Category Archives: Signs of Spring

It all moves along…..

Posted on by under Allestree, David Oakes - Images, Derbyshire, England, English Woodland, Everyday Life, Peace, PHOTOGRAPHY,, postaday, Signs of Spring, Spring, Trivia

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What a difference a couple of days make at this time of year.  Spring can at times move at the speed of an express train.

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Earlier in the week, I was saying that the Silver Birch seemed to be hanging fire.  Lots of buds forming at the tips of the fine branches, but nothing else. But today the Silver Birch sports some brand new spring green leaves….

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The Birch has a grand view over the Golf Course, obviously no players able to enjoy this spring sunshine.  Like the rest of the Park it is deserted…

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All seems strange… This is Saturday morning, usually the Park  on such a sunny day would be busy with folk out and about.  But even though we are allowed out for exercise I have seen only a handful of  people, all keeping their distance, selecting a line of travel that diverges from others.

Now is the time we should start to enjoy carpets of Bluebells across the woodland floor.  One of the nicest sights of spring.  The first blue flower heads are now starting to appear.  They have been in hiding, sheltered by bushy rich green clumps of  leaves.  Stems are  gradually extending,  bearing the delicate bells at the tips.  There are only a few early starters today but over the week they should multiply at a pace….  these front runners are a very welcome spring arrival.

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Magnolia come in a wide variety.  Until now it has mainly been the smaller more delicate trees and flowers that have had bursting bud.  So it is now the turn of the bigger buds many with a bolder colour pallete….

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With all the new growth you do feel, that despite everything else that is happening in our world, Spring is here and with it hope.

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Please Remember ….

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

11th April

(C) David Oakes 2020

 

A Privilege….and not taken for Granted

Posted on by under Allestree, APRIL, SPRING,ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE, David Oakes - Images, Derbyshire, English Woodland, Everyday Life, Flora, Friday Trivia, Peace, PHOTOGRAPHY,, postaday, Signs of Spring

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Early Morning at Allestree, Derby

It is Sunday the 5th of April…. and it is a day full of Spring promise.  Early morning mist is lifting,  clear blue skies and a sun that really is starting to provide a welcome warmth.

I am one of the luck folk with somewhere to take my exercise.  I am also very much aware that many are unable to take advantage of an open air walk. It is a privilege.

So here are a few images from todays walk to share and I hope bring you just a little of the spring that is now starting to shape up rather well.

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Trees are still bare, the Oak on the top of Burley Hill as stark as on many a winters day. The Silver Birch, that borders the Golf Course which is closed for the duration, waves it ever so fine top branches reaching up for warmth to encourage its leaves to burst…

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But new growth is appearing, growth that over the next week will flourish into new clothes for the trees….

The Blossom on our Cherry Tree is also starting to show, but it is a few weeks later than usual….

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The First of our ‘last’ batch of Daffodils has arrived alongside our first Camelia of this Spring.  So change is progressing at an increasing pace…

The more delicate flowers of the Wood Anemone are, for a short while, taking over the woodland floor, a carpet of white stars dotted with yellow buttons…

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Colour is coming throughout the garden in front the Old Hall, it is the perfect compliment to a rather fine Sunday morning……

If you are one who cannot enjoy stretching your legs, even for a short while, in the sunny outdoors, then I hope these images help provide some virtual flavour to you of a sunny spring Sunday in these difficult times.

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

5th April

(C) David Oakes 2020

Spring is coming…. a Carpet of Hopeful Signs

Posted on by under Allestree, APRIL, SPRING,ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE, David Oakes - Images, Derbyshire, Everyday Life, Peace, PHOTOGRAPHY,, postaday, Signs of Spring, Trivia

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The Wood Anemone have now started to carpet the woodland floor.  It is a shame that they do not remain with us for that long.  But whilst they are here, the white star shaped petals with delicate yellow centre, balanced on a thin stem, atop its fern like foliage is one of those important markers of Spring…

Out on the meadows, the late afternoon sun, has started to make a late appearance.

And dare I say it,  there are signs of new buds on the Ash Trees.

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Not sure if I can believe it, but the weather forecast for this weekend is for warm sunny weather…..just what we need to bring on the new spring growth 🙂

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

3rd April

(C) David Oakes 2020

 

It took until the afternoon to arrive…… but then a touch of Spring arrived

Posted on by under Allestree, David Oakes - Images, Derbyshire, Everyday Life, Garden, Peace, PHOTOGRAPHY,, postaday, Signs of Spring, Spring, Trivia

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It might be a small start, but the humble Periwinkle is very welcome…a splash of a blue gem in a dark corner.

The Hellebore’s or Christmas Rose are still doing well having battled against rain and winds for many months…showing the signs of wear but still putting on a brave face

The Skimmia  is now bursting into flower, its pin like buds that unfold into a dainty flower that all create larger head,  a magnet in the late afternoon sun for Hoverflies and Worker Bees.  All good signs that we may well be heading for Spring…

 What a change from this morning, dull grey and drizzle….it might be late in the day arriving, but I will count this as a bonus.

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

2nd April

(C) David Oakes 2020

March….. sprints to a mixed finish….

Posted on by under Allestree, David Oakes - Images, Derbyshire, Everyday Life, Peace, PHOTOGRAPHY,, postaday, Signs of Spring, Spring, Trivia

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A cloudy and cold start to the last day of March…then the sun broke through the cloud cover and the temperatures started to rise….

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Blossom is appearing, but sadly, some Blossom, that perhaps were fooled into bursting forth in last weeks mini heatwave, have suffered in the arctic winds and yesterdays rain. The leaves are fine but that vistal blossom has suffered….

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The woods are of course still bare, the low March light is harsh, the wintery look to the woodland floor remains…. but that should soon change.

 The Marsh Marigolds are staring to flower so that is a hopeful sign that spring is trying its best to chase off the remnants of winter…

There is now a hint of a green tinge to the tops of the trees, so over the next couple of weeks we should see some dramatic changes to our landscape…

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The Lake did glow in the early morning light, in this little corner new life is appearing….

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….. new life, not just in the reeds and marginal plants.  Looking carefully into what at first appears a muddy corner of the Lake…. and you will find Frogspawn.  So the cycle of life continues…..

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All there is to do now is to ponder as to just what April has in store for the World.

So as we wait…..

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

31st March

(C) David Oakes 2020