Thursday 19 April 2018

Spring Has Sprung

Spring is here. After what seems like months of cold, wet and dull weather, that great yellow thing was seen in the sky yesterday and it finally warmed up. Mick got in from work early so we went to Lotherton for a walk before tea and it was actually warm enough to leave our coats behind and wear T-shirts.


I'm sure the spring flowers must have been blooming for a while now, but I don't think you notice them as much until they're bathed in sunshine. Here are just a few things we saw on our walk.









The trees at Lotherton are full of blossom though the same can't be said for my trees at home, there isn't a single flower on any of them yet, I do hope they haven't missed the boat for this year. The wild garlic is ready to bloom, every year I say that I will try doing something with the leaves but I still haven't given it a go. Procrastination in my middle name. They do say that wild garlic pesto is delicious. Though we've seen frogs in our little pond at home, we don't have any frogspawn this year and there's none in the pond at Lotherton either, there were lots of goldfish basking close to the top though. The magnolia stellata looked glorious against the blue sky. There's still patches of mud around which, of course, Archie heads straight for, though it was something far more unmentionable that he rolled in yesterday which resulted in him having a bath when we got home.

And what happens as soon as the sun puts in an appearance, why, so does the ice-cream man.


Today has got off to a good start again, it looks as though another beautiful day is on the cards.

46 comments:

  1. Gorgeous photos, it looks like a lovely place to walk.

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    1. We're lucky to live so close to Lotherton, it's a lovely place with formal gardens and woodland, there's always something to see.

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  2. Your walk sounds bliss, we are packing our camper van for a couple nights away, it's great to wear T shirts, shorts and sandals again. Our Magnolia had loads less blooms this year and our daffs are over, I am hoping on our return our English bluebells will be open, I have loads in bud.

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    1. I've never grown a magnolia but I always enjoy seeing them. There's one in the communal gardens where my parents live which has just come into bloom and it's beautiful. Enjoy your time away, you've certainly got the weather for it.

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  3. It's been a beautiful couple of days Jo. Lets hope it's a sign of a long hot Summer ahead. Your walk looks lovely and must have proved very uplifting following the grey damp days we've experienced. No frogspawn in our nearby pond but we saw LOTS on our walk last week.
    I would say give the Wild Garlic a try. We made pesto with it last year and it was delicious. X

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    1. I think we're definitely due a good summer this year, it's some time now since we've had one. It's nice to be able to pop out for a walk either before or after tea when Mick's home from work, it's a nice addition to the day, though it's always better when the weather's good.

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  4. We've finally managed to give the front lawns their first cut this year and if the weather holds I will be taking Marjorie Mountfield for a spin around the back garden tomorrow. The Hellebores I planted last year have been full of flowers which I was amazed at considering it was their first year. I've not ventured off into the woods yet as its just been too wet to go anywhere with the boys.

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    1. We got the grass cut a couple of weeks ago in between the rain but it's ready for cutting again now. Everywhere is still very soggy here, I hung the washing out this morning and my feet sunk as I stood on the grass, and Mick's first cricket match of the season on Saturday has already been postponed. I think we need more than a couple of good days for it all to dry out.

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  5. I'm so glad you're enjoying nice spring weather finally! Your flower photos are lovely. Here, it's been pretty springlike for weeks, almost summerlike some days, but not usually. Mostly it's very nice and pleasant and not too hot yet. Hope you have a good weekend!

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    1. We don't seem to get clear seasons like we used to, spring was as you say, nice and pleasant and not too hot, to guide you into summer. We've gone from winter to the hottest April day since 1949. I just hope we get a decent summer this year.

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  6. The great, yellow thing in the sky? What's that? ;) Hopefully it will be our turn to enjoy some spring weather this coming weekend...I'm counting the days!

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    1. It's definitely your turn next. I'd quite forgotten what that great, yellow thing in the sky was, I just hope it sticks around for a while now.

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  7. Such a treat to get out after work. And to partake in a cheeky ice cream too!
    Lisa x

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    1. The nice weather makes me want to go out, totally different to winter when all I want to do is hunker down. I must admit that I didn't have an ice-cream though I was sorely tempted.

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  8. It is still a little unsettled here, we are not getting the high temperatures you are enjoying but at least it has stopped raining. Looks like a great place to walk.

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    1. I'm sorry to hear that you're not enjoying the weather that we are, though it's a relief that the rain's stopped at last. We're lucky to have Lotherton close by, it's a lovely place for a walk.

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  9. It has been glorious here today, and suddenly everything is bursting into life!

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    1. It's been beautiful, hasn't it? It makes such a difference when the sun shines.

