“To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.” – George Santayana
Well, ok, George, but it’s hard not to feel a dizzying, breathtaking rush of emotion as I set out on the early rounds at this time of year, as the park blossoms, buds, sings and sparkles around me!
Trees and shrubs are clad in almost every shade of green imaginable, beneath a blue dome of sky, with a sparkling sea fading into a misty horizon. Wayfaring Trees are covered in creamy blossom, Sallow is covered in fluffy catkins and its almost time to start ‘casting clouts’ as the Hawthorn blossom (or May) starts to break it’s buds.
As Cowslips start to turn, many of the meadows are covered with a haze of blue Pale Flax flowers, bobbing in the gentle breeze above a sea of dark green Yellow Rattle leaves and buttery yellow Bulbous Buttercups.
An almost deafening chorus of birdsong rings out from the hedgerows, including the scratchy song of Whitethroats, disyllabic song of Great Tits, the jazzy, syncopated rhythms of Dunnocks, ‘sweeing’ of Greenfinches and the sweet notes of Blackbirds. Skylarks pour their lovely, liquid song into the sky, with the explosive cackle of Green Woodpeckers shattering the chorus!
Overhead, a few Swallows skim in off the sea as they return from Africa, as Blue Tits make fluttery display flights from the scrub.
The downland is looking spectacular at the moment, with ‘pools’ of deep blue Chalk Milkwort, red and yellow ‘Bacon and Eggs’ or Birdsfoot Trefoil, frilly curves of yellow Horseshoe Vetch and the tiny pink flowers of Early English Gentian (most of the world population of this flower is found along the Purbeck coast).
Dusty-looking blue spikes of Wild Clary are in bloom, along with Early Spider, Green-winged and Early Purple Orchids.
As the sun warms the air, butterflies are already taking to the wing, with Common Blue, Small Copper, Small Heath and Wall all seen this morning.