Category Archives: England

Another Day when the sun came and went……

Posted on by under David Oakes - Images, DERBY, Derbyshire, England, Everyday Life, Peace, PHOTOGRAPHY,, postaday, Spring, Trivia

_DSC7837zzz

River Derwent, Derby

The Derwent is running  all smooth and calm, only a distant Duke breaking the surface.  Mid May and the trees are all lush green, extra bright in one of the sunshine breaks.  Hard to think back to the beginning of March.   Where I am standing I would have been under water with flood waters rushing past.    So  very tranquil today.

It is here in Derby that the River runs through Darley Park, a Park that tucks itself into the northern edge of the City.  So it is no surprise that it has been a popular place for that Lockdown Exercise.  Since Boris made his grand ‘easing’ statement last week, those numbers have dramatically increased.  Thankfully it is only a small minority who act with no thought or care for social distancing or for other folk.

This morning the Park was busy (ish) but large areas were people free.

_DSC7808qqq

Plenty of space to relax and enjoy the May sunshine….. and they do recommend Vitamin D for the immune system – here you can get it for free.

_DSC7810qqq

May growth is very lush, perhaps all the winter rains, followed by this springs extra dose of sunshine and warmth, have produced  this rich green May.  A May that I cannot recall having been so full and varied in spring growth.  Growth both wild and cultivated.

Bold bright colours in the Herbaceous garden, Poppies and Iris the first blousy blooms….

In the meadows and hedgerows the very humble Daisy and Dog Rose,.  Simple, yet  they  add a joy to any days walk…..

As for the weather report.  Well we did get Sun, we did get cloud and it was also humid and warm.  Rain is threatened for tomorrow..  Daft as it may seem, we could do with some (not too much though).

So best make the most of the rest of the day absorbing  some more Vitamin D..

Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

18th May

(C) David Oakes 2020

Half Way through May…… Is it Spring/ Winter or Summer?

Posted on by under David Oakes - Images, Derbyshire, England, Everyday Life, Garden, Peace, PHOTOGRAPHY,, postaday, Trivia

_DSC7795qqq

Blue skies once more….  and a clear blue that we are becoming to get used too.  No vapour trails, no taste of pollution in the air.  We had a frost again last night but woke to a glorious morning.  The forecaster for our area say that we may get to 22c this afternoon and expect 25c tomorrow…… Well it is the middle of May.

The tree above is I believe a Rufus Oak.  It is always one of the last to come into leaf and one of the first to turn  in the autumn….. mind you when it turns it is a beautiful distinctive red,  gradually fading to brown.

We did rather think we had lost this warm sunny day.  Lunch time it turned chilly (no damn cold actually) the cloud cover came over and it looked threatening…

_1030428qqq

But within the hour all changed again and we were left with a wonderful afternoon.  So an afternoon gardening was the chore.

An indicator that spring is turning into summer, one of our Honey Suckles  has flower heads swelling and nearly ready to burst …….

_DO89175qqq

Roses are the true flower of summer.  Our first Rose bloom appeared last week , but others have not rushed to follow, just the occasional brave bloom…

_DO89187rrrr

It cannot be that long before we have many more Roses.  Buds are all swelling, in the afternoon heat and sun.  I am sure you could actually see them growing….

_DO89197qqq

The Flower heads when open on this particular Rose (don’t ask the name) are only tiny, not much bigger than a quails egg, but just as beautiful as the bigger blooms.

As for 22c….  well the best we got to was 19c but with a cool breeze it felt much lower.

I was reminder earlier, that the summer solstice is looming ever closer.  It has been a strange year.  Strange from a weather perspective.   Strange for all of us, as we come to terms with isolation, self distancing and ever changing health advice.  Despite lockdown measures, time does seem to have flown bye.

Summer is on the way, but nothing much else looks like changing, so…..

Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

15th May

(C) David Oakes 2020

Social Distancing…..

Posted on by under David Oakes - Images, England, Everyday Life, Peace, PHOTOGRAPHY,, postaday

Gathering

This family group is not confused.

Not the same for most of us here in England.  The Government has relaxed the ‘lockdown’ CV19 restrictions.    The trouble is even after attempts to clarify a confusing statement by our Prime Minister we still are no clearer as to what is really safe and what isn’t.  What we can and cannot do.  I guess it says it all when the Heads of the Scottish, Welsh and Norther Ireland Governments have rejected the moves, distancing themselves from the statement.

What has changed, over the ‘Peak’ the Government claims, yet death rates and infections are still at an extremely high level…. at a level that I personally think are still to high to claim success or  risk the chance of another peak in infections.

The ‘Stay at Home’ slogan has been changed to “Be Alert” –  that and so many of the easing restrictions seem far to vague for comfort.

So lets continue and

Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

11th May

(C) David Oakes 2020

Wild Garlic Time….

Posted on by under David Oakes - Images, England, Everyday Life, Peace, PHOTOGRAPHY,, postaday, Shropshire, Trivia, Wild Garlic

Lakes

Wenlock Edge, Shropshire

A lush carpet of white stars under tall Beech trees. A unique aromatic perfume fills the air…… its Wild Garlic.
Wild Garlic is becoming quite a fashionable plant to forage for. Wild Garlic Pesto is becoming a Chefs favourite…. but please forage with care and responsibly….don’t destroy this wild wonder of nature.
I think we are all seeing that the wildlife all about us, is benefiting from the restrictions currently placed upon us…. times have changed.

Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

7th May
(C) David Oakes 2020