Shipley Country Park - Up Shipley Hill
w/e 01 March 2009
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
March 1st of course is St. David's Day, Patron Saint of Wales.
Daffodils are another icon associated with both the day and the
country but if this part of England's East Midlands were to be
relied upon for supplying the flowers for the day, then I'm afraid
they would be in short supply this year. The coldest winter for
ten years and the recent snowfall mean that Spring will probably
be a little late this year in these parts. Our walk up Shipley
Hill in the Country Park brought sight of only three daffodils
actually in bloom although there will surely be many more in
the weeks to come.
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Snowdrops on the other hand are a different story altogether
and in the garden at Derby Lodge there is just a promise of what
lies ahead further up the hill.
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Following the path up the hill past the sign for Beggars Walk
the snowdrops are already becoming more abundant. Beggars Walk
is up the rough steps on the right.
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People travel for miles to various places paying good money to
see these pretty little flowers - we've done it ourselves in
the past - but these are nearly as plentiful as those in more
well-known places and these are free gratis to view. Don't tell
anyone though or the authorities may start charging an entrance
fee to the park especially in these recessionary times!
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It's almost obligatory when photographing snowdrops to take a
close up so here's one for you to study. There are many different
species of the flower, some are pure white and others have a
green marking. I'll let the botanists among you determine the
exact species shown here.
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The first blossom of the season is also starting to come out
on Shipley Hill so although Spring MAY be a little late this
year, the signs are there. It's definitely on the way.
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