Enough, enough. Enough of the doom and gloom. I want to be cheerful and enjoy the newness happening out there. A bit of lightness and brightness to feed the soul, top up our optimism and give us the energy to face the future.
Now here’s a thought. Midges are insects. Flowers are designed to attract insects; therefore without insects we wouldn’t have the glorious diversity of flowers we anticipate and marvel at each year. In effect insects are enriching our lives too. How curious is nature? Robert is quite keen I write a poem. Something along the lines of
‘Where the midge sucks, there suck I
In a cowslip bell I lie…’ Cowslip, cow’s lip? Ummm, maybe not. I’ll work at it.
But this evening I’m off. My gorgeous friend who winkles me out of the farm and takes me to opera, theatre and ballet – recently Matthew Bourne’s exuberant, colour extravaganza Nutcracker – is treating me to a Seth Lakeman concert at Plymouth Uni.
Meanwhile I leave you with some glorious insect inspired flowers just on our doorstep!
Locks Park Farm 
10 comments
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April 22, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Jane
Beautiful. I went on a “trees in the landscape” training day last week in darkest Dorset. I was the only student…. it was a brilliant day spent with an incredibly knowledgeable teacher. We spent the whole day wandering through hidden woods of primroses, wood anemone and bluebells. It doesn’t get much better. Jane
April 23, 2008 at 1:29 am
jess
Paula,you have the capability of making me,a kiwi girl,feel somewhat homesick for england!Thats got to be saying something.I’m suddenly wishing i was there,in your kitchen making a cup of tea and staring out the window at the busy bird table.Going for a walk down through the fields with Theo and listening to him repeat all the sounds and places to ”mind your head”you taught him.xxxJess
April 23, 2008 at 9:40 am
paula
Sounds a wonderful day Jane – there are some exceptional trees and woods in Dorset too. Lucky, lucky you – and to have the expert all to yourself – I’m envious.
April 23, 2008 at 9:47 am
paula
I wish you were having that cup of tea in the kitchen too Jess. You were all badly missed the other week – the last big gathering of the clan (plus motor home again) was when you were over!
You know when the light through the kitchen window starts to look green? Well it’s just beginning. The oak tree next to bird table oak is in leaf and looking over to Highampton there’s a vague misting green haze haloing the trees.
Pop on that magic carpet – kettles on…oh and tell Theo to ‘mind his head’ on the clouds!
April 24, 2008 at 1:23 am
eyegillian
These are such gorgeous spring beauties — thank you for sharing them!
Your rendition of “where the midge sucks” reminds me of a story my mother tells about a song she sang in school as a young girl in England. The verse was supposed to be, in part, “when wheat is green and hawthorn buds appear” but she didn’t learn it correctly. She thought the words were, “when meat is green and awful bugs appear”. Well, it does make sense…!
April 25, 2008 at 10:58 am
Mopsa
I might have an early purple orchid, but I doubt there’ll be cuckoo flowers here for some while, and I do love them. The primroses have played to the crowd yet again – they’ve beamed at us for months already and are still in perfect shape.
April 27, 2008 at 8:51 am
elizabethm
Beautiful flowers paula. Our primroses have been fabulous this year and are still going strong. The wood anemones are out but not bluebells yet and the trees are coming. Our big sycamore is in leaf and the horse chestnut just opening but the oaks will be a couple of weeks yet up here. Lovely post. dont you just love Spring?
April 27, 2008 at 8:57 pm
paula
I simply love that Gillian – as did the whole family, and so appropriate. Brilliant!
April 27, 2008 at 9:01 pm
paula
I expect you may have a fair few now after these last warm days and nights mopsa.
I believe I could have seen some grass too…but then again, maybe not.
April 27, 2008 at 9:05 pm
paula
Yes, love it elizabethm – it’s also the fleetingness of this particularly morphing time that hold the magic and seems just as astonishing every year.