Wednesday 29 January 2020

Early Signs of Spring in St Mary's Churchyard, Martlesham


A few years ago a couple of local friends suggested that we should go and see the spring flowers in the churchyard of St Mary's church above the river Deben in Suffolk. On that occasion the carpet of crocuses was so spectacular that we have returned once or twice each spring. We paid a first 2020 visit last weekend, and were particularly heartened by the plentiful drifts of snowdrops.



We were a bit early for the crocuses, but there were a few purple, white and orange ones here and there.


I grew up in East Anglia, and have loved the flintstone facings one encounters ever since. 


The snowdrops and crocus...


...were joined by a clump of primroses.


The next photo, taken just below the church and gravestones in the photo above, is a sign of things to come. 


More snowdrops...



...and hidden among the leaves, a single Daisy.





'The snowdrops first—the dawning gray;
Then out the roses burn!
They speak their word, grow dim—away
To holy dust return.'

From: The Flower-Angels
by George MacDonald (1824-1905)




2 comments:

L. D. said...

I really enjoyed seeing all the early spring blooms. Beautiful shots.

Ragged Robin said...

A super post Caroline and a very lovely church and churchyard. It is so lovely to start seeing flowers appearing especially in churchyards which often seem to have carpets of snowdrops. It certainly looks as though it will be worth a further Spring visit to see those crocuses :)