Celandines and a grey wagtail

Following my last post on mimosas I'll now write in a more positive vein. So it's nice to be able to mention seeing yellow celandines in flower down by the river yesterday. All right not the magic carpets of yellow that hopefully will be in evidence next month but at least a promise of things to come. For the avoidance of doubt I'm talking about the lesser celandine here but the much rarer greater celandine does occur not too far from my home. A good deal of gentle bird calling too with tits being particularly active. Another pleasing sighting was that of a grey wagtail - I'm surprised I don't see them more often but perhaps they are a bird more of upland streams and rivers where the water is always fast flowing.

The weather forecast for the week ahead suggest that the current changeable regime will continue but we are at least getting some blue skies between the rain belts and luckily the worst of the precipitation has been occurring after dark in my two counties.

Signs of Spring on the way

Yesterday morning there was a brief respite from the perpetual dampness that seems to afflict the Tamar Valley at this time of year. Needing a variety of vegetables and some free range eggs I went walkabout to a roadside stall just short of Calstock. This easy stroll of about 4 miles in total is off the main road; one sees the occasional vehicle but not enough traffic to spoil things. Apart from the benefit of exercise and fresh air it was a good chance to see what signs there were of the local flora coming into flower.

There were a few celandines out although not the first of the year by any means, they seem to be plentiful in this area but it wont be till next month that we will see carpets of them I guess. One or two examples of red campion, herb robert and hogweed were on display but what I particularly wanted to note was the progress of the crocuses in Calstock's churchyard which I pass en route. A small number of them were just starting to show yellow, when they all come out it is quite something to see. Just outside the south wall of the churchyard is an early spot for violets, some of these were in flower but I had seen these on an earlier walk.

The Tamar Valley was justifiably famous for its daffodils but many of the fields on their steep slopes are now abandoned. Although this land has reverted to scrub and woodland the daffodils pop up each spring. Too early for the varieties here to be in flower but certainly there are many bulbs above ground now. Providing we avoid a long cold snap then come March we should see those wonderful sheets of gold that makes this area even more special.

Every season can offer something but it's the renewal of life in spring that I think gives something extra to that time of year.