for the Sycamore to Flower

An early walk was taken this morning before the rain that was due.

The Sycamore flower is really quite an insignificant green thing when it first comes out.  It can easily be confused with the newly emerged leaves. You have to look hard to see anything in this picture.

Sycamores are the first major source of nectar in our part of the world. (Happily we don't have to endure oil see rape flowers) If it comes in to flower too soon then it can be devastated by high winds.  It is then that you see all the detritus beneath the tree.

However the Sycamore has a clever strategy for overcoming wind damage.  The trees come in to flower at different times. Thus they will start flowering over the next fortnight. 

This also coincides with the first full examination of my bee hives.