Storm Diego is now mostly a distant memory although he left odd pressies for us to find, like this willow that snapped off about 8 feet above ground. What is on the ground has now been chopped into useful (40cm) lengths ready to move when a bit of sap has gone from the wood, while the top (not shown) is still in the lake, waiting for a more powerful tractor than my mower to pull it out.
The top bit also provides a bit of shelter and sustenance for the tadpoles, which are now around in profusion. It may also stop them getting headaches from the sun, you never know!
There is a lot of colour at the moment, although the tulips are starting to go over. The tree peony is out again - at this stage last year, it then got shredded by hail stones, so I hope to enjoy it a bit longer this year. The cowslips are nearly over but the various orchids are starting to send up flower spikes, or in the case of the lady orchid, just flowering where it slumps - very lazy.
Remember, you can get a better close up view of the photos if you click on them - assuming you want to, of course!
As well as riots of colour, there is also the small question of procreation. Shrubs are full of rutting sparrows, while those who got it together rather earlier are building nests and collecting food. The cuckoos are out and about - we hear them call but don't ever see them, and, whisper it softly, I've seen a swallow or two! And it's not just birds, frogs and toads that are getting it on, the masonry bees are at it too. These are large, dark electric blue, solitary bees; well apart from a short period when it takes two to tango. And they can do it in flight or while sitting on pear blossom - that one can fly on its own is sort of against the laws of physics, but that two can fly together is pretty amazing!
Yup - the photo metadata is wrong.
So what has been happening with the trail camera this week? Well, lots of short films of the same bit of scrub at night, sometimes with heavy mist, sometimes nicely crisp, and no real clue as to what set off the camera. Perhaps there is a ghost that haunts the green lane nearby. But today's video, because yes, there is a video link, is a rather lovely short bit of film of a passing deer.
I do think it should have eaten rather more bramble than it did, but there you go.
Happy Easter - shame the camera didn't spot the Easter Bunny!
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