March Wildness

Extending Light. Return of Green. Unfurling buds. Cold Soil. Birdsong. Blustery days. Sap rising. 

Issue 5 March 2020

March is the month where green returns to our gardens and to the countryside - hurrah! The clocks change at the end of March giving us a whole extra hour to spend as we please. For me it will be in the garden because new life is emerging everywhere.

WILDNESS

There's no official start date for Spring and although you may have been noticing signs of Spring for a few weeks now, March is when things really get going!

We entered Meteorological Spring on 1 March and these first weeks of the month are classed as early spring. Over the next few weeks there continues to be a marked increased in light, trees start to bud, the birds sing happily and there's evidence of new growth in the garden. 

By the time we get to the Spring Equinox on the 20 March (also called the Vernal Equinox and the start of Astronomical Spring) the day will be equal in length to the night and the light will continue to increase. 

However it's worth saying that March comes with a weather warning! It is a month of contrasts and in a matter of moments bright spring sunshine can give way to fierce cold winds and rain, then return back to bright sunshine. My washing is constantly being hung out in huge gusts of drying wind, then swiftly bundled back inside during heavy rains showers! I think this Charles Dickens quote sums it up perfectly:

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: 
when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”

Charles Dickens

Out in the wild, primroses and violets are opening giving wonderful wafts of scent - get down low and give them a sniff! The breezy, cheerful wild daffodils are enthusiastically blooming and fat leaf buds are unfurling on the trees. If you're lucky you might spot wood anemones on the woodland floors. 

Celandines are looking fantastic now - one of the first heralds of Spring. Lesser Celandine (Ranunculaceae ficaria) has cheery yellow flowers and really attractive green heart-shaped leaves held up on long green stems. For me, the contrast between the blooms and leaves is part of the appeal of this early little bloomer.

Blossom is just starting to appear on the trees near me. Its gorgeous soul lifting flowers are so worth it despite the fleeting days (or if you're lucky weeks) of flowering! I'll post photos as the blossom reaches it's height of showy wonderfulness!

For birds, March is nest building time and the hedgerows become very busy. This week I counted 10 sparrows all busily chattering together in a couple of metres of my hedgerow - clearly they like living close to one another!

Bumble bees start to fly on warm days, the first butterflies emerge, summer-visiting birds begin to return and hedgehogs wake from hibernation and look for food. Post hibernating hedgehogs are really hungry having lost a third of their body weight. They need to eat lots, fast ready for the start of the breeding season. You can help by leaving food out for them - apparently chicken or turkey cat food is best. I'll include tips for making a hedgehog feeder in a forthcoming blog.

photo by Mike Lewinski

March, it is said is the month when hares go mad. The male buck struts and jumps in front of the doe and will box his rivals. But he's not mad - he's just courting!  The enthusiastic hares can be spotted in the low growing fields in March. I'm still scanning the fields, yet to spot them - maybe this year!

If you can do get outside and explore your local countryside this week. Looking at the details is a wonderful way to reconnect to the seasons. Let me know what March highlights you spot and/or photograph.

If you have any questions you can reach me via my website  www.plotgardendesign.co.uk and please follow/like PLOT Garden Design on social media to receive my seasonal updates and photos.