June 16th – Always nice to meet a hog going about it’s business and this lovely one was near the Fullelove Memorial Shelter at the foot of Brownhills Parade.
Healthy and very large, it was far too busy to pass the time of day and scuffled off into the night and away from my attention.
Uplifting.
May 30th – So many new wild flowers every day. On a day that was wet, but whose rain I missed whilst in work, I noticed the clover along the Goscote Valley cycleway was looking beautiful in the wet grass.
If you actually study clover flowers, they are amazingly delicate and complex, yet so often overlooked.
A true staple of summer.
May 29th – The season is moving along so quickly now. All along the canals of Walsall the waterlilies are bursting into bloom. These large-leaved water plants spread from floating rhizomes in the spring, and have the most gorgeous yellow flowers that bugs seem to love.
There is a later strain that have white or pink, more ornate blooms. that won’t be far behind.
We never had this kind of beauty on the canals when I was a child. I still find it amazing.
May 22nd – Turtally awesome!
Spotted at James Bridge, on the canal between Pleck and Darlaston on a bright, warm, sunny day, a female, adult yellow-bellied slider turtle drifting down the canal on some drifting detritus while basking in the sun.
She was probably released into the canal by some idiot who couldn’t keep her any longer having no idea of the size she’d grow to be. Fortunately, this animals will live happily (but not breed) in the UK climate.
This is the urban Black Country, post industrial, inner city in 2018. We have non-native turtles drifting on the cut, enjoying the sun.
Just one of the many reasons I love this place with all my heart. There really is something new every day.
May 3rd – On the way to work on a sunny morning, the canal in central Walsall was beautiful.
All the weeks and months of riding in the rain, cold and dark, dreaming of rides like this.
Yet again, another winter is survived and the warmer, longer days are here: Nature is greening, the weather is good and the light is upon us.
Always worth the wait.
April 27th – Spotted passing through Telford, a concrete pump unfolding and deploying for use.
Fascinating and very clever items of plant. The gentleness, care and grace of the operator has to be complimented.
April 23rd – Later that same day, a visit to Telford saw me hauling up the cycleway to Priorslee. A few short weeks ago this view was barren and grey.
Once more this byway is turning into a beautiful tunnel of verdant green.
I love how spring and summer can make even the most dystopian of places beautiful.
April 20th – And so, spring is on her throne at last and summer is booting up.
The speed at which this has happened this year – in no more that a week – has been startling and rather wonderful.
Every day new discoveries, and whilst yesterday, the blossom was just starting, this morning it was showing strongly.
How long I have waited for the light, the warmth and the wonderful burst of life. It was worth the wait.
April 9th – on a verge on the same estate, these cheerful souls need no introduction.
With a bold sun burning up the mist, their perfection was inspiring, beautiful and a lovely boost in my day.
Such a lovely thing to see.
April 9th – I’ve been passing this rather beautiful white shrub for a week or more now and have absolutely no idea what it is. It’s growing in a clump of cotoneaster in an industrial estate flower bed in Wednesbury.
In the damp beauty of a misty morning it was absolutely gorgeous. Anyone know what it is?
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