.In the woods, at the edge of the Meadow, grow the most beautiful and delicate wild daffodils. Known as the Lent Lily, they are said to come into bloom on Ash Wednesday and die on Easter Sunday. Which is all very well if Easter isn't too early or too late. When we went for an Easter walk last week, they were in full bloom and if it hadn't been for that wretched Storm Katie battering them hither and thither on Monday morning, they would still be in full bloom. Strange that.
A. E. Housman penned a poem to the Lent Lily in the 1800s:
Tis spring; come out to ramble
The hilly brakes around,
For under thorn and bramble
About the hollow ground
The primroses are found.
And there's the windflower chilly
With all the winds at play,
And there's the Lenten lily
That has not long to stay
And dies on Easter day.
And since till girls go maying
You find the primrose still,
And find the windflower playing
With every wind at will,
But not the daffodil.
Bring baskets now, and sally
Upon the spring's array,
And bear from hill and valley
The daffodil away
That dies on Easter day.
A. E. Housman penned a poem to the Lent Lily in the 1800s:
Tis spring; come out to ramble
The hilly brakes around,
For under thorn and bramble
About the hollow ground
The primroses are found.
And there's the windflower chilly
With all the winds at play,
And there's the Lenten lily
That has not long to stay
And dies on Easter day.
And since till girls go maying
You find the primrose still,
And find the windflower playing
With every wind at will,
But not the daffodil.
Bring baskets now, and sally
Upon the spring's array,
And bear from hill and valley
The daffodil away
That dies on Easter day.
We passed the pond and looked for tadpoles, but couldn't see any sign. However the most joyous of all sounds met our ears as we heard the first Chiff Chaff of spring in Wattlebury! We couldn't see it, try as we may - but the monotonous notes were loud and clear.
And there, in their favourite place at the back of the meadow was the Woodpecker's home.
And there, in their favourite place at the back of the meadow was the Woodpecker's home.
The fieldfares and redwings have been at Wattlebury in huge numbers this month too - they are winter residents in England and visit us on their way north to breed - Scandanavia is a favourite place. The Anglo-Saxon word feldefare perhaps meant traveller through the fields. Although the easterly March winds blew strong and cold, the hardy little violets and celandines are peeping through the brown oak leaves - especially if the sun is shining and offers a bit of warmth. The elder is one of the first trees to show its leaves, but the wild damson blossom has been out for some time. And today I spied a goodly sticky bud. In just a few days it will be April, when hedgehogs and dormice can end their hibernation and enjoy the sunshine. The overhead skylarks are already singing over the meadow and they will soon be finding a suitable place for their nest. What a wonderful time of the year. Gordon xxx