Little Things Mean a Lot

“You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you.”

― Andy Warhol

I think perhaps in the present circumstances of lockdown that we all find ourselves in, it would be a good idea to take heed of Mr Warhol’s quote.  Restricted though we all are currently, nature is not usually far away from us in some form or another.

Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria is a plant that I used to try and erase from the garden as soon as the leaves began to show, not an easy task.  Perhaps fortunately, a growing interest in botanical matters had me becoming very fond of this harbinger of spring, a fondness that was shared by William Wordsworth.  I’ve mentioned once (probably more than once in fact) before on this blog that Wordsworth had wanted the Lesser Celandine carved on his gravestone, but sadly an error was made and what he got was Greater Celandine, an altogether different plant.  The brilliant yellow flower of the Lesser Celandine is now showing well in my garden and once it has disappeared the plants will be pulled up.  I’ve acted this way in recent years but the flowers still return each spring.  I’ve watched closely the development of the plant this year and taken a few images as the flower developed.

There is a Flower, the Lesser Celandine,

That shrinks, like many more, from cold and rain;
And, the first moment that the sun may shine,
Bright as the sun himself, 'tis out again!  (William Wordsworth)

D H Lawrence’s character Paul Morel in the book Sons and Lovers comments to his girlfriend about Lesser Celandine, ‘I like them.  When the petals go flat back with the sunshine.  They seem to be pressing themselves at the sun’.  Mr Morel doesn’t appear to have gone on to tell his girlfriend that pilewort was a vernacular name in use for this plant.  So named, as it was thought to be a good treatment for piles.  Apparently to be used with care as it is poisonous and I note that at least one guy needed medical treatment after having used it.  Ooowwwccchhh!

During the warm days of early spring (where have they gone?)  I noted two or three Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies in the garden along with Bumblebees, the odd Hoverfly and other insects.  Whilst in lockdown, I noticed last night that I am not alone in the house.  A large spider was with me in the bathroom and such was its attachment to me after I had photographed it, it later followed me into the lounge.  It’s presently behind the TV……...or is it?

Whilst chatting to Sam over the telephone I was pleased to hear of his renewed interest in local patch birding.  I don’t think he will be alone in that respect.  Sam had noticed that an area we visit which is normally devoid of people was quite busy with walkers the other day.  There’s little to be positive about at the moment, but maybe the current situation will bring to peoples notice what nature is around them in the vicinity in which they live.  It is probably too late to make the councils and developers take note to how important these open spaces are for our psychological wellbeing and the health of wildlife.

Wild Northumberland

The incessant building work and the resulting encroachment upon green land in North Tyneside and adjoining areas in Newcastle and south east Northumberland, are making in my eyes at least, the area unrecognisable from what until recently it was.  The spin that is given from time to time by local council officials that they care about the environment and nature doesn’t wash at all with me, as I believe that the natural environment is the last thing on most of their minds.  Sadly, I gain the impression that a proportion of the community care little one way or the other.  Thankfully we have Northumberland, where it remains possible to visit the wilds and leave the mases behind.

Sam and I have been out into the wilds of Northumberland on a couple of occasions recently.  Our first trip was northwards on a fine sunny spring day.  Well, fine until the low leaden grey cloud descended from the Cheviots and brought with it a fierce but short-lived hailstorm.  Like any true all-weather naturalists, we entered the pub for lunch at this very point in time.  Our best sighting of the day was finding a Kestrel in a tussle with a Peregrine Falcon close by us as we drove past.

Our next trip was further to the south of the county where we didn’t allow a fierce wind to spoil our day but confess we did make a tactical withdrawal from Grindon Lough before we were frozen in the winds.  We stopped of to visit my brother and enjoyed welcome hot drink before moving on and spending most of the subsequent time watching from the car.  I found myself watching the scenery as much as the birdlife, much of which seemed to be keeping heads down.  Best sighting for me that day was two small flocks of Golden Plover flying past us at close range and in perfect light.  It didn’t feel like spring but it did look and sound like it with the song of Skylark and the calls of Curlew and Lapwing at times filling the air.  Other birds seen that day included Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Goldeneye, Red Grouse, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Black Tailed Godwit, gulls, Stock Dove, corvids and garden birds.

We returned to the building site with thoughts we ought to get out into the wilds more often, but hopefully in calmer circumstances.