Eranthis Hyemalis - Aconites, and Galanthus nivalis - Snowdrops.
New life has begun again which not only gladdens the heart but also delights the eye.
Crocus tommasinianus - early Spring crocus
So far, in this corner of the world, Winter has been benevolent. No snow, or ice, and very little rain. Some chilly, frosty mornings, but countless days of wonderful bright winter sunshine and blue skies.
It is too lovely to be inside, so time for a February walk around our hilltop aerie to see how Spring is shaping up on our escarpment - all of the jobs needing attention back at home can wait.
Looking across the Severn Vale and over the mighty R. Severn towards Wales. On a clear day it is possible to see far more of the distant Welsh landscape, especially Sugar Loaf, a mountain that provides a spectacular backdrop to the quaint old market town of Abergavenny. 
At the end of April 500 cattle will be returned to The Common where they roam freely until November. The land here has never been ploughed, it has relied solely on grazing cattle for hundreds of years, who feed on its grasses and flowers, and in return supply nutrients to the soil.
The Common is particularly known for its flora and fauna. An SSSI, and designated a European Special Area of Conservation for its flora and
fauna, in paricular its flowers, herbs and invertebrates. It is the most
extensive area of semi-natural dry limestone grassland surviving in the
Cotswolds. During Summer it is possible to see a number of species of orchid - Early Purple, Fragrant, Pyramidal, Common and Spotted. Bee, Musk and Frog Orchids grow here too but they are not easy to find unless you know the Common well.
Time to return back home and enjoy a welcome cup of coffee, and may be, even a little treat.
It is certainly time for a February walk around your hilltop aerie to see how Spring is shaping the escarpment! Unlike the other photos where much of the landscape looks brown, the large expanses of grass look beautifully green. Australian landscapes are very often brown, so I love travelling around the UK.
ReplyDeleteHopefully and in due course, you will have a further opportunity to return and visit our green landscape again Hels.
DeleteI was very happy to accompany you on this ramble, Rosemary. The scenery is simply breathtaking and it's uplifting to see the spring blooms. We are still about six weeks away from that here and yesterday I shovelled about 15cm of fresh snow from my driveway. Today we are heading to Ottawa via Amherst Island to visit my daughter and family for the weekend, so I hope for no more snow en route.
ReplyDeleteHopefully your weekend travels went gone well David - lovely that you are once again able to visit your daughter and her family.
DeleteSpring flowers are the BEST! So welcome after winter's cold and snow. However, we won't see any Spring flowers here until about May.
ReplyDeleteThere is something rather magical when these first flowers raise their heads once more.
DeleteIt is a beautiful area, and those views are breathtaking! Thanks for sharing while so many of us are cabin-bound from bad weather.
ReplyDeleteHopefully some better weather will soon be with you Barbara.
DeleteDear Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteLove, love. love this post. It makes my heart sing to see so many beautiful spring flowers and so expertly photographed.
To think that Mr G and I picked up our horse and gypsy wagon at a farm near Abergavenny and walk through this beautiful counytry side so many years ago.
Dear Gina - I am really happy that this little post brough back some special memories to you especially a precious time you spent with Mr.G.
DeleteDear Rosemary - the photos are beautiful as ever! The colour of the landscape is same as here (Bavaria) - we call it "Vorfrühling" (early spring) - and the first messengers here are snowdrops and eranthus, but I haven't seen any crocus yet, not even the small ones.
ReplyDeleteToday was the first day I drove to a nursery - to buy at least a few spring flowers for my Bavarian balcony.
Dear Britta - I know that the balcony flowers in Bavaria are always spectactular - I dont know what their secret is, maybe you can pick up lots of tips from your neighbours.
DeleteSnowdrops, Mother Nature's little miracles. I'm always amazed at how sturdy they are, and yes they gladden my heart too. Stunning photos.
ReplyDeleteThey are amazing little flowers, I agree. The way that they appear with such pristine white flowers out of the cold earth at this time of year.
DeleteLovely views from the high ground
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed.
