March 29th – And later, in Darlaston, the cherry blossom is ahead of that I saw a week ago in Telford.
It’s an absolute riot of delicate, tissue-paper like flowers. And so early, too.
Against the blue sky, with the sun on my face, it’s hard to think of a better start to the day than the sight of such gorgeous flowers.
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March 29th – With all the showy colours and dramatic blossoms of spring, it’s easy to forget one prolific, pretty little flower that’s hardy, populous, yet delicate and pretty – the humble daisy.
Peppering any open grass right now – whether it be roadside verge, field, sports pitch or domestic garden, these hardy little souls are everywhere, just trying to cheer us up.
These lovely examples were worshipping the spring sunshine on a verge just by Brownhills High Street.
Never overlook the small stuff. It’s very important.
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March 28th – Also early this year along with most other stuff are the pieris flowers and bright read leaf tips.
This gorgeous ornamental shrub – sometimes called fetterbush – is grown a lot in gardens and in beds on industrial estates and parks for no other reason than well, it’s stunning.
This example was spotted in an otherwise anonymous scrub beside the cycleway near the Euston Way pub in Telford.
This is pretty much a fortnight earlier than it was last year, when I spotted the same shrub in Wednesbury.
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March 28th – Always nice to get a glimpse of blue, sunny sky from the dark platforms at New Street Station in Birmingham.
Today I was waiting for a connection early, and although there were loads of trains, there weren’t seemingly too many people around. I killed time with a snack, and peered up out of the tangle of steel, concrete, wires and machinery to the surrounding architecture – always fascinating, always in transition.
And then beyond that to a blue sky – and even in this urban morass devoid of anything natural – the promise of a beautiful, sun-dappled spring.
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March 27th – The front brake has been quite noisy in recent days, and is juddering a little, yet the pads are fine.
A quick inspection in the bike shed at my destination showed the reason: The front disc it now severely worn and is starting top ripple on hard barking. The wear surface itself is about 60% of its original width.
A new disc will be about £25. Time to get one ordered I think. It’s seen some life, that one.
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March 27th – So many delights out there at the moment, despite the continuing chilly days. it’s quite dry, and nature is making the most of it with a whole host of fresh, verdant foliage on display every day.
These perfect bramble leaves were spotted on the way to work near Smiths Flower Mill in Walsall.Aren’;t they gorgeous?
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March 26th – A full three weeks earlier than last year, the cherry blossom is coming out on the industrial estate where I work.
Returning from Telford at lunchtime, I noticed the pinky white flowers catching the sunlight. Then I looked around, and all the other ornamental cherries on the estate that I could see were flowering similarly.
Against the fine china blue sky it was a wonderful, uplifting sight.
This spring is early, but I’m not complaining about that at all! I just wish it would warm up a little now.
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March 26th – Telford, early morning on a chilly but beautiful day.
The cycleway to the Priorslee Bridge from the station is really greening up now with this season’s new leaf growth.
In no time at all, this will be a green tunnel again, like it is every year – a real joy to the heart to ride along, alive with birds, squirrels and wildflowers.
Real beauty exists in even the most improbably urban situations.
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March 25th – Nearer Brownhills, I hit the canal at the Black Cock for the final ride to Brownhills. It was very clear but no moon. Stopping to take photos of Clayhanger Bridge – one of my favourite night-time photographic muses – I realised that the stars were showing well. I hoped I caught them. I also tried at Catshill Junction.
You’ll need to zoom but I’m pleased to see I caught Orion in both cases. Not a bad result.
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March 22nd – Working very late, a 14 hour day. I returned through a somnambulant Park Street in Walsall, the pavers shining in the electric light.
Walsall gets an awful lot of stick in some quarters, but looking tonight at the clean street and welcoming light, I was reminded that this isn’t a bad place, for all it’s detractors.
It certainly felt like home tonight.
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