Walking Around Chaumussay in Early Spring

On Friday 20 February Simon and I did a 2 kilometre circuit at Chaumussay. We wanted to check on the river water level of the Claise and the colony of wild daffodils that grows by the voie verte (greenway). The temperature was 12°C, there was no wind to speak of, and it wasn't raining. Since France has been experiencing the longest period of continuous rain since records began (36 days and counting) having an afternoon when it wasn't raining was noteworthy. The walk took us about half an hour.

 

The Claise is high but not unusually so for this time of year. Some riverside gardens and fields are flooded, but there is no real threat to life or property.

Silky Wall Feather Moss Homalothecium sericeum (Fr. Homalothécie soyeuse) on a low garden wall.

Grey Cushioned Grimmia moss Grimmia pulvinata on a low garden wall.

Colony of Wild Daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus (Fr. Narcisse jaune).

Primrose Primula vulgaris (Fr. Primavère acaule).

Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna (Fr. Ficaire fausse-renoncule), one of the most important sources of pollen for early emerging bees.

Cherry-plum Prunus cerasifera (Fr. Prunellier de Myrobolan) blossom, with a male non-biting midge from the Chironomidae family of flies. The larvae of these midges are known as blood worms (Fr. vers de vase).

European Ash Fraxinus exelsior (Fr. Frêne élevé) flowers.

Crocuses in a public garden.