Spring is well and truly here. Fields are so green, hedges so dense and waysides full of bright yellow dandelions and cowslips. I am reminded of the 1940's and 1950's when cowslips grew everywhere and we picked great bunches of them to take home and fill vases -- something we would never do now, but always did then. The same with bluebells, we would go to the woods and come back with arms full, having been sternly warned always to pick them properly, never to pull them up, no white must be seen at the end of the stem or the plant would be ruined and never flower again.
We would also pick masses of primroses, these would be divided and packed carefully in shoe boxes to be sent near and far to friends and relatives, the last bunch being saved for the Doctor's wife and they would be taken by bus to a nearby town.
Picking wild flowers is frowned upon now, which shows how attitudes have changed with the passing years.However I digress and must return to my journey to Papworth.
We pass a brown leaved, white flowered Amelanchier standing out amid the fresh green of the surrounding trees and bushes, over which unruly brambles scramble and climb.
The sheer variety of greens is staggering, yellow greens, blue greens, brown green, mossy greens, some leaves that look almost white as they move in the breeze and right at the top of some trees are ivy leaves which look almost a black green. To think when I was a child I thought green was green, I remember many years ago hearing my father say there were many shades of white, and now years later I realise of course there are!
We pass verges with long stretches of white dead nettle and growing behind huge swathes of vivid yellow rape, both wonderful for insects.
Many wayside trees are starting to bloom, usually white and with no accompanying leaves yet, the trees look delicately pretty. We have just passed a very pretty pink and white blossomed apple tree, a heavier looking tree, it cannot be called delicate but it is beautiful. Grown no doubt from a core randomly thrown from a car window.
On a telegraph wire above a tangle of bushes I spy a tiny bird --- not a wren -- this one is the wrong shape and smaller, I think it is a goldcrest.
On the right hand side amongst all the greenery, there is a startling stretch of red leaved hedge, Photinia Red Robin, it is very attractive.
Just before Chipping, we are delighted to see a host of white and yellow narcissi brightening the verge. We keep passing odd small groups of blue flowers, I cannot recognise them at this speed, but I have a feeling they are a variety of hardy geraniums. Just before Reed we pass huge clumps of cowslips and narcissi on the wayside, these are a great addition to the countryside.England in spring is so beautiful.
Across the rising and falling fields there is a row of trees all the same size and shape the branches are bare and in their starkness they look very attractive. I love the sweep of the land here, it is made of gently rolling hills as far as the eye can see.
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| Lovely countryside and rolling hills along the A10 |
We are passing through Royston and the mature ornamental cherries marching down each side of the road in full bloom, are spectacular.
We pass a Catholic Church, a large sign outside warns us that this is 'Private Property', it seems a strange sign to have outside a church, where I thought all were welcome.
On the verge, just before a roundabout is a lone bright red aquilegia (grannies bonnet), it is flowering on what appears to be waste ground. May be in years to come seedlings will spread across and give an eye catching display.
This is the best time of year to see horse chestnuts, proudly holding their candles high and upright. They can be seen in fields, by rivers and along roads all over the country and are so precious because they give of themselves three times. Firstly as sticky buds, they are interesting to pick and put in a jar full of water and watch the sticky buds give way to those beautiful fresh green leaves . Secondly as these magnificent mighty trees flower they are spectacular, from a distance they look amazing with an abundance of candles standing upright on all the branches, and if you agree with this then try looking at a flower closely, you will be amazed at how intricate and beautiful they are up close. Thirdly they share their fruit with us in the autumn, they are known as conkers and I find them a perfect joy, their shape, shine, colour and patterning give me much pleasure.
There is a red flowered version of horse chestnut. Near where we live is a very long avenue of these red flowered horse chestnut trees and to drive between them when they are in full bloom is a wonderful experience.
We are passing the back entrance of Wimpole Hall, we have spent many happy hours here, lunching in their fine restaurant, walking the grounds and enjoying the unusual cattle, browsing the second-hand bookshop, visiting the farm and also occasionally going in to the house and last but not least buying plants.
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| Wimpole Hall |
This time of year the young lambs are playing in the same fields as people wander. The lambs are leaping and gamboling and so much fun to watch, they fill me with joy and laughter and make the world a brighter place.
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| Lambs frolick in the grounds of Wimpole Hall |
Further along on the left we pass a row of thatched cottages, they are reminiscent of old England.
Approaching Longstowe there are fields of bright yellow rape on both sides of the road, and across the fields to the right is a picturesque windmill another sign of old England.
Clusters of cowslips and stretches of dandelions fill the verges, here and there groups of tiny, white, flat to the ground daisies grow. On the left fluffy headed bullrushes grow from a ditch and nearby an equally fluffy headed palm tree looks wonderful.
It has been very heavily overcast and as we arrive at Papworth the clouds part and show small areas of clear blue sky, it seemed a portend to a happy day. How was I to know that in a very short while I would find out my cancer has regrown yet again. Once again the fight is on.
