Larch Blossom

Sat 15 April 20:30

Today for the first time in years I saw a larch tree whilst walking Meg, my sisters dog in the park. Now you may not find this quite as exciting as I do but it is a long time since I have seen a larch tree, and it is an even longer since I have seen a larch in flower. I had forgotten that the larch has both male and female flowers although I couldn't tell you which was which these days.
This got me thinking about all the stuff I used to know, which no doubt is still rattling round the dusty recesses of my brain, lost through lack of use.
When I was a boy I loved living in the country. Exploring the fields, hedgerows and woods with my pocket 'Collins Gem Guide to Wild Flowers'. I was a bit of an amateur botanist and could once have told you quite a lot about what was growing in the hedgerow.
As a family we used to spend a lot of time walking, us Copcutt's and the Davis family that lived the other end of the village. The Davis's dad Alec was an artist, although the only work of his I really remember was the intricate pictures of insects he used to produce for some book or other. Anyway all of us used to go out walking a lot throughout the year (although probably less in the winter), taking various routes through the countryside around our village. We also used to spend a fair amount of time out just us kids. Playing and having dens in the wood and all that kind of stuff.
As well as playing games exploring what was growing there in different seasons and harvesting wild fruit for jam, mushrooms and giant puffballs. Now the puffballs were a prized find, it was always extremely exciting when we found one. These things could get up to the size of a small football, and we would take them home, and either slice them into big mushroom steaks, or they'd get turned into soup.

Ok so I've wandered of from the larch tree a bit and got a little bit 'Walton's' but the whole seeing a flowering larch in the park took me back. It's been a while since I really got out and saw much nature in general.
You get so caught up in the whole work and living bit you forget there is a whole other world just getting on and growing around you. When I was younger I used to be much more aware of the changing seasons and what went on in the natural world. These days I just seem to watch nature programs on TV.
The only reason I was in the park today was because I am dog sitting for H&J as they are away for the weekend. And I have to say what with the flowering larch it's been great - in fact I'd go as far as to say it's made my day. And Meg seemed quite happy tagging along, although she seems less impressed now we're back home and I'm tapping away on this computer.
It is a shame in a way that it takes Meg sitting for me to remember what is growing in the world around me. I get so caught up in moving ever forwards with my life that I forget to sit back and watch things grow. I have no intention of beating myself up about this, it's just been apleasantt reminder to take things slow once in a while and get out in the park and just chill...