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  10. Hadn't it been lovely. The sunshine just makes the colours of nature stand out. I hope your trees blossom soon.

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    1. I've noticed two of my trees are just about to flower, the sunshine must have spurred them on. I'm not sure about the other two, they may be having a rest this year.

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  11. Spring finally arrived here today. It's been a long time getting here - I hope it stays for a while! Fingers crossed!

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    1. I'm not looking at next week's forecast, the temperatures are plummeting again, depressing to think that this weather will only be here for a short time. I think we'd better make the most of it.

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  12. It really has been such a beautiful day, and your walk looks lovely, plenty to see and enjoy xx

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    1. Everything looks much prettier in the sunshine, it's lovely to see so many signs of spring around.

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  13. I don ‘t know about spring, I think summer sprung today!

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    1. I'm just hoping that it isn't summer over with now, we're due a good one this year.

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  14. Despite being in the south of France, we've only just started with a run of good weather here too. The sun is quite fierce here, we're high up, but it's been so long I forgot and burnt my leg through my clothes as I'd only put sun lotion on the exposed areas. Still, a reminder to be careful for the forthcoming Summer I suppose.
    It's always a race in the U.K. between which comes first isn't it - the first spring bloom or the first ice cream van :) I'm coming over to the U.K. next week to visit my daughter - I would love to see a bluebell wood as they don't seem to exist over here and I miss them but I might be a bit early. Hmm - just seen your weather warning above :(

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    1. I hope the sunburn isn't too sore, I have to be really careful as I have such pale skin, I burn as soon as I look at the sun. Ignore my weather warning for next week, the forecasters often get it wrong, it might be cracking the flags for all I know. It will be lovely to see your daughter anyway whatever the weather. Have a lovely time.

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  15. I think we're more tempted to linger in the sunshine, so we notice more flowers. I have a small patch of wild garlic in the gardens here and chopped some into an omelette the other day. It was nice. I also read about wild garlic gnocchi which sounded good. I've never made it, and there was no recipe, so the hunt is on. We could all do with some inspiration for wild garlic I think!

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    1. I think you're right about lingering in the sunshine, it's a quick dash from the house to the car when the weather's cold and miserable. I'm not a very adventurous cook so I really need a recipe when trying new things, wild garlic pesto was the only thing which sprung to mind when thinking how to use it but it sounds nice chopping some into an omelette.

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  16. Thanks for taking us along on your spring walk at Lotherton. The star magnolia looks gorgeous against the blue sky. Ice cream vans aren't as popular here as when I was a little girl, when they used to ring a bell from the window. Those were the days!! Have a great weekend & take care.

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    1. We still get the ice-cream vans around the streets. When I was little we had a big black labrador cross who would run out into the street when he heard the ice-cream van tune and he'd jump up to the counter. The ice-cream man would give him an ice-cream just to get rid of him.

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  17. Lovely to enjoy the good weather in beautiful surroundings, an icecream van, a blast from the past. Have a great weekend xcx

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    1. It's nice to get out in the good weather, we have to make the most of it whilst it's here.

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  18. Lovely post and pictures. I don't blame you for making the most of such fine weather. Enjoy your weekend. xx

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    1. I'm hoping that this weather holds over the weekend, it really lifts my mood when the sun's shining.

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  19. The yellow duster has appeared in the sky here too, and very welcome its been.
    A lovely way to end the day with a walk in nature - did you partake of an ice-cream too?

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    1. We didn't partake of an ice-cream, tea time was approaching so we were very good and resisted the temptation. The day's started well again today so I'm hoping that the lovely weather lasts over the weekend.

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    1. It's another lovely day today but it's set to change tomorrow. I hope it isn't too long before the sun comes back again.

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  21. Glad you made the most of the good weather. It really has been lovely to be out. Eight degrees cooler here tomorrow apparently. Ouch!

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    1. It's started nice here today but it's cooler than it has been and the temperature is set to drop more during the course of the week. We're forecast rain later on today, we never seem to get a good run of decent weather.

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  22. Yes, seeing the sunshine these last few days has been wonderful.

    I really enjoyed my walk with you (through your photographs) Lotherton looks like a lovely place to spend some time.

    Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I'm hoping that we're going to get a good summer this year, we're definitely due one. We're lucky to live so close to Lotherton, it's a lovely place to enjoy a walk.

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  23. Isn't it just fantastic? Blossom and a little warm weather make such a difference! Lovely photos, especially the magnolia.xxx

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    1. I can't tell you how much that bit of fine weather lifted my mood. It's much cooler this week and rather dull too, but that bit of fine weather has brought the plants along in leaps and bounds.

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