Wednesday 5 June 2013

Crab Apple Blossom Time





I always seem to be running late. This time I`m a week behind Mother Nature as the crab apple blossoms have fallen now and hawthorn blossom is taking its place in the field hedgerows and out on the Forest.

Here is the best of our ornamental crab apples, in photos taken last week. An old tree now but this year it produced more blossom than it has for several springs. It was beautiful in bright sunshine and even lovelier in moonlight.



The rest of the garden seemed to be at its best in brights pinks.




New, lime green leaves of Philadelphus aureus contrasted well with the dark green leaves of rhodedendrons.






Mysembreanthemums smiling at the sun. I loved these as a child so I planted some for our little granddaughter.



Out on the green at the foot of Stonechat Hill, the wilding apple blossoms were a more delicate shade of pink and were attracting honey bees.




The old  rowan tree was a mass of frothy cream blossoms.




The gorse blossom is almost over now, but this year has been the best for a long time. For weeks,the New Forest heathlands have  been dazzling with acres of yellow gold. The air has been full of the warm scent of coconut and the hum of visiting bees.




The larger native trees were in new leaf last week. Behind the wilding apples grow oak, silver birch and beech on the hill slopes.




A mature ash just coming into leaf.




The undergrowth has been rich with new grass. Food for the Forest ponies, cattle and deer.







Within weeks, the grass will be overshadowed by bracken once again. Already, its new shoots can be seen curling out of the earth and its  stems, coiled like rams horns, are unfurling and growing to make a canopy across the hillside and the heath.



11 comments:

angryparsnip said...

Lovely lovely post today.

This is why I enjoy reading blogs from all over the world... I learn something new everyday.
I have never seen Mysembreanthemums or if I have not ones like these. They are the perfect flowers for a granddaughter. Beautiful !

cheers, parsnip

ChrisJ said...

Spring in England in a nutshell. You almost make me homesick. The gorse and hawthorn were very prevalent in my North Yorkshire home. So beautiful.

Ragged Robin said...

Lovely to see the Spring blossom and gorse :)

Loved the mesbryanthemum photo - I try and grow some each year. The colours always remind me of sherbet sweets :)

crafty cat corner said...

I also love the little
Mysembreanthemums, I love the way they close up each night.
The seasons go so quickly don't they, if we don't take note, like you say, you can miss things.
Lovely post
Briony
xxx

Kath said...

those Mysembreanthemums are so cheerful and bright!

Em Parkinson said...

Do you have Stonechats on Stonechat hill? I do hope so!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Your plants seem well ahead of ours up here in North Yorkshire - apart from the crab apple, which is also in full bloom here. The odd hawthorn is in flower but the main lot has still to come - how I look forward to it.

Louise said...

I love those Mysembreanthemums too. A lovely post.

Crafty Green Poet said...

lovely photos, I think the blossoms have been particularly beautiful this year!

Country Cottage Chic said...

Everything looks so pretty in the sunshine!

crafty cat corner said...

Thanks for the comment on the foxes.
I think the foxes that are in bad condition probably have mange. It's a really horrible condition that causes a lot of pain and eventually makes them go blind, this can be cures with homeopathic drops but of course if the fox is living in the wild there is nothing one can do.

Briony
x