There's magic up in them there hills

There is a small hill that at this time of the year

usually turns a striking cobalt, 

a beautiful hyacinth shade of blue.

However, this year our rather cool and dreary spring

has delayed the much awaited opening of the bluebells.

However, their late arrival was our blessing -

instead we found clouds of primroses...

...and galaxies of woodland anenomes 

Interspersed with sprinklings of tiny tiny violets.

We struggled to find a spot to sit

and sip tea

amongst the flowers. 

 Coppiced hazels appeared to burst out from the ground

with veils of stems

and explosions of twigs.

Down close to the floor

a delicate perfume 

gently drifted across the meadow,

a sweet scent which would have been lost

under the headier bouquet of the bluebells.

And, punctuating the gently undulating flowers,

spikes of orchids

and stalked clusters of cowslips

added to the drama. 

It was a visual delight

an unexpected twist on what we'd come to see.

We shall return when the bluebells awake.