a cold dry, delayed spring, but plenty of sunshine. this speckled wood butterfly got stuck behind the glass of an open window in my kiln shed.

walking along the edge of the wood there are all sorts of new leaves making patterns against the sky;

alder

beech

hazels

new beech leaves are like little green translucent silk petals.

ash leaves erupt from those big black buds in sprays of pointy feathers.

stoical oak with their stumpy new leaves and yellow catkins

the bluebells are here at last

and the red campion, big clumps in the hedgerows.

oak in full leaf – a vibrant mustard – green,

a wild apple tree in full blossom in the wood,

cow parsley, delicately crisp,

and the bluebell wood, heavenly scent drifting in the wind,

a special sort of blueness.

and a big surprise, a huge orchid, an early purple.