Pear Tree Blossom and Bluebells

A fine and subtle spirit dwells, In every little flower, Each one its own sweet feeling breathesWith more or less of power. There is a silent eloquence, in every wild bluebell.That fills my softened heart with bliss that words could never tell.From Anne Bronte's The Bluebell. Anne was born 17 January 1820, youngest child of Patrick and Maria Branwell Brontë. English Bluebells and Dog’s Mercury

A chilly morning walk took us to Tarecroft woods again. The bluebell are now in flowers, along with the primroses and Dog violets.

On the way to the woods, I spotted a tall tree covered in white blossom. On closer inspection, I thought it was a crab apple tree, but I wasn’t sure. So I took some photos to check in my books once I got home. I’m glad I did. I found out that a crab apple blossom has a pink edge to it, while the wild pear tree blossom is pure white. Wild pears are hard and sour but as winter approaches they soften and become sweeter. it is the birds that sown the seeds of the wild pears. The trees can grow to 40ft and live for 60 years.

John Lawrence, rector of Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire, in the reign of queen Anne started to cultured the garden pear. He wrote a fascinating account of his endeavours in The Clergyman’s Recreation, published in 1714.

A cider-like drink made with fermented pears called Perry was drunk by the Normans who introduced it into Britain by them. The old names given to this drink was merry-legs or devil-drink as it was very potent.

Leaves of the Wild Pear Bark of the Wild Pear Blossom of Wild Pear

Dryad’s Saddle or Pheasants Back : polyporus squamosus is a non-gilled bracket fungi. The name “dryad’s saddle” refers to the creatures in Greek mythology called dryads. Dryads were woodland tree nymphs or tree spirits who are shy creatures. Drys means oak in Greek though the fungus grows on trunks, stumps old timbers of deciduous trees especially elm, ash, pear. The fungus’ spores are spread by small beetles that are found in the fungi body. The common name pheasant’s back derives from the pattern and colours found a pheasant’s back.

Dryad’s Saddle

Robin: Yesterday, as on any given day in early Spring, while out walking along the hedgerows and through the woods you will hear the sweet warbling from the cock robin in the tree tops. The cock robin is very territorial and guards it fiercely from another other robins who try to move in.

Today I’m off to do some work in the garden. It’s sunny but cold here. We are having a cold dry spring here in England.

Have a great day.