The 1st of May, a new month and a symbolic day in the calendar for many.  It is also nearly half way through the year and as many bloggers proclaim we still anticipate the arrival of spring. Now I know we have said this before but may be to-day is the day.

Dawn brought a fresh still day, the Lake was calm, willow were starting to green and even some blossom was bursting….

Even the clouds started to roll back and provide a clear blue sky and sunshine that without the wind was actually warming…by mid day temperatures were up to 20C.

The desk could wait, the morning to good to waste, so with dogs in tow we headed north to some Beech woodland.  New growth was that soft, but bright spring green, buds a bronzy yellow and the sun reaching in to all corners of the woods…..

But a full canopy of leaf still appeared along way off, skeletons of Sycamore and Beech still dominated the wood……

Daffodils still dominate the woodland floor.  But as most plants this season we haven’t had that mass flood of yellow, they have staggered their arrival.  Aconites and then Celandines would usually add to that yellow carpet. But again the season would appear to have delivered a crop that is bind of flower. None the less it still presents a beautiful show that indicates spring…..

Surprisingly there were no takers for this woodland seat…

But a more open view was preferred by some, who could blame him…….

Hiding in one part of the woods are the remains of an old garden providing  even more colourful signs of spring . …

There is also this intriguing building.  A throw back to when this woodland and grounds were once an important mansion, farm and gardens.  This building was the estates Water Tower….but imagination and no doubt a good architect have created a unique residence…

But by then it was this Lodge that was demanding my attention…well you cannot pass by a great little cafe, a cup of coffee and a toasted Teacake now can you!

Amazing was the description of the day….and so it was.   3 hours after we started you became visually aware that the sun and the warmth were working there magic.  The woods that had this morning looked for the most part pretty bare were now bursting into life…… that leafy canopy was starting to form at long last.

Dare we think that spring is here?

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A Sign of the Times

1st May

© David Oakes 2013