Early February
The first spring flowers have started to come through, probably helped by the milder weather we’ve had thus far.
Yellow is predominant with dandelions (Taraxacum) and buttercups (Ficaria verna). The prurple of the anemones (Anemone hortensis) across the field are starting to develop and the road edges are have daisies and dead nettles (Lamium purpureum). Hellebores are well established and flowering. Any area with low grass such the track verges and out lwon are covered in daisies..
have spotted the odd daffodil and even a crocus along the track leading to the house.
Further afield the landscape is dotted by what we assume are a form of wild prune tress covered in white blossom. A contrast to the remainin decisuous trees that have no growth as yet.
The equinox through to late spring
Following a warmer than usual Feruary the weather turned and its been colder than normal at the start and midelle of March. Strange weather patterns. Similarly with rain. Approximately 400mm but very litte through March – 60mm.
However , this has not impacted the early spring growth in the fields. On the contrary the various grasses and field plants are knee high. Much earlier than normal. We may need an early mowing by the local farmer this year. Becomes a trade off between long grass and the next set of late spring/early summer flowers.
A number of trees are responding to early spring. The olive tress are starting their new growth, not just suckers but shoots on the existing branches. Viewed from distance there is light green hue over the them and with this new growth the recommendation is to stop pruning to shape the trees. Now we wating for the olive blossoms to appear and get some sense of what out crop will be this year. The tress initially pollared hopefully will become productive. If not we may well a a lean year.
THe flowers in the fields privide color and interest. The ameomies are now in full bloom – not quite a purple hue, but very striking amoungst the dasies and butter cups with grasses giving a bright green foil for them
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There is bugleweed (Ajuga riptans) along the terrace banks and there are the occasional swathes with their bright blue/purple colour.
White lace flowers (Orlaya grandiflora,) are abundant and everywhere. Later in the season these are superceeded with Cow parsley – but that’s summer.
On the lower part of the land parallel to the Sena there are stands of Bellevalia dubia. Not sure what the common name is. They have always been there but in abaundance this year. Not the easiest to photograph.
The Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) too are much more prevelent than prior years and signal the progreaa of spring.
It’s interesting that there are poisonous plants such as Hemlock Water-dropwort (Oenanthe crocata).
Year on year the Field Gladiolus (Gladiolus italicus) provide colour and are good fot picking.
And then er have the orchids. Each following on from the former and when we get the Pyramidal Orchids flowering its the signal that we;re noe moving towards summer.
Spider orchid (Ophrys araneola)
Tongue orchid (Tongue Orchid,)
Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis).
The butter cups become rampant and where the grass has been mown provide a yelllow carpet weaving through the olive tress.
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