Album {OK} SoS[22] - Signs of Spring (2022) from StoneRoad2013

SoS[2022] - Bluebells

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:58:29 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

Mostly Bluebells [I think], but probably not all are the British Native species / variety.
{I didn't plant these, hence the uncertainty]

gdn[HC] - fully opened leaves {11 of 11}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 14:58:24 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

Fully out ...

Just need to protect it from the rampant rabbits. They'll eat bark, leaves and "snap off" lower branches, if they get the chance.

SoS[22] - buds and leaves

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:58:19 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

The young leaves and flower buds of a shrub.

SoS[2022] - flower buds

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:58:14 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

Rowan flowers [Mountain Ash] still just in bud.

Rowan pollen has an "interesting" scent, I'm not quite sure how best to describe it. Once smelt, I don't think it is easily forgotten.

SoS[22] - oak leaves

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:58:09 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

oak leaves

I am reliably informed that, picked at this stage, one can make a passable alcoholic beverage from young oak leaves. [Making this brew was something the Vikings used to do].
I was also warned - Don't take too many leaves from any one area or individual tree.

gdn[HC] - the wonder of new spring growth

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:57:34 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

And all that growth started off as quite small buds, less than a month ago.

gdn[HC] - delicate ? {9 of 11}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:05:59 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

Pale and delicate new leaves, being shaken by the breeze.

gdn[HC] - young leaves {8 of 11}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:05:54 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

The colour and texture of young leaves is such an impressive sight, after the depths of the winter dullness.

gdn[HC] - palmate visible {7 of 11}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:05:49 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

A recent burst of wind - a strong breeze - has shaken the leaflets out - which clearly shows off tthe palmate structure.

gdn[HC] - palmate crinkled & visible {6 of 11}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:05:39 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

Some aspects of the compound palmate shape of the leaves are now visible.

gdn[HC] - leaflets opening {5 of 11}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:05:34 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

The palmate leaflets are opening out, but are still very folded up, maybe even describe the look as crinkled.

SoS[22] Dry Stone Wall & daffs {24 of 23}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:05:29 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

Spring daffodils, followed in a few weeks by Monbretia, grow at the base of this dry stone wall.

I really wanted to get another foot [30cm] of height, but I was already short of suitable facing stones, and effectively I "robbed" another section to gain the amount of extra height already achieved.

gdn[HC] - separating leaves {4 of 11}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:05:09 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

The main leaves from the topmost bud are beginning to separate, the palmate leaf sections are still very close together.

gdn[HC] - unfurling underway {3 of 11}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:05:04 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

You can now see separate leaves as the tip buds begin unfurling.

The anti-rabbit fence is essential - the furry pests will eat bark, buds, leaves, and shoots, given half a chance when their sources of food are more limited in late winter / early spring ...

SoS[22] - red currant

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:04:59 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

Rampant red currant bush, Spring 2022.
Last year this was rather disappointing, fruit wise. I think either birds or a late frost ...
Must remember to cut it back in the later part of the summer and get control of it again [ Actually, I have at least two more of these to deal with in this way, and another to transplant].

gdn[ip] - 2022 growth [SoS/22]

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Tue, 03 May 2022 22:04:54 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

Ice Plant - 2022's first image, taken mid-April, showing vigorous growth, after over-wintering in the small greenhouse.

SoS[22] - acrobatics {7 of 7}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:04:44 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

Now I know why wasps have such narrow waists !

oaw[b&w] / SoS[22] - wood wasp working {6 of 7}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sun, 01 May 2022 21:59:42 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

Acrobatic "wood wasp" ; she - and her nest mates - seem very fond of the gooseberry bushes. They have developed an interesting method of accessing these very small and pendulous flowers.

[cropped "in-camera"]

SoS[22] - another flower inspected {5 of 7}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:04:39 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

Fascinating to watch the way the wasp arches around the tiny flower

SoS[22] - wasp at work {4 of 7}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 22:04:34 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

Busy flying between gooseberry flowers, stopping only momentarily to see if the flower needs attention (which is why she's a bit blurred).