Early daffodils

A very quick blip today and the dog was pulling on the lead as I was taking this!

This species of Daffodil (Narcissus) although growing on the side of the road is not the wild variety which is now rare in this country. Many villages have daffodils planted on their approach roads as a welcome. This is fine as long as there are no wild ones growing nearby. The two can crossbreed and the wild species is then wiped out. This is the problem in many areas with the English Bluebell being pollinated by the Spanish garden variety resulting in a hybrid.

N told me a story that occured at yesterday's pheasant shoot. A pheasant that had been shot landed on the lane behind a hedge. A dog was sent to pick it up but just before it got there the owner saw a large fox jumping out of the undergrowth. It snatched the dead bird up in its jaws and beat a hasty retreat. Supper had arrived!