May 25th – As we advance to late spring and early summer, some of my favourite flowers are emerging now; birds foot trefoil ‘egg and bacon’, buttercups, elderflowers and ox-eye daisies all brighten the verges, hedgerows and edge lands of my commute.
Such lovely flowers. How I love this busy, colourful time of year.
May 9th – Pear blossom lasts but a few days, and you’re lucky to spot it really, but this thick crop of flowers, just going over and scattering like confetti on the strong breeze were profuse on the small pear tree by the new pond in Clayhanger.
Last year the tree fruited well, but with a late frost on the blossom, I’m not sure how well this tree will do this year.
Beautiful while it lasts, though.
May 2nd – What a difference an hour made.
It had been a miserable day – maybe a decent start, but over lunchtime and early afternoon, it rained, and the wind was gusty. Not great bank holiday weather.
I’d resolved, with some faith in a weather forecast that predicted a better end to the day, to ride out to Middleton Hall for cake. I set out in the rain, and sped through damp, dripping countryside. And then, the sun came out. It was warm, too.
I enjoyed tea and great cake, and a shifty around this architectural and historical gem. I have no idea what the wood carvings are about, but they were cute.
I think a proper spring arrived this afternoon.
April 28th – Another striking return is of the leaves to the row of trees on Stafford Park in Telford. I love this regimented row, which in winter always makes me think of Joni Mitchell and her song ‘Urge for Going’ with the line ‘Shivering trees standing in naked rows’ – but in spring, summer and autumn, when caught at the right angle, these carefully planted and well maintained trees are a joy to the heart.
Such a lovely shade of green.
April 14th – Cat season is again upon us. As the weather warms and the days lengthen, the formerly hitherto invisible cat population emerge into the light, loafing, strolling and watching the world go by.
This beautiful animal was watching me in Scarborough Road, Walsall, in the morning, in a street surveyed by six or seven feline overseers.
I love to see them. A real sign of summer on the way.
April 13th – An odd thing on the local canals – lots of reed debris all of a sudden. Not sure if this is natural detritus as part of spring, or the result on thinning redheads for boats.
Anyone know? Lots of it around Brownhills, Catshilll Junction and Clayhanger.
April 7th – Passing through Telford mid morning, I passed a bank of daffodils on an embankment near the cycleway. There were were several varieties of the flower here – normal types, some lovely feathery yellow ones, white ones and others with beautiful orange centres. They were an absolute joy to the heart after a few bad commutes – as were the beautiful polyanthus in the planter at Telford station.
This is a very unusual spring, but the usually short lived spring flowers seem to have been in bloom for ages now, and i like that very much. After the darkness of winter, it’s always good to see a fine display of these gorgeous plants.
April 4th – An odd day – heavy showers in the morning interspersed with bright, warm sunny periods, and a nightmare, torrential-rain soaked ride home. At lunchtime on an errand from work into Walsall, I have no idea what the pigeon was thinking, but it seemed happy. Walsall dripped, sparkled and glistened, and the swans at Bentley Bridge didn’t seem bothered.
The homeward trip was fun, but very wet. Flash floods hit the main roads and drains blew their covers. It was warm though, so not too bad.
I guess this are April showers, then…
March 31st – A fast run out late afternoon to test some adjustments, and for the second time in a week my gaze fell upon my favourite tree, the singular horse chestnut at Home Farm, Sandhills. Those who read this journal regularly will know well that I gauge the seasons by this tree. It’s such a classic, perfect conker tree with the iconic outline; I treasure it.
On a brighter day than awful Tuesday, with the spring sun picking out the greening fields and hedgerow, could that be a smattering of green on the tree? I do hope so.
March 26th – Not a great day – squally, wet, windy with periods of heavy rain. It brightened up as I slipped out for the last dusk before British Summer Time commenced, and I caught the wonderful, intemperate sunset from Silver Street, looking over the canal.
For an ostensibly ugly place, Brownhills sure can take your breath away.
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