February 28th – in the swamp at the end of Victoria Park in Darlaston, just past the old railway bridge on the way to Kings Hill, a surprise today in the rain: The blackthorn is flowering.
Always the earliest tree blossom, it’s a lovely sight and on this wet, miserable day I was so pleased to see it.
Interesting too to see the blackthorn bush with an alder growing intertwined around it.
February 27th – Another wolfish day, but with a softer wind. A horrid morning commute – into a headwind with driving rain – was not a great start to the week, and through the day, the yin and yang of rain and shine battled across the sky, even resulting in one point at a fall of snow.
I had to go to Lichfield on an errand and I successfully dodged the rain, returning fortuitously in a gorgeous semi-golden hour through the backlanes of Wall.
The fields are emerald green now, with fresh crops growing well; the sky was pleasingly azure between the clouds, even at gone 5pm and spring does seem to be ready to assume her throne.
Not a bad end to a day that didn’t start with a great deal of promise…
February 26th – The water level at Chasewater is lower than I’ve seen it for a while. Interestingly, rather than open the valves fully, there’s a good flow into the canal, and the balancing culvert between the Nine-Foot pool and Spillway has been opened, allowing a steady stream of water to flow into the Crane Brook via the drain system under the canal.
I understand why the level is being dropped – with the dam being permeable, if installing drains you want the installation to be as dry as possible – but I’m puzzled by the method. It has, however, been convention since the original dam works to allow the reservoir to overflow every spring, so perhaps this is to irrigate the spillway marsh as it would be normally.
Interesting too to see the white scale around the lowered waterline. It that salt, or something else?
February 26th – Another blustery, wet day and although I had plans, I shelved them and had to be content with a spin around Chasewater. That wasn’t so bad, as I was weary and hadn’t scoped the place out for a while. I checked out the recent dam works, which contrary to local conspiracy theory seemed to make sense, and also noted that the dam road is now closed, which is something that should have been done long ago – only the residents and rangers have business down there and hopefully the locked gate will prevent further outbreaks of fly tipping and ASB.
I had a snack at the cafe, then arced around the lake over a very wet and muddy north heath – I was looking for deer, but saw little wildlife except the burgeoning grebe population and a very depressed looking kestrel on his usual pylon perch.
Looking for something – anything – to make the ride better, I remembered the cemetery and St Anne’s Church, just over the bypass, as surely the crocuses must be in bloom. I wasn’t disappointed.
I commend visiting this cemetery in the next week or so to any locals – my photos don’t do this veritable carpet of blooms justice and it’s thoroughly captivating.
I left sometime later in a punishing, rain-soaked headwind, a much happier man.
February 25th – I love daffodils – harbingers of spring, I eagerly await their appearance to herald the light and sun every year.
By now, I know where the earliest local ones appear – the miniature ones (possibly actually narcissus) in Kings Hill Park are usually competing to be first with this patch on the Chester Road near Stonnall, at the Wood Lane junction.
I know they’re both unnaturally early. But a man can dream of spring, after all.
They are a delight to welcome back every year, and on this dull, wet and blustery ride up the Chester Road, they gladdened my heart.
February 25th – An unusual Saturday morning that saw me at work in Darlaston, and the commute there had been very hard, as it had been solidly against the wind. I left around lunchtime for a run into Birmingham on the canal, hoping to stop off for some Caribbean food at my favourite cafe on the way through.The plan was to have the wind behind me back up the canal through Hamstead.
The cafe was rammed, so I got back on the canal, and went to the Soho Road, where it has to be said, excellent curry and breads were devoured; but whilst eating, the rains came and winds got up, much against the forecast.
Whilst on the Soho Loop I spotted this curious, brutalist sculpture in a really odd, forgotten spot by Asylum Bridge. It seems to have been revealed by scrub clearance work, and I have no idea what it is, or why it’s there. Does anyone out there know, please?
I don’t mind the rain and I’ll tolerate the wind, but the two together are evil. So I popped to see a mate in Aston and got the train back to Blake Street.
A sort of lost day, really.
A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens, brainchild of the great 19th-century botanist and designer John Claudius Loudon, which as you can see is a hit with the locals.
The cat honoured Ken Featherstone in his own way: spurning the arid house (2), his preference was for the subtropical room, which dates from 1871).
This offers a perfect microcosm of the seasons, with places like the rock garden (5-8) and the rhodedendron walk (9,10) changing dramatically.
Today and (4,7) April, (6) February and (9) June.
February 23rd – Doris wasn’t messing about…
Storm Doris hit the UK, and I considered my commute carefully before I left for work. Cycling in very strong winds is hard enough with them behind you, let alone against you, but also of concern are very strong cross winds which can have you into the centre of a road, or in a ditch.
I decided not to cycle to Darlaston which would have been almost 100% into the headwind, and instead went to Shenstone, where I caught the train to Birmingham, then another to Coseley, whence I rode with the wind at my back to work.
Yes, I guess it’s cheating, but I felt safer, and also make it to Shenstone in 14 minutes, at a frightening average, topping 40mph plus down Shire Oak Hill. That was fun.
On my arrival at Coseley, I noticed how well looked after the flowerbed was, and realised how much the little garden there reminded me of South Wigston, where I used to spend so much time.
The primroses were gorgeous, and really brightened a… memorable commute.
February 22nd – It was a grim, wet morning commute and I wasn’t in the best of moods. I decided to cheer myself up by calling into Kings Hill Part to check on the progress of the miniature daffodils and other spring flowers.
I wasn’t disappointed, and spotted with raindrops, they looked fresh, vital and beautiful.
I left in a considerably better frame of mind.
February 20th – I passed through Wednesbury late, a town I often pass through but rarely stop in, which is a shame as it’s a great place. On this dark, mild evening it was still busy, and the lights and interesting buildings made for an inviting, busy urban scene.
I must explore this place more.
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