June 7th – A mystery that always makes me wonder: Why are blue-purple lupins always out weeks earlier than the light colours like the pink ones here at Clayhanger Bridge?
I think I prefer the pink ones if I’m honest although they’re all beautiful.
This curiosity does at least extend the visible presence of a beautiful flower…
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June 7th – Kidney vetch is an odd little wildflower, which consists of tiny yellow flowers cluster around a fluffy, downy head. I always imagine it’s a plant of late summer for some reason, and it’s appearance in midsummer always surprises me.
It grows profusely on the grass around the top of the new pond embankment at Clayhanger, one of the few places I know it exist, yet every year, like the orchids, it’s cut down by Canal and River Trust’s mowing team who insist on obliterating anything in their path.
I preferred canals when they were more unkempt, if I’m honest.
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June 2nd – On my return, for a short while, the sun came out and the skies were lovely over Hammerwich and the canal from Chasewater.
One of the reasons I ride a bike is the connection to my environment it gives me – good weather or bad I feel on my bike that the world continues to spin, and that for better or worse, I’m part of it.
For a few sunny minutes on a green, beautiful canal on a blustery sad Sunday, the clouds thinned and as the world continued to spin, and I felt lifted and content to be part of it.
My cyclic antidepressant had worked again.
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June 2nd – It was a bad day. I couldn’t post on my main blog due to hosting issues and stuff needed doing I couldn’t do. I was rough from an IBS episode and nothing was working.
I finally quit trying and headed out mid afternoon into a grim, grey world that although warm, was windy and intemperate and frequently rainy.
Chasewater was pleasant as ever but couldn’t lift me. I eaded to see pals in Chasetown, which did help at least.
Some days are just hopelessly lost, and all you can do is go with the flow, knowing that tomorrow has to be a better day.
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May 30th – One of my favourite times of summer is when the orchids come into bloom.
There are many species of orchid in the UKL and none are particularly common – those we see around the canals and marshes of the local area now are a recent thing and a delight to see.
Varying in shade from a sort of lavender blue to very deep purple, the marsh orchids by the canal and over CLayhanger Common are just beautiful.
Let’s hope the mowers of the Canal and River Trust are held off until they’ve finished their lovely display for another year.
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May 29th – Encountered just by Clayhanger Bridge, the Watermead swan family are growing fast, and the youngsters are growing in confidence and pottered over to see if I had treats, under the stern, watchful eye of dad.
Mum was grazing the bottom of the canal, pulling up choice strings of algae and offering them to her chicks – who obliged by attempting to copy her. This is obviously ja learning exercise only, as the tiny birds can’t yet reach the bottom.
Lovely to see the family growing and developing so well.
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May 28th – I note the pathway on Clayhanger Common between the overflow by the bridge and the grassed area behind is nearly overgrown again.
Every season this delightful, overgrown desire path through the scrub very nearly disappears, but is kept in existence by whoever uses it regularly (and that appears to be sometimes, at least, deer.)
Right now it’s at the stage when any use involves breaking off bits of overgrowth. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
I love the almost secret garden feel of it.
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May 26th – On a weary recovery day, I pottered to Brownhills on an errand, and passed the canoe centre at Silver Street.
Although not as beautifully maintained as it once was – the planted boat has been left to wild and weed over – the poppies and other flowers growing on the embankment are gorgeous.
Some days it’s about distance, some days it’s about stopping at the wayside to admire the flowers…
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May 24th – Spotted on an evening spin out to Chasewater on a test ride following some essential, pre long ride maintenance – great crested grebes on the canal near Wharf Lane.
Unusual to get a shot of these handsome creatures without them diving at the critical moment.
What I’m curious about is despite the huge amount of fish in the canal (and it is alive with fry at the moment) I hardly ever see grebes upon it. Wonder why? Plenty on the main lake at Chasewater, though.
A mystery.
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May 20th – On the subject of things yellow, a seasonal sadness.
I guess it’s coming on summer now, and the first flush of flowering is well and truly over: the daffodils and tulips are long behind us, and late spring flowers like bluebells are dying off – as is my personal favourite, the cowslip.
Cowslips for me epitomise spring and the optimism of a new growing year; bright yellow, delicate and prolific now, they were once rare and I cherish seeing them as I ride around the area.
The ones I set on by guerrilla seeding at Clayhanger are going to seed now and I’ll have to wait 11 months to see these jolly characters again. But it’s be oh so worth the wait.
In the meantime I’ll carefully watch the seed heads develop and dry until the precious seed within is ready to collect, and I’ll gather a fair amount and sprinkle it in places where I think we need more springtime joy.
Until next year, my springtime companions. Until next year.
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