Wednesday, 29 March 2017

More Woods, More Spring

Two weekends ago, I was at O.K.'s and we went for a walk on the Sunday. It was a blustery day with plenty of clouds threatening to rain, but somehow I was sure it was not going to rain while we were out (and it didn't). This time, we took slightly different paths from our usual ones, although I am sure you will recognise at least one of the views from this post.

 On the Saturday, we had been to town for a spot of shopping, when we noticed a stork flying across the market square. He or she landed in a nest high up on one of the buildings around the square, where his or her mate was already waiting.
While we were still watching them, another pair flew past - and then another! Six storks were in the sky above us, all at the same time; I don't think I have ever seen so many of them in one go, especially not outside a zoo or park. 
There used to be a time when the sight of a stork's nest on top of the highest building was familiar in German towns and villages, but their numbers have steadily been dwindling through loss of habitat and other causes. I don't think I was over-proportionately pleased with seeing them that Saturday, as one of my family members suggested when I told them.

 Anyway, back to our walk on Sunday. Ready?











As you can see, the windy, cloud-filled skies made for some rather interesting light. It wasn't as dull and grey as it may look in some pictures, and it was just wonderful to see white and yellow here and there amidst the brown and green landscape.

When I'll be back there this weekend, a lot will have happened in terms of flowers and trees. Nature is always good at making the most of milder temperatures, sunshine and the occasional drop of rain.
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16 comments:

  1. Jenny Woolf29 March 2017 at 21:19

    Isn't it wonderful to see the blossoms! But I think I would also have been rather thrilled to see six storks! Don't they mean good luck or something?

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    1. Librarian30 March 2017 at 07:27

      I think they do, Jenny. And superstition of old has them bring babies, of course, but that definitely does NOT apply to me!

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  2. Pondside30 March 2017 at 03:20

    How absolutely beautiful it is! I'd love to take that walk.

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    1. Librarian30 March 2017 at 07:27

      It is, and we really like our walks, too.

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  3. Kay G.30 March 2017 at 05:03

    Lovely! What are the white flowers? What are the yellow flowers? Do tell!

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    1. Librarian30 March 2017 at 07:26

      The white are Anemone nemorosa, the yellow is a shrub of Forsythia. Do these not grow in Georgia as well? If they do, I expcet they are long gone, since you are at least a month ahead of us :-)

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    2. Kay G.30 March 2017 at 19:37

      Yes! The forsythia is also called yellowbells and it does grow here! You are correct, long past blooming now but our cherry trees and dogwoods are in full bloom!

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    3. Librarian30 March 2017 at 20:27

      I remember you showing us pictures on your blog of Japanese cherry trees in a memorial park (?) somewhere near you, I think. That was so beautiful!
      The name "yellowbells" reminds me of what we call daffodils in German: Osterglocken, Easter bells :-)

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  4. Frances30 March 2017 at 09:32

    Lovely countryside. We, here in SE England, are promised the warmest day the year so far....could get to 20C. .....and only March!! We often don't get those temperatures at the height of summer. Looking forward to a pleasant dog walk this afternoon at" Heartwood Forest", which is a very new area of planted trees. It is supposed to be one of the largest in the country.They began about 10/15 years ago and some of the new trees are taller than me now. There are 3 areas of ancient woodland too, which will be full of bluebells in a month or so."

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    1. Librarian30 March 2017 at 18:47

      Bluebell-filled woodlands - that is something I have not yet managed to see, as I have been to England always either too late or too early in the year. One day, I hope...!
      Heartwood Forest sounds interesting; I hope you had a nice walk with your dog.

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  5. DawnTreader30 March 2017 at 14:39

    Lovely photos. As always you're a bit ahead of us with the spring flowers & such. (Only natural, as you do live further south!) I don't think I've ever seen stork (in real life). I think here in Sweden they only stay in the most southern province, Skåne (in summer).

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    1. Librarian30 March 2017 at 18:49

      The area where O.K. lives is about 1 week ahead of my area, as it is even further down south, the Rhine area is always warmer than elsewhere in Germany.

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  6. Jennifer30 March 2017 at 14:41

    I like those yellow forsythia! We have them in South Carolina too.

    Your walk is beautiful. And storks! That's pretty special, I should think. I don't think we have them in South Carolina.

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    1. Librarian30 March 2017 at 18:50

      You can imagine how much I like the sight of forsythia, yellow being my favourite colour :-)
      No storks in SC? Well, you have other native birds that we never get to see in the wild.

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  7. Frances31 March 2017 at 09:21

    There is a lot of info about Heartwood online. The walk was lovely thanks. There were 4 of us " ladies" and 5 dogs between us.

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    1. Librarian31 March 2017 at 14:06

      It must have been a lively walk with so many participants :-)

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