March Journal

2019

In March daffodil and narcissus are out in force.  Grape narcissus are also out, as well as naturalised hyacinth with short spears of white, pink and blue flowers.

Crocus are out but on the wane except in shadier areas.  But daffodil are starting to make a show.

Wood violet is in flower.  There are gorgeous banks of violent in the raised currant bed along the side of the building, as well as dotted around the woods.

Pulmonaria are coming into flower, with leaves perking-up after the winter die-down.

As is also the cheerful waxy yellow flowering, low growing and glossy celandine. And sweet woodruff; low-growing, woodruff is a good companion to wood violet.

The big cherry tree in the back patch is coming into blossom.  Soon the whole tree – all 60+ feet of it – will be dripping in blossom.  (By 23 March 2019 the big cherry tree is almost in full flower).

Hawthorn bushes are starting to sprout leaf bud, but are far from flowering.

By mid-March blackthorn comes into flower (coming to blossom on St Patrick’s Day, 17 March 2019).  Where blackthorn blooms, later will be found sloe berries!

An interesting thing is that the blackthorn and the yellow plum in the woods come into flower before the hawthorn are in leaf and also before the corner cherry tree comes into bud and blossoms – making them really stand out with their air-borne drifts of white blossom, as shown in the photo below, taken late March 2019.

The bank of wild onion growing in the front flower beds in the back patch are starting to come into flower by 23 March 2019.

Also coming into flower are self-seeded calendula.

Beds of lily in the front flower bed are starting to sprout growth – as also are clumps of peony.

Some of the peony in the back patch may have died from heat wave and drought last summer, but there are signs of at least one healthy patch.

Hydrangea and fuschia bushes are coming to life and sprouting tender new growth.

The birds are really starting to sing in March – insistent calling and beckoning.  Sounds sharp and tireless.

Robins abound.  And the blackbirds really go for it, from the darkest dawn to well into the duskiest night.

Super-G spotted a young fox mid-March.  We’ve not seen the usual vulpine characters most of the winter.  Maybe it’s a new generation of foxes?

Near conifers, watch out for goldcrests (Regulus regulus) – Britain and Europe’s smallest native bird species.  They feed on tiny insects and spiders commonly found on conifers.

Bumblebees come out of hibernation in early spring.  There are 24 bumblebee species native to Britain.  We’ve seen some huge ones in the woods, back patch and at the allotment.  A good sign indeed!

On Saturday 23 March 2019 I spotted a butterfly with orange wings and brown/black markings.  Also  saw a yellow winged butterfly at the allotment.