Summer!

Officially then, Spring has ended and Summer has begun.  We have just experienced the coldest spring in at least 50 years, but things are looking up - slightly.  The sun is till shining this morning, so here are a few more pictures from our recent walks around the area.
There are many flowers in the British Countryside, which look rather like Dandelions.  The Daisy family is a very large one and one member of this family which we came across yesterday, is the Common Catsear (Hypochaeris radicata).  Standing about two feet tall and with golden yellow, Dandelion-like flowers it demands attention, particularly when highlighted by the bright sunshine.

Under the canopy of Ash, Beech and Horse Chestnut trees as we approached the top of Shipley Hill, there was a wonderful carpet of Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) waving in the breeze and filling the air with their distinctive scent.

Closer to the ground, the familiar flowers of Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) stand above the grasses with their unique flower heads looking like tiny firecrackers.  These little plants certainly need a closer look than you would normally afford a 'weed' in order to appreciate their true beauty.

The views across grassy fields on the Northern side of Shipley Hill are lovely when the sky is blue and a few puffy white clouds and millions of Buttercups add further points of interest.  Just lovely!