wild columbine

the genuine wild columbine (aquilegia vulgaris), growing in a damp shady wood. Usually if you find an aquliegia it is a garden escapee. The flower is mysteriously complicated and exotic, with five long nectar horns

May is out

the hawthorn is out, so out with the clowts/clouts (see link). Classic lane view as well.

more yellow things

the top picture shows the speckled yellow moth, quite common at this time of year, and below the speckled black ... unable to fly far but looking increasingly moth eaten.

buttercup flyby

in one of the last markers of the full arrival of Spring the martins are back, and nesting under the eaves of our house, and whizzing about in the field next door which is covered in buttercups. It is always a great relief to see them, and feel the blood pumping through the veins of Nature.

ok, just one more bluebell picture

the bluebells in the banks by the road into our village make even the drive into work a pleasure!

our wisteria

at long last, despite the arctic cold, our wisteria is out. Please note that no one takes any note of the admonition on the doormat. Why is this?