Another bright sunny afternoon and although I’m in short sleeves, when the breeze picks up it has a nip in its touch. The cloud is high, thin and wispy and in places, it looks like smoke drifting in from the northeast. I have just put my jerkin on again and turned the collar up as a large area of cloud looking like cotton wool closes off the direct sunlight for too long.
There are a couple of big oak trees in neighbouring gardens and they have begun filling up with the lovely fresh greenery of new leaves. I can still see the branches though and on one high branch, a hooded crow strains at its perch to call to its companions in the next tree. Three hoarse calls but there is no reply, and then they all take off at the same time heading towards the fields by the river.
As soon as the crows have gone, Woodpigeon begin calling, two quite close by, although I cannot see them, and another much further away, its call filling the gaps in the calls of the closer birds. Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) are so common now, even coming into my tiny garden when I put food out through the winter, although they prefer the ivy berries in the hedge.
Here is something I wrote a few weeks ago in the early days of spring:
(Spring)
Plucking the last ivy berries
From the top of the hedge –
Three Woodpigeon.
Photo by Ashley
My apologies for the photograph but I only had seconds to capture the scene and the birds would not stay still, falling over each other trying to grab the berries.
I am trying to train myself to write only spring nature-verses when it is springtime and so the above verse is in my spring notebook. When summer begins, in only a few weeks at the beginning of May, I will open a summer notebook and hopefully find lots of lovely summer things to write about there.
Beside me, I can hear the mumbling buzz of a bumblebee as she extracts nectar from the tiny flowers of Rosemary. The plant was overlooked last year and now its three-foot spires are covered in delicate lilac flowers. Lovely!
Photo by Ashley
It’s difficult to believe, but a couple of evenings ago not far from here the temperature dropped to -5.8c and the violas that are in the ground were all touched by the cold. I was able to protect one small hanging basket moving it into the garden shed and today their lovely flower faces are enjoying this spell of warm sunshine. And so am I.
Photo by Ashley
Enjoy what’s left of spring and stay safe.
A Different View 
Poet AND nature photographer (soooo difficult to capture wildlife, you need to be very patient and lucky, too (I will stick to buildings and trees)). Thank you very much for your words and garden glimpses.
Keep enjoying spring and stay safe.
Photographs using only my mobile! I was lucky to capture the Woodpigeon. Thanks for dropping by.
I love your verse Ashley – so typical of Wood Pigeon. I’m so looking forwards to summer – we live down a quiet country lane so it’s not so much of a hardship for us as it is for some. Stay safe and well.
Thanks for your comments, Clive! You are lucky to live down a quiet country lane; lots of inspiration not far from your door. Lovely!
so beautiful photos!
have a nice Sunday 🙂
Thank you for dropping by. Lovely to meet you here1
Me encanta tu artículo y las fotos. Yo no consigo hacer fotos de los gorriones que hay muchos por el jardín, no se están quietos. Algún día lo conseguiré, no pierdo la esperanza. Me gustan tus versos. Un abrazo!
Thank you, Barbara, for your visit. Un abrazo!
Nice blog
Today it is sunny and bright but with bitterly cold air coming from the north. Brrrr! Thank you for visiting my site.
Very nice captured ✨🤗
Thank you for dropping into my blog.
Most welcome 🤗🙏
You are welcome 🤗😁
Thank you for your kind comment.
Most welcome 🤗🙏
Our spring here now… is still quite cold as we get a South wind coming from Antarctica bringing crisp cold biting wind even if it’s sunny. When the wind stops it gets scorching hot… Especially in summer so I prefer autumn and winter which feels like gentler seasons.
Thank you for dropping by! Being in the northern hemisphere it is strange for me to think that here today I was scraping ice (the first this winter) from the car windscreen whilst you are seeing life return to the countryside and the gardens.
Yes I too find it strange… It’s like simultaneously appreciating both seasons 😊
Thanks Ashley for this lovely post! Yes, I also love spring especially after the cold, dark winter days. these are finally over and i’m happy every day that it is now getting warmer.
We are now going to start planting in the garden, I’m looking forward to it!
Ashley, have a nice sunday…😍
Rosie from Germany
Thank you, Rosie. It is raining today and still cold but the signs of spring are all around and soon we will be able to spend more time outside in the garden. Happy Days! Enjoy your Sunday too 💌🙏
I am so looking forward to experiencing these lovely feelings captured in word as spring approaches yet again! 🙂
Thanks, Jaya, I love all the seasons but spring is the one that brings hope. Thanks for visiting my blog although I have stopped posting for a while as I try some artwork 🙋♂️