Spring in Sherborne
It's that time of year when I become overwhelmed a little bit with seeing signs of spring and all the other interesting things that happen at this time of year. What follows might bore you, might interest you. Take your pick and tell me what you've seen.
- Weasels! I've lived here about 20 years now and never seen a weasel, and in the last week I've seen three. I was standing by a hedge, and two of them, tiny little creatures flowed along the hedgerow like mercury on a tray. I was too slow to pull out my camera phone, so here's an AI picture in lieu.
- Ducks. I saw the first ducklings of the year last week - nine in all by Waterloo bridge. Sadly, but not surprisingly, there's a few less this week - and some fat herons.
- Flowers! Lots of spring flowers are emerging.My favourites are the Cowslip Primrose Crosses, which sort of have the benefit of both the parents. And the cuckoo flower (picture below).
The wild orchid leaf florets are emerging, not yet the flower heads and it looks like it's going to be a good year.
Two or three years ago I shook a single head of yellow rattle onto a bit of grass I left aside as meadow. That patch seems to have been completely taken over by yellow rattle now - as it is parasitic on grass. It's a bit of a thug but hopefully will let other wild flowers come through that would otherwise be choked by grass. Here's the swathe of young yellow rattle seedlings between the grass on either side:
Finally, another favourite of a shady glade - Ramsons - or wild garlic, just beginning to flower.
