Apple blossom

The Apple blossom around here is a picture this year. We think it is late but it is perhaps the best we have ever seen and hopefully it will not be subject to any late frosts. Hopefully our cooking apple tree will be successful in setting fruit, we have been unlucky for the last couple of years and missed those apple pies.

Birdsong

Birdsong is particularly loud at the moment as birds proclaim their territories. I tried to listen to BBC Radio 4 Tweet of the day yesterday, but was unable to distinguish what was on the radio from the dawn chorus outside.
This Robin has set up it's territory in our garden and is particularly loud, singing from our hedge and trees and regarding us as intruders.

Westonbirt in springtime

Our visit to the Arborteum this week enhanced our enthusiasm for the collection once again. We know that the crowds flock there in autumn but in our opinion spring is probably the best time when the new leaves contrast the dark trunks and show off the trees at their best.

Here the Acer's new leaves are highlighted by the fresh larch leaves in the Silk Wood and very few visitors around.

Early Purple Orchids

 Damp weather has brought a good display of early purple orchids among the cowslips on the limestone grassland of Minchinhampton Common

Cowslip

A wet and cold spring seems to have been good for many flowers like the Cowslip.  They are still showing well in many places but look soon as they could be fading fast.

Bluebells

They seem to have been a long time coming but in the last few days the bluebells have flowered in profusion in our local woods producing that beautiful  blue carpet beneath the freshly emerging beech leaves. Now is the time to get out and enjoy the spectacle if you can avoid the showers!

Lady's Smock

Today is May Day, and it is a lovely sunny morning here in the Cotswolds.  We didn't get up early enough to catch the Morris Dancing  but are enjoying pottering in the garden listening to the birds and watching the bees.
Lady's Smock or Cuckoo Flower is now out in profusion.  Yesterday we cycled around the Severn Vale and the displays there in the damp ditches were wonderful. It is supposed to flower at the first sound of the Cuckoo, we haven't heard one yet but hopefully will soon, although in recent years they have been rather elusive in our area.

Ash Trees

Trees are starting to burst into leaf everywhere now including these strange ash buds.
The old saying is that oak out before ash due for a splash, ash out before oak due for a soak but they seem to be out at the same time this year.

Wild Garlic Pesto

Well now that the woods in the Cotswolds are full of Wild Garlic leaves we decided it was time to forage and get cooking.
First efforts look delicious...Wild Garlic Pesto is easy to make and goes well with pasta, mashed potato and sounds good on toast too so we are looking forward to trying it.
As the woods are close to our cottage and the bunch I picked was quite large Wild Garlic Soup is on the stove now too.
Will let you know how they taste, any other suggestions welcome.
Update.... both were delicious.

Spring has sprung

It's really starting to feel like springtime now with the hedges greening up and lots of young lambs in the fields. Birds are singing loudly establishing territories and attracting mates.
Bees are much in evidence buzzing around spring flowers and the first few butterflies are taking to the air.