Dryworld shimmers, shines and sears, draws and desiccates
Crickets play among the hay as everything ablates
Brown creeps up what once was green while ponds shrink down to naught
Dryworld can be endured but all know it cannot be fought
Passes a night like any other, yet this noctis brings rain
The smell, the taste, there is no doubt, Wetworld comes again
Rain saturated the park this morning, coming down in a light but steady patter and transfiguring the landscape. The first thing I noticed was the smell, like damp dust, even though that’s a contradiction. Coat clad for the first time in months I set off, breathing deeply through my nose and taking in the sounds of Chiffchaffs, Robins, Blackbirds, Blue Tits and Goldfinches. The precipitation it seemed had failed to put a damper on their spirits.
Passing into the Large Copse I regarded the displays of Honeysuckle and Elder flowers. A day or two ago these had seemed a foolish and costly extravagance, but with this watery reprieve our plants can afford to be a little more prodigal with their resources. Under the drumming canopy mats of Cleavers lay on the woodland floor, collapsed under their own weight. Beyond lay thickening Common Spotted Orchids, and the dew drooping heads of Yorkshire Fog.
Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Chaffinch and Song Thrush held sway in the Saxon Field. After filtering through their ululations I turned my attention earthward again, noting the abundance of Common Vetch and Birds Foot Trefoil in bloom.
On the Herron Ground I observed the faltering flight of a Skylark, which made an abortive attempt to display before thinking better of it and flying into the shelter of the fields scrubby border. Continuing through the more distant reaches of Durlston I walked Dog Rose lined paths until I came across a sight so rare it has almost passed into legend; a Puddle.
Returning over the Downs I glimpsed a few Field Scabious flowers on the path margins, and was treated to a trio of Linnets singing and posing for my binoculars. Cresting the top of the Lighthouse road I was very happy to see the spiny, yellow flowered Toadflax setting up shop.