Springtime changes from the car

I spend a fair amount of time driving these days. I don't enjoy it at all, but where we live we just have to drive  a lot. 

I love this time of year, the changes everywhere...

So I thought I'd make my journey home a bit longer than usual by taking pictures of various places that I enjoy to watch as I drive past....

I took these few pictures last week. Most trees are still bare. Those are the hills where the sheep come from...

Hawthorn and jasmine in that hedgerow, that haven't properly woken up yet...

More bare trees

I really like this oak tree overhanging the road here.

It has grown more on the side overhanging the road, and you can see that where it has a few leaves opening, they are over the road too. Perhaps it is the warmth radiating from the tar that is speeding this side of the tree up.. I don't know.

And today I went to my harp lesson, and as I got out of the car I was struck by how surrounded I was by beauty, the flowers, the new growth, and the bird song from all directions. It felt a bit magical.

And these are some pictures on the way home today. So many more new fresh green leaves are opening on the trees...

Beautiful big oaks in the distance..

We have a family of very brave plovers living at the bottom of our road. The parents are extremely protective. So protective that a couple of years ago we accidentally squashed one as it tried to defend its family from our car wheel. We were certain it would, and had moved out of the way. But no, it was brave to the last, and it was rather upsetting.

So here are this year's two chicks, running away from me, and almost fully feathered.

The adult moved away. Very sensible.

I'm glad they have done so well.

And everyone is enjoying the company of Thomas..He is growing so well!

Calf club day is creeping closer!