I saw spring in full bloom up the Welcombe Hills

The Horse-chestnut trees along the bridle path that runs from Clopton Tower to Clopton House are now in full bloom. There is evidence of these running all the way down to the farm beyond Clopton House. The Horse-chestnuts alternate with Lime trees and between them create a stunning walkway at this time of year that is visible from the top of Blue Cap Road.

There are both Red and White flowered Horse-chestnuts. The white is the more common arriving here in the late 16th C spreading from the Balkans. The red flowered Horse-chestnut is a hybrid of the Balkan variety and Red Buckeye. Other than the colour of the flowers the red tends to be the smaller of the two and the red bears a smooth conker shell - the white flowered  a spiky shell.

Another flower that has appeared in Clopton Fields and is a common meadow flower is the curiously named Black Medick. It's a member of the Pea family and the 'black' refers to the seed pods of that colour. Another distinguishing feature of the Black Medick is a tiny point to each of the leaves. Each flower head is made up of many small flowers (10-50). 

I do like the showy Horse-chestnuts but the smaller, prostrate flowers of the field are worth seeking out though the naked eye won't do them justice.