It's spring! Ladybirds are so rubbish at hiding.

Grace.

 I've been weaving baskets all week which is why I've been quite quiet on the blog front, sorry I've not been commenting much.  I have been trying to keep up with everybody though :)  I have also managed to get a suntan!  It's March, is that normal!!!???  :)

Hawthorn

Yesterday I went exploring and found a secret place that was just, utterly, amazing.  Today I went back with my camera!   The Hawthorn leaf buds have well and truly burst all along this hedgerow.  I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see a Hawthorn waking up.  I have a real affinity with little Hawthorns.  :)

Above is the entrance to a magical wood full of life and abundance, wild flowers , badgers and hares, mossy glades, gnarly beech and oak trees, beetles and bumbles bee's looking for houses.

Surrounding the wood is bare earth.  Bare earth is not natural in such large areas.  Hectares and hectares of soil being damaged by the elements.  Billions of organisms being killed by the blazing sun and the freezing wind blowing away the resultant dust.  Organisms that should be thriving, making the earth the perfect environment for plant growth.  Plants to feed our bellies and make us strong.  

Soil should always be kept covered and the life within nurtured, protected.  Always.

Ground Ivy in flower

When you enter the magical wood you understand the difference between earth that's bare and earth that's carpeted.  You step from a lifeless, energy sapping piece of ground to vibrancy and life!  The only bare earth in here are the tracks made by animals and the holes snurfled by badgers and foxes.  Just as it should be.

Violets 

Yesterday when I entered these woods I was like a child!  Joy, pure joy!  I just couldn't believe how much green there was.  The woodland floor was carpeted with the promise of bluebells, dotted with huge patches of purple violets, dogs mercury, campion, ramsons and then I stumbled upon Town Hall Clock!  (Also called Moschatel).  

Moschatel growing on a mossy tree stump.

It's a tiny little flower and is called Town Hall Clock because, if you look closely - and you have to get down on your knees, bum in the air to see them - you'll notice that it has a flower on the top and four flowers around the stem just underneath the top flower, making a sort of cube.  But actually resembling the old clock towers, with their four clock faces.  ahem... sort of... reminiscent anyway!

Moschatel - Town Hall Clock

So when your walking about in the woods in springtime and you come across a bit that's on the damp side, look down and if you see this...

A Hens eye view of a patch of Moschatel

...get down on your knees, bum in the air and see if it's Moschatel.  It has a subtle scent too if you're lucky!

Obligatory collie shot of Willow in the woods

The woods extended into an ash coppice, which again, was just a sea of green.   With every fraction of space exploding with plants vying to make the most of the sunshine before the trees get their leaves and cast them all in shade.

A Ladybird not being inconspicuous.

She clearly thought that if she couldn't see me I couldn't see her.  

This is a bracket funghi that was growing in abundance on a fallen sycamore tree.  Can anyone identify it?

The perfect end to a perfect adventure.  

I pray for everyone to have a wonderful spring.  Get out there, stick your nose in it and have a rummage, it'll be gone before you know it.

hen

xx

p.s.  I've counted that I've had 29 springs that I've been aware of and if I'm lucky I'll have 29 more, at least.  That means I only have about 29 more times to see all of this!  That's not many.  Best make the most of them then.    :)

Visit the World - That's my World!