Now here's a tale from Horrid and DtD of Spring really on the way
Occasional Notes from a Dog Walker
March 2025
St David's Day hardly came in like a lion! It was bitterly cold and bright and still but the sun had just a hint of warmth as befits the first day of meteorological spring. Dot the Dog and I were out and about early-ish – to our surprise the fields were empty of dog-walkers despite a beautiful morning.
Coincidentally I had bought some lovely leeks from our favourite greengrocer (in Leek!) so they appeared with our evening meal to celebrate the Saint's Day.
The first irises came out and we watched a small army of honey bees working over the wide-open crocus flowers – there must be local hives. Our mason bee nest seemed to have started hatching rather earlier than usual, several tubes already opened.
A settled spell of lovely dry, cold and frosty mornings followed. The wind was chilly but when in shelter, the sun had a hint of warmth. One beautiful morning Dot the Dog and I heard a series of unmistakable croaks as we approached Moss Cottage. There was a pair of ravens somewhere in the trees – DtD heard and I think saw them but I could only hear. There was however enough distance between their perches for me to realise it was a pair rather than just a single bird.
When we arrived home that morning it was clear that spring had sprung. Dwarf narcissi were in bloom in a pot by the back door, and the self-sown marsh orchid that had established itself in what had been a pot of herbs had shoots half an inch high. The marsh orchids at the bottom of the garden were yet to appear.
Another clear sunny morning the following day, and DtD and I watched four lapwings fly across the fields – first sighting this year. S and I walked round the Green – there remained a huge bank of snowdrops alongside Church Lane, and clumps of primroses in the land beside Chelford Road. I plundered a bundle of pussy willow from trees near the gate, to go in a vase in the kitchen window.
The leaf buds on the hawthorn hedges began to swell and show a bit of green – one in particular had recognisable leaves showing.
We watched the completion (we thought) of the magpies' nest in whitebeam tree at the front. It seemed remarkably robust despite its rough-and-ready look. The jackdaws had not had another go at it. Despite these two birds having such a close species relationship they always seem to squabble (or even fight) with each other, and both share the same cocky stance and strut.
The weather turned cooler with frosts overnight – despite forecasts of heat. The garden birds that had more or less deserted us in the finer weather came back to feed in force. However, regardless of the change in the temperature the hedges continued to produce new leaf – distinct greenery for St Patrick's Day!
The first "official" day of spring arrived after several bright but cool days – it was warm and I walked with Dot the Dog in shirt sleeves (some people still surprisingly muffled up in woollies and hats). Appropriately S spotted a small brown butterfly and I saw it a bit later, only fleetingly, but I think it was a speckled wood. Then a brimstone explored the garden, finding the narcissi particularly interesting. A bumblebee worked the heathers and our bee nests began to hatch. A robin sang ecstatically on and off all day in the trees – morning coffee at the patio table listening to it.
Towards the end of the month there came some misty, even foggy, mornings. On one of these as we walked towards Moss Cottage and Mossways a weasel ran across our path. Fortunately DtD was distracted by some weemail and didn't spot it or she would have shot off after it and I'd have been flat on my face.
The days remained quite warm and sunny – more shirt-sleeve dog walks but still so many people muffled as though it were winter. Bumblebees were on patrol and a very persistent queen wasp made repeated efforts to set up home in our house, slipping in through any open window or door – and being rapidly expelled. The green buds on our pear tree continued to swell as the new leaves developed. Amelanchier and Daphne began to show their spring colours. Sadly our crab apple looked on its last legs and may have to be euthanised – no more crab apple jelly (a shame because it is/was a red variety so the jelly was a beautiful garnet colour)!
End of the month and spring came into full force. Celandines and grape hyacinths appeared under the hedge in front of the cottages and the wild arum produced more leaf but not yet any flowers. The maize field was being lightly turned over but not really ploughed while DtD and I had our morning walk – by the time of our afternoon sortie several large piles of dung had appeared ready for spreading – pegs on noses for a few days! On the way home along the field path Dot the Dog spotted or heard a mouse or shrew – all I was aware of was a tiny movement in the grass.
Last day of the month – warm and sunny. A Small White butterfly flittered past DtD and me as we walked towards the cottages, me in shirtsleeves, and when we got home the first ladybird of the season appeared from hibernation – on the landing (no idea how it got there!). I encouraged it very gently outside.
As ever
Horrid of Henbury