The Weather

I sometimes wonder what we would do if we did not have 'The Weather' to discuss.  Foxglove showed that it was not immune to the weather yesterday.  Early morning saw ice and it was bitterly cold.  Later in the day the temperature rose, the ice melted, the wind rose and it was still bitterly cold.  However there were opportunities for photography.

Not a heavy snowfall but enough to dust the orchard.

Spigot Mere had a covering of ice in places.

Although the moor is not the warmest place on the reserve, birds have visited Spigot Mere and left behind some of their feathers.

Small puddles of water had coverings of ice.

Blue skies competed with dark threatening clouds.  Scots Pines along the moor edge do an excellent job protecting the centre of the reserve from the wind.

In the restored ancient hedgeline Hazel trees are flowering.  The male catkins are open to release their pollen

and the tiny red female flowers are appearing.  It is amazing that this tiny flower develops into a Hazel nut enjoyed by squirrels and Jays.