Southwell Trail (February 2019)

In a previous post (Winter Trail, 16th February 2019), I presented a selection of close-up photographs taken along the Southwell Trail during December 2018 and January 2019. This selection continues the series into February as the trail starts the transition from winter to spring.

The first blossoms appeared in the last few days of the month. I think these are damson (Prunus domenstica) but it is hard to tell as this particular tree never seems to provide any fruit, although it is always the first to flower along the trail. Unfortunately, the tree lost most of its blooms in strong gales at the beginning of March so may be there is no advantage in being first to flower!

The willow catkins also started to open in late February and the hazel catkins started to die away:

In mid-month I captured the first red dead nettle flowers and some unripe ivy berries:

Earlier in the month there were a number of sharp frosts followed by some unseasonably warm weather highlighting some lovely colours in the bramble leaves: