Chalet spring

BRAMELOUP CHALET
SPRING
Spring . Summer . Fall . Winter

Spring is a succession of happy events as different wildflowers make their appearance and the foliage goes through many shades of green. Hazelnut tassles (male flowers) are an early sign of spring.

Hazelnut male flowers Hazelnut tassles

In late February, the first flowers of spring are the primaveras (Primula aricula) in the meadows around the chalet.

Primula aricula

Then in April come a second Primula, forest violets, and the tulips in front of my bedroom window.

Primula veris

New leaves come out on the trees, and the fruit trees blossom.

Cherry tree in bloom

Cherry blossoms

Crabapple tree and blossoms
Apple blossoms

Orchis militaris

In May, the first wild orchids start blooming, first the military orchid (Orchis militaris), then a small yellow-green orchid (Listera ovata).

Orchid Listera ovata

The forest lilies include Paris quadrifolia and calla lilies Arum maculatum.
Lily Paris quadrifolia

Calla lilies

In the meadows, there is the unique Colchicum autumnale, which produces large green leaves and seed pods in the spring, which fade and disappear in the summer, to be followed by beautiful purple flowers on long white stems rising directly from the ground in late summer (see summer).

Colchicum autumnale leaves
Colchicum in spring

Meadow wildflowers
Pasture flowers

Dandelion

Hundreds of saplings appear as the forest tries to regenerate, so there are always more to chop out at the roots.

The forest gradually awakens, although hints of spring can still bring winter surprises. A late wet snowfall in April 2005 broke off many treetops and felled large trees across my property, the access road, and even my power lines.

February sees a carpet of beautiful deep blue lilies (Scilla bifolia) that cover the woodland floor at the far end of my property before the badger dens.

Carpet of lilies