This week I have been flitting about from one thing to another rather a lot. The usual thing for me, trying to fit too many things in too little time. However, I have managed to have a couple of walks with our Ukrainian friends, the first to Twigmoor Woods where the rhodendrons are starting to flower; it’s become a regular haunt over the years.

We are very lucky to live a ten-minute drive away, close enough to go several times over the six to eight weeks that the rhodendrons are flowering, depending on the weather. They are late this year looking back at my old photos, no colour at all showing yet on the common purple one above, taken in early May 2003. In the one below, on 2 May 2007, the leaves on the trees are further out than this year too.

The light has not been good on either occasion we have been this year, in the early evening after dinner before Miles and Lera and their two “sunflowers” headed back to York. That’s why the photos are all from previous years.

I have said over the years that we need to go once a week to catch the huge variety of colours at their best, not something we have ever managed to do. But it could happen this year, and hopefully the light will be better too.

On another evening, Katya and I also had a walk in Broughton Woods, and we had the rare treat of seeing a deer, which stood and posed for us for several minutes, before crossing the path in front of us and disappearing into the trees.

And much to Katya’s delight we saw a hare in a field a bit further on in our walk. No surprise that it was too fast for a photo!

However, I did get this good shot of a well camouflaged moth on a hazel branch.

It’s good to get back in the woods for more regular walks than I’ve managed for a while. Observing the changes in nature taking place so quickly is good for the soul, particulary at this time of year, as well as giving me inspiration for my art and textile work. I just love the fresh spring greens, especially the new beech leaves.