How lucky we are to be enjoying some Spring sunshine in the UK at the moment.
It is ideal weather for the changing seasons, making it easier for the birds and wild life to build nests and new homes, and less of a battle for their young to survive.
SURPRISES OF THE NATURAL WORLD:
My last two blogs have dealt with the natural world, firstly the observations from my home on how the birds tackle springtime, and also the observations of the amazing and surprising life of trees.
Far from them being inanimate objects without much of a purpose, science has now found that trees are examples of complex engineering , with most of the work going unseen, by root and fungal systems which convey water and nutrients through the tree trunk and up to the leaves which absorb carbon.
Not only that ,but they can communicate with one and other via these underground networks.
SPRINGTIME FAVOURITES:
Further Springtime sights are the wonderful profusion of daffodils which come up every year, and also the appearance of lambs which are so welcome as the leap around with the joy of life.
CHEERFUL DAFFODIL DISPLAYS
Firstly the daffodils.
In varying shades of yellow, and different types, they emerge every year regardless of weather.
Originally from Europe and North Africa, daffodils became concentrated around the Iberian Peninsula, and are thought to probably be brought to the UK, by the Romans.
The botanical name for daffodils is Narcissus, after the Greek boy who was always admiring himself. The drooping flower of the daffodil is said to resemble him looking at his reflection in a pool of water.
As a result, many myths and stories have been associated with this calming and relaxing plant.
They are hardy, and come up each year without needing any attention.
Given the right conditions they can multiply and create a large cheerful display.
Daffodils can vary in colour from a deep yellow, through to the almost white narcissus, which has a strong fragrance. They can have a single trumpet like flower or a double one.
Many new daffodils have been bred and introduced over the years, including miniature ones which look very pretty in window boxes and containers.
The best time to plant daffodil bulbs is in the autumn.
CUTE BUT HARDY NEW LAMBS
The other clear indicator that Spring has arrived is the appearance of new lambs.
Once again, country dwellers are the lucky ones, and few people can resist the sight of lambs jumping around in the sunshine.
However, they can have a hard start to life, as not always cuteness and cuddles.
There are many breeds of sheep in the UK, and many are cross bred.
The sheep found in areas of Wales, Scotland and the north of England, tend to be hardy breeds which live their lives outside, often on rough hillside settings.
They usually have their lambs out of doors, and during the lambing season will be monitored by a farmer or shepherd to make sure the lambs are delivered without a problem, and that they are healthy and feeding from their mother. She will also be checked to make sure she has had no birthing problems.
There are many multiple births, with twins being the most prolific. Triplets are less frequent and sometimes can pose a feeding difficulty if the mum finds it a problem to have three lambs feeding from her.
There are also instances of four or even five or more lambs from the one mother, but thankfully these are not so common.
These little creatures with their curly fur coats, have to be hardy and healthy to survive the often very cold and exposed conditions.
Nowadays many more lambs, especially from large flocks, are born indoors, in lambing sheds where they can be closely monitored.
It is not uncommon for there to be problems with feeding lambs, as for several reasons the mother may reject the lamb and not allow it to feed, or the lamb may have had a hard birth or be smaller than expected.
This is where the farmer or shepherd will step in and find ways to find a solution to a feeding problem and often the result is the lamb being hand reared from a bottle.
There are still many farms which will have one or two lambs curled up by the fireside, and be fed the special lamb formula by the farmer`s family.
For lambs born in a shed environment, once outside, they have to adapt to the conditions out of doors, and that is why nice dry sunny weather gives them such a good start in life and gives us the benefit of watching them having fun with each other.
THE NATURAL WORLD:
There are pros and cons of course, of rearing lambs and sheep. Many are kept for breeding purposes, but I appreciate the debate which will continue as it does with many animals reared for commercial purposes.
Unfortunately there seems to be no demand for sheep fleeces, which are the by product of a yearly sheep shearing, and one of the most environmentally friendly materials available.
SWEATER MADE FROM WOOL
The sheep fleece is warm, waterproof and contains lanolin and has been part of the clothing and furnishing wool industry world wide until now.
U.K. sheep fleeces / wool, have been largely replaced in the clothing market by man made materials.
Wool carpets are still appreciated but tend to be made from wool from foreign countries.
All young animals are particularly cute and loveable when they are very small.
Some are wild and are at the mercy of predators of all sorts, others are bred for domestic and commercial purposes and their fate lies with humans.
They are all part of the natural world and have their own way of using their instincts and navigating their circumstances given the opportunity.
It begs the question of some human instincts perhaps becoming less sharp, and being drowned out by the overwhelming noise of the fast pace of life, and the dependence on so much outside support, particularly technology.
In many ways creatures, plant and marine life of the natural world are much more self sufficient and use the environment in the way it was intended.
It is a pity that many man made influences have interfered with the natural rhythm of it.all.
They use their built in senses and promote calmness, tranquillity and working together.
Humans should be taking heed..
CALMING GREEN FOLIAGE WITH WATER FEATURE
The Chelsea Flower Show is about to grace our TV screens unless one is lucky enough to attend in person.
This annual extravaganza, held in a city environment, brings into focus the positive aspects of the natural world from a plant perspective, and is not just a collection of pretty flowers.
Amazing gardens are created over months, and every detail is carefully considered.
Interestingly enough, the fashion for manicured lawns and everything in symmetry which was the theme some years ago has seen a change. The Show now incorporates aspects of the real natural world which highlights the changing seasons, the environment, including habitats for insects.
It also emphasizes the enormous benefits that embracing the natural world has on mental health.
The colours, the scents, the structures, often with water features, and the relaxing ambiance, is so beneficial and calming for anxiety and feelings of depression which are so common place.
If it is not possible to attend the Show, the T.V. recordings are very good, and convey the variety of gardens on offer.
It is very encouraging that the natural world is being taken seriously and recognized as being what we all as living things depend on.
