Primrose path

[puddleshark]

Ivy and vines of old man's beard draping the branches of the thousand-year oak, along the underhill path.



Storm Dave passed well north of us, but it was still a wild old night, and the wind kept me awake until the small hours. I was thinking that, if the weather was miserable again, I would head over to Stinsford, where Thomas Hardy's grave is, and photograph the churchyard in the wind and drizzle - A Drizzling Easter Morning is one of my favourite Hardy poems.

But the storm had blown over, and the sun was shining this morning. The west wind still very strong, but it had decreased on my own personal Beaufort scale from "Strong enough to blow you right off the ramparts of Flower's Barrow hillfort" to "Strong enough to steal your hat", and along the sheltered underhill path, it was a pleasant day for walking.


Bluebells and primroses lining the path, now that the overgrown coppice woods have been thinned to let the light in.









There's still a thick enough tangle of hillside scrub for the nesting birds, and there is birdsong all along the path. Robins and wrens, chiffchaffs and great-tits, and, highlight of the walk, a blackcap perched in the hazel, in full view, singing its long complicated song. Full marks for technical difficulty, Blackcap.


The brambles and the old man's beard dispute my right of way.


The path up onto the hillside, lined with wild garlic, not yet pungent-scented and not yet in flower.


Onto the open hilltop. The west wind very strong, but it was at my back, and had to be contented with stealing my hat. Again. The west wind has been stealing my hat all spring. It must like my hat.


Spring Sedge appearing, and the grass suddenly looking very lush and green. If I go walking in North Dorset, I will have to watch out - the fields will be full of mad stampeding young cattle, newly turned out onto the spring grass.




Clouds above Corfe Castle.

Chruch bells ringing for Easter down in Corfe village, and the flag of St George flying from the church tower, though it's not St George's Day yet, and the flag is starting to have unfortunate connotations in this country, having been hijacked by certain political groups as a means to intimidate their neighbours.

Comments

[kaishin108]

Oh my, that castle and bells ringing. What a lovely thing to imagine from here as I look at that castle. :)

[heleninwales]

What a beautiful walk. Spring is starting to get a move on now. I've just been away for two days and the jostaberry bush that was just showing signs of leaves opening when I left is in full leaf now. The neighbours' apple tree is also suddenly coming into leaf.

Having said that, the wind was cold this morning when I walked to Meeting. I was glad I still had gloves in my pockets.

[sartorias]

Beautiful spring colors!