The whole world’s turning yellow, or so it lately seems
It’s putting on a lavish show, above even the greens
Birds Foot Trefoil, Yellow Rattle, Gorse and Ladies Bedstraw
The whole world’s turning yellow, and there’s yet more in store.
This morning I decided to carouse the meadows so I headed right out, passing by the Wildlife Area and picking up the songs of Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps from somewhere nearby. Heading to Large Copse I passed the vivid flowers of a lone Gladiola before passing into Boys Brigade Field, the whole meadow a swaying mass of Pale Flax, like a gently lapping tropical ocean. Chiffchaffs and Chaffinches were in good voice, with a few Blue Tits darting around the margins of the field.
A Common Blue fluttered past me as I emerged into Taskers Meadow, with Birds Foot Trefoil, Common Vetch and a few late Cowslips on display. Common Whitethroats were displaying above the scrub of Saxon Field and a few Common Spotted Orchid spears were on the verge of blooming. I also noted more juvenile Fleabane and a couple of Rough Hawkbit just starting to flower. Get used to these two, they’ll be with us for a while.
Passing across the drove I noted a growing preponderance of Yellow Rattle alongside some Yorkshire Fog and Yellow Vetchling. By the time I reached Centenary Meadow the air was thick with the sound of Skylarks, while closer to the ground a few Wall butterflies were flying by the walls. Standing at the entrance to Brian Johnstone Meadow I looked out over the rolling fields to the west. They were almost completely yellow, so rich was their covering of wildflowers. It’s nice to see them looking their best.
On the downs I found yet more yellows, with the eternal flowers of Gorse adorning the scrub and Horseshoe Vetch decorating the grass below. Also out were a few patches of Crosswort and some Sow Thistles. Down the Lighthouse Slope I passed the shrivelling remnants of an Early Purple Orchid, soon to depart the world. You’ve had your turn.