DeleteDearest Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteLovely early spring bodes those snowdrops and aconite flowers.
We used to have snowdrops, even the gigantic variety.
Glad you enjoyed your walk and like you, we have had a very mild winter, only a few degree C of frost during the night. We seldom get any snow.
Love seeing your Melior Cafetière (presuming you got one in reality...) as we love to use ourselves: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2018/01/part-xvi-zulu-beaded-knobkerrie-and.html
Hugs,
Mariette
Rosemary, we are fortunate for having still the original French Melior, the 3-cup, the 8-cup in rhodium plated and also in gold plated. Sure some of the replacement glasses are the Danish Bodum.
DeleteHugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - I have a few Cafetières in various sizes, but most of them are made by Bodum, however, one is an English maker called Judge, but they all look very similar to yours. We never drink instant coffee which neither of us enjoy.
Delete😏
DeleteDear Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely walk! You live in such a beautiful part of England, and of the world. Spring flowers gladden the heart here, too. It's amazing to think of the Common not being ploughed for so very long. We have had a few rainy days lately, but tonight the wind is blowing the clouds away and we're planning for a sunny weekend.
Dear Lorrie - the Common has never been ploughed, it has only ever been grazed. The Romans had a camp here, it was an important look-out post for them.
DeleteWhat a lovely February walk, Rosemary! The air I felt from each photo is uplifting. Isn’t it so nice to overlook your land awakening to spring in peace from the hilltop? Different from your place, it has been so cold and mostly windy here but sadly no snow but freezing rain so far.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Dear Yoko - I am sure that your landscape will soon be flourishing once again - your blossom time in just around the corner.
DeleteNice to see the landscape of your local area. This may well prove to be one of our mildest, warmest, winters on record if it continues on with its current trend. Even observed a bluebottle and several flies/ tiny midge type clusters hovering in the garden that would normally not survive into the winter months.
ReplyDeleteThe BBC weather reporter said that we have just had the sunniest January ever since records began over a 100 years ago.
Delete. . . . . . those Romans always seemed to pick the, most beautiful spots for their camps and look-outs!!!! The scenery, and blooms, in your photos take my breath away, and again I have to say makes me so homesick. The land is amazing, and seeing Wales so clearly is wonderful. Your immediate area with the ancient common at your doorstep must be the perfect place to "hang your hats." Living with so much beauty, and this winter with excellent weather, is just magical.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your scenic walks dear friend - I'll be thinking of you.
Mary x
Dear Mary - we are fortunate to be able to enjoy lovely views from our hilltop and be surrounded by untouched countryside.
DeleteI am very confident that you will be able to travel back this year. Now that we are triple vacinated I don't believe that the threat from the virus is anything like it was for us.
Thinking of you and Bob and all of your pretty feathered friendsX
What a lovely post. You have the most beautiful spring time (am I right?).
ReplyDeleteOur landscape is full of snow and we have to wait a long time for spring and flowers green color.
Winter appears to have missed us out completely so far and it does feel as if spring has arrived early. However, you never can be totally sure just what the weather might do. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the snow stays away.
DeleteWhat a glorious walk with you, Rosemary! I hadn't realised you could see Wales from your aerie; I always need reminding that distances are actually quite short around your countryside and people are clever at secreting themselves away within it. It really makes it a minor miracle that pockets of land like your Common have been untouched by machinery for millennia.
ReplyDeleteYour drive looks immaculate! Love the stone walls :)
Drystone walls are a big feature of our landscape - manmade but I think that they are an enhancement. Fortunately we still plenty of skilled stone wallers in this area.
DeleteYour snowdrops always make me smile, such perfect white blooms, greeting Spring. I enjoyed your magnificent views, and the River Severn is amazing, so wide as it wends its way through the landscape. The Common sounds absolutely lovely, and I wish we had them in Australia. It is lovely to think it has never been ploughed, and just left to nature, which provides not just grassland, but orchids too!
ReplyDeleteDear Patricia - snowdrops make me smile too. These first flowers of spring bring with them lots of hopes and promises for the coming year.
ReplyDelete