In the April woods

[puddleshark]

Set off to follow the path through the oak woods in the rain. Only a gentle rain at first, not cold. Not much light this morning, but still the oaks and the birches bright with new leaves, and the woods full of the song of robins, blackbirds and thrushes.





The bluebells still not quite in full flower, but here and there a faint wash of blue in the woods.







Found a long-fallen oak to sit on. Drank coffee from a flask. Down below, gentle rain and the scent of damp earth. High above, the wind stirring the oak branches.





The rain getting heavier as I walked on, the ferns shinier. The wood anemones giving up altogether on the day and hanging their heads.



Coming out of the woods and back across the fields, the wind adding a sharp sting to the raindrops, because it is a Bank Holiday in England, and this is how we celebrate holidays.

Comments

[kazzy_cee]

It's not raining here in the South East - I wish it would - we need it!

[puddleshark]

This is the first proper rain we've had since February. It was very, very welcome.

[cmcmck]

Reminds me of our local woodlands. :o)

[puddleshark]

It's mostly conifer plantations round here, planted on what used to be Dorset heathland, but here and there the old oak woods survive.

[silveradept]

Lovely woods to walk through on holiday.

[puddleshark]

Yes! They are wonderful woods to walk through, in April when the bluebells are appearing, and in high summer when they are all bracken and silence...

[linky]

Gorgeous photos!

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

My poor camera did its best with the poor light, wrapped in a plastic bag against the rain!

[angelcage]

Wow, it all looks so lush.

[puddleshark]

April is always incredibly green here, though we've actually had one of the driest springs I can ever remember. The paths through the woods are usually deep mud at this time of year, but this year they are baked hard.

[angelcage]

I'm not in the UK but it's the same here in the Netherlands— it's been usually dry. Hopefully not an ill portent for summer.

[puddleshark]

Yes. I'm really hoping for a typical summer for once. Rain, but not endless rain. Sun, but not a drought. Our bee and butterfly populations need a chance to recover.

[rodo]

Wow. I'm blown away! Love the green, the moodyness in some pictures, and the light touches of blue and white on the forest floor!

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

Oak woods are always wonderful in spring. Though I think it will be a few more weeks yet before the bluebells are in full flower, making the woods magical and strange.

[rodo]

Sounds like there will be a sequel!

[puddleshark]

I hope so! 😊

[turlough]

It sounds and looks like you had an absolutely lovely walk! So many stunning photos!

I wish that rain would work its way here to us in southeastern Sweden. We've had a scarily dry winter and spring this year.

[puddleshark]

Thank you! It was a fabulous walk.

We had a very wet winter, but then the driest spring I can ever remember - no proper rain since February - so this rain was incredibly welcome. I had forgotten how much I love walking in the rain.

I hope the rain makes it way to you!

[cyare]

These woods look amazing, holy cow <333

[puddleshark]

Oak woods are always magical!

[shirebound]

Thank you for taking us with you into this wet and magical world.

[puddleshark]

You're welcome!

We've had such a strange dry spring that I had forgotten how much I love walking in the rain. It is such a blessing.

[pameladean]

Well, this is by far the best way to get rained on that I've run across! P.

[puddleshark]

:-)

I love, love, love your Porlock userpic!

[full_metal_ox]

This is a window of soft wet gray-green respite for me, too; winter through spring tends to be the dry season here on the south Gulf Coast of Florida, and my region is in a state of moderate drought.

[puddleshark]

In normal years, our prevailing winds are southwesterly, bringing in waves of rain off the Atlantic, but this year we've had a strange dry spring with the winds stuck in the east for weeks on end. Thank heavens the Bank Holiday worked its usual magic and it is raining again!

[semielliptical]

Beautiful - I can almost feel the damp lushness!

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

April working its magic. One moment it is winter in the woods, and the next moment everything is amazingly green!

[yourlibrarian]

I particularly like the third and fifth photos, great images!

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

[ranunculus]

Lovely walk. Thank You.

[puddleshark]

You're welcome!

[yarnandglue]

So beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

[puddleshark]

You're welcome!