Devonshire April May 17

Oak
GARDENING
Horsechestnut
Woodland Wonder by Nigel Jones
Wondering around your local
parks and woodlands in spring,
you can almost hear trees creaking
as the sap rises. All manner of
sticky, sap laden buds start to
open up and for me, the colours
of spring are the acid, lime and
bronze greens glowing in the
sun. It's a wonderful time of year,
if not the best time of year, full of
promise and prospects of warmth.
Nestling on the woodland floor,
whilst the canopy has yet to screen
out the available light, bluebells,
wood anemones, primroses,
ransoms all racing to set their
flowers. It's magical wandering
through local woods, particularly
if you've taken your faithful hound.
Of course the big event is the
bluebell flowering, which is one of
the high points of the natural year.
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