one week in

Here we are, a week into the restrictions placed upon us to slow the spread of Covid-19. We are allowed out once a day for exercise, a run, walk or cycle of our usual length and as infrequently as possible for shopping for food. Since retiring, on days we spend at home, we  have been in the habit of walking for an hour or two in the morning and then a shorter walk in the afternoon. This week we have had to be content with just the one walk but I am very grateful for that.

Spring is here and walking from home is a pleasure. We see many more people than we normally do whilst walking but everyone is being very careful to maintain the required 2 metre gap as we pass.

The warm weather has brought out the spring flowers, wild cherry blossom and buds on the horse chestnut.

In a sheltered spot I found bluebells and wood anemone.

The hedges are turning white with blackthorn.

Walking this week, I have been very grateful for the countryside around our home and for having a garden, there are many less fortunate. In the coming weeks there may be more restrictions to being outdoors brought into force but for now at least we can enjoy our daily walks.

towards the end of summer

This summer has passed too quickly and September is here. I have been lucky to have had a couple of trips away and as often happens, when I arrive home even after only a few days,  I feel I  have jumped to a new season.

The late summer heather and gorse have been joined by a a few autumnal fungi, this was a striking specimen.

The garden has become untidy through lack of attention during the last few weeks but if you stand back and look from a distance it doesn't appear too bad. Crab apples, grapes and ornamental berries are ripening and with the sun lower in the sky there is a feeling of early autumn.

This little bench is a good place to catch the sun and the geraniums in pots have survived well considering they have missed out on regular watering while I was away.

I have lots of photographs of my holidays to sort out and a recently completed knitting project blocking on the living room floor, I hope to post pictures of both soon.

summer evenings

We are having a mini heat-wave here with temperatures reaching 30ºC and my last post has pictures of a cold January Edinburgh day!

Today is the summer solstice (in the UK it was at 5:24 this morning) so I thought some seasonally appropriate photographs would be a good idea.

These pictures were taken  last week when we had a short walk and an evening picnic along the Wayfarers Path in North Hampshire.

I like to go at this time of the year to see the wild orchids. There were plenty to see this year.

A beautiful place for a picnic sitting in the sunshine among the wild flowers.

The path back went through fields of barley, gently moving in the breeze

and as the sun got lower in the sky the whole place took on a golden glow. A reminder to appreciate the long summer evenings.

green and white

stitchwort

hawthorn

elder

white campion

rowan

water dropwort, hemlock (caution- extremely poisonous)

goose grass

meadow foxtail

dandelion

cow parsley

The weather is turning warmer and the bright lush green and whites of late spring/early summer will be replaced by darker greens and bright summer flowers. A few photographs recording this wonderful time of fresh green foliage and white flowers.

evening light

The longer days give an opportunity for evening walks. The light at this time of day is so beautiful. These photographs are taken from the roman walls at Silchester.

bluebells

Every year I post photographs of bluebells because every year I marvel at how they transform the woodland into such a magical space. It has been a good year for them.

April showers

Plenty of April showers this year. Last night we had a hail storm around 3am. I stood at the window and watched it, the hail was coming down so hard and fast. This morning there were pockets of white hail stones in the gardens and on roofs. I hope any blossom hasn't suffered too much.

These photographs are from a few days ago when I took an early walk after a night of rain.

Sparkling water droplets in the sun

although some of the flowers look a bit bedraggled

the plant equivalent of a "bad hair day".

Always grateful for the showers though, so much fresh green growth, the countryside seems to change daily in April and May.