We were keen to return to Badbury Hill, a large Iron Age Hill Fort dating back to 600 BC. In the Dark Ages it is believed to have been a key battle site between the ancient Celtic people of Britain and the encroaching Anglo Saxons. Today, however, it is renowned for its carpets of native bluebells - Hyacinthoides non-scripta, and its tall military-straight beech trees. A circular walk rejoices in stunning views over the Upper Thames Valley and walks along wide avenues, nature's equivalent to urban boulevards, offer the walker spectacular carpets of bluebells.
Gazing skywards we spotted this squirrels drey made from last years fallen autumn beech leaves and twigs. We waited, and watched, hopefully, but no signs of life appeared. Apparently squirrels normally have two litters of young a year - one between February and March and the other between June and July. It appears that we were just too late or maybe too soon.
Unlike Spanish bluebells - Hyacinthoides hispanica, which have no scent, our native bluebells have a sweet delicate scent, which drifts around a bluebell wood on warm days.
The bluebells scent is similar to that of a Hyacinth but softer.
The bluebell is the sweetest flower
That waves in summer air;
Its blossoms have the mightiest power
To sooth my spirit's care.
Emily Jane Brontë
How could you not go back to see the bluebells again? Such an uplifting experience.
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteThey are looking good this year. Some first-class photos too.
ReplyDeleteThat ocean of blue under the trees is breathtaking. It's a dream of mine to visit the UK and walk in a bluebell wood. For now, I'll enjoy your photos.
ReplyDeleteIf you do return Lorrie this woodland is the best one that I have ever discovered for seeing an ocean of blue.
DeleteHello Rosemary, The bluebells seem more vivid than ever this year! Are you sure you didn't use any color enhancing in these photos? I don't know if Scotland's bluebells are the same as England's, but here is Arthur Pryor the trombonist playing his own variations on The Blue Bells of Scotland (you may recall my mentioning him in my Mouthpieces post). I know there are many versions out there, but none can hold a candle to Pryor's original:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K8SsCbROZ0&pp=ygUjYXJ0aHVyIHByeW9yIGJsdWViZWxscyBvZiBzY290bGFuZCA%3D
--Jim
Hello Jim - these bluebells are as seen by my camera. However, in my opinion the bluebells are even better in reality.
DeleteThe Scottish bluebell is actually Campanula rotundifolia - hare bell, which belongs to a completely different family. It is a very pale blue and has a very pretty little bell flower.
Oh my goodness! those bluebells are amazing, great photos of them too...I can almost smell them! xxx
ReplyDeleteHow utterly gorgeous!! I cannot believe a year has passed since your last bluebell outing. Thank you for including the squirrel's drey. I had never heard of such a thing and, frankly, never even gave a thought to how or where squirrels nest. In tree hollows, most probably, if I had ever guessed. Anyways, I learned something new today!
ReplyDeleteDear Pip - time passes far too quickly - I suspect that the bluebells may even now be past their best since our visit. To be totally honest I think that the drey may be the first one that I have encounted too.
DeleteSpectacular display.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos of those bluebells and what a joy it must be to smell them as you walk along.
ReplyDeleteDear Rosemary - I look forward to seeing Bluebells in the woods once a year on this blog. The blueness of the Bluebells look deeper than every year. I wonder if it is due to the lighting of the day or to the cataract surgery as I have perceived more vibrant blue after that.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Dear Yoko - this woodland has only bluebells growing within it, no other wild flowers impede the growth of the bluebells so they are very densely packed together. Our native bluebells are a much deeper shade of blue than the commonly seen Spanish bluebell.
DeleteGlad that you are happy with your surgery - soon I am having the other one done.
What a wonderful sight. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThey really are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a spectacular place! Thank you for sharing these gorgeous views!
ReplyDeleteDear Rosemary, You have the Artist's eye. Each and every one of your photos is a little masterpiece.
ReplyDeleteHope all is really well with you dear friend.
DeleteMagical pictures! So blue and so lovely!
ReplyDeleteHave a great Sunday...
Titti
💙
DeleteDear Rosemary, thank you for these stunning photos!
ReplyDeleteIn Germany "the blue flower" was symbol for the epoch of Romantic era: the metaphysical quest for the unattainable. In beautiful England you have huge carpets of blue - which instil yearning although the flower is there.
This particular woodland is the very best carpet of blue that I have ever seen during my lifetime.
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