Get ready for May
Mayfly (Ephemeroptera) – Westhay, Somerset, UK. ID DSCN0288
Spring reaches its peak in May. This month, flowers of all colours spread across the woodland, grasslands and countryside. Insects emerge from mayflies, dragonflies and butterflies. Friendly rabbits nibble at the grass. Lambs dash about in fields. And despite the chance of some cold mornings the days are getting warmer and life feels good.
Bluebells
Bluebells are part of our natural heritage. Half of the world’s bluebells live in the UK, and most of these grow in southern England. Making these a very important flower for Somerset.
Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) amongst Bluebells – Longwood, UK. ID JBB_0457
Bluebells can start to flower as early as late March, and may reach their best in April. But despite climate change, May probably remains the best time to see these very English flowers. Deep in ancient woodland or out in the open across the tops of the Mendips or Exmoor.
GB Gruffy – Somerset, UK. ID 803_1697
Bright Colours
White woodland flowers are joined by flowers of every colour.
Longwood in Spring – Longwood, Somerset, UK. ID 804_5202
Beautiful they may be, but oilseed rape divides opinion. When I was growing up you never saw yellow fields, and the flowers never spread out across the county down its endless waterways.
Oilseed Rape – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_2528
Pink is probably the iconic colour that marks May.
Red Campion (Silene dioica) – Dinder, Somerset, UK. ID 825_0492
But the mix of pink and white is my favourite. Turning roadside verges into soft lace.
Spring Verge – Catsham, Nr Baltonsborough, Somerset, UK. ID JB_2695
Morning Mists
Do not confuse May with summer. The mornings can be very cold, and mists often cover the ground in the early hours.
Garden End Farm – Theale, Somerset, UK. ID BR54475
Glastonbury Tor is probably photographed more than any other place in Somerset. It is easy to understand why. The floods of winter have disappeared, and spring flowers mix with the soft mists of spring.
Glastonbury Tor in the morning mist – Queens Sedge Moor, Glastonbury, Somerset, UK. ID 807_5053
Insects
May is the month when insects appear everywhere.
Oedemera nobilis – Westhay, Somerset, UK. ID JBB_1132
Butterflies are the easiest to see and most loved of our insects.
Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) – Black Rock, Somerset, UK. ID 803_0941
On woodland edges butterflies rest on cuckoo flowers, wild garlic and buttercups.
Green-viened white (Pieris napi) on Cuckoo flower – Biddle Combe, Somerset, UK. ID JB3_6008
Mammals
Rabbits breed like rabbits in May and are always fun to watch.
Rabbit – Wells, Somerset, UK. ID JB_7946
Even in May lambs shelter from the sun under a blossoming hawthorn tree.
Taking shade at Lynchcombe – Somerset, UK. ID 807_5817
And finally…
May offers so many directions for photographers.
Barton St David 1 1/4 – Catsham, Nr Baltonsborough, Somerset, UK. ID JB_2735
