The Dell

 There is going to be a decidedly watery feel to my next few posts as well as some long exposures.

Today's lone image is from Bodnant Garden. I had been watching a pair of Goldcrests and a pair of treecreepers in the trees along the banks of the stream when I noticed the way the sunlight was playing through these trees and I took a little time to set up this shot. I had to wait for visitors to step away from the small bridge, and as I was on a narrow path I had to ensure I was not causing an obstruction as I set up my tripod. 

I used a 10 second exposure here at f22 and I used a variable ND filter to compensate for the long exposure (I can't recall what setting I used for the filter) I think the overall effect with the "frozen" waterfall and the sunlight through the trees creates a really tranquil scene. The sound of the water as it flowed by was so relaxing, it was easy to get lost in the beauty of this place.

A Carpet of Colour

 

I thought for today's post I would share a riot of spring colour with this carpet of beautiful Crocuses.

As I said the other day being so early in the season there was not a great deal of colour throughout the gardens at Bodnant as most flowers/plants are only just "waking up". However walking along one path towards the dell there was this vast array of crocuses, interspersed in a few places by daffodils creating the appearance of a wildflower meadow in summer.

Predominantly purple and white these flowers look stunning against the lush green of the grass. It was nice to see that despite recent storms and heavy rain the flowers themselves were not badly damaged and in the sunshine this was a wonderful sight. Some of the individual flowers look stunning set against the blooms around them as they catch the sunlight.

Hellebore

 Everyday I have a word of the day from a dictionary app on my phone and I share it with my son. Today's word was "polliniferous" which means producing or bearing pollen so I thought it was appropriate to take a closer look at this hellebore which I snapped at Bodnant last weekend.

Today I spent a pleasant few hours at Sizergh Castle in the Lake District enjoying the gardens, there was lots of greenery and the hellebores were not as far on as this one but there was lots to enjoy all the same. More of that another time so for today I hope you enjoy this offering.

A Little Bit of Sunshine

 Yellow is my favourite colour. 

It was a brilliantly sunny day and it just lit up this bed of beautiful lilies, creating a wonderful and uplifting display.

Potential

The jewel in the crown at Bodnant Gardens is the magnificent Laburnum arch that flowers in late May and June in a beautiful display of golden yellow flowers that hang down in a 55 metre long tunnel. It was created in 1880 and is the longest and oldest one in Britain.

At this time of year it is just beginning to come into bud and walking beneath the frame it is fascinating to see how carefully it is maintained with each branch and twig meticulously tied and trained into its correct position.  

This is just one bud that will very soon be a golden chain of tiny flowers. I love the colours in this image and the shape as the buds curl downwards and it is filled with so much promise.

 

Sausage Vine

This plant is called Holboellia coriacea which is a vigorous evergreen climbing shrub which originates from China.

Holoboellia coriacea is a bit of a mouthful and not very easy to remember so it is a good thing that it has some other more common names such as blue china vine. It also earns the name sausage vine not because of the flowers but because of the greenish/purple sausage shaped fruit that it produces after the flowers mature. The flowers themselves are very small and really quite interesting. 

For those who have been following my daily posts you will know that there was a draw yesterday and I am pleased to say that Chris from Provo in Utah will soon be receiving the print of his choice. I was pleased by the response over recent weeks so I will plan another draw in the near future so please keep following my blog and who knows next time it could be you.

Whiskers...

Today's post is a close up on the Bearded Iris hence the title "Whiskers". These are beautiful flowers with really strong colours and lots of different textures. Enjoy.

Also today is the day that my total blog posts reach 50,000. As I write this there are just 32 to go. So if you have been onto my facebook page to like or share tonight is when I will draw the winner of the free print. I have been really pleased with the response to my blog and I am pleased to be able to give something back for the support that I have received.

Against The Wall

I spotted these tiny flowers growing against the bottom of a wall in the shade of some climbing roses. I'd love to be able to tell you what they are but I haven't been able to identify them so if you know what they are please leave a comment below.

Whatever they are they are really beautiful with such an interesting design, in the first image it sort of resembles a cartoon duck, at least I think it does so maybe that says something about the way my mind works.

If you have followed my blog recently you will know that I am offering a chance to win a limited edition print when page views on my blog reach 50,000. All you have to do is visit my facebook page and like/share for a chance to win. Today could be the last chance as the target is likely to be reached tomorrow, so go ahead and have a go...

Beauty and the Beast

I know that it is not very pretty but a close up look at the fly on this flower reveals some really good details (if you can bear to look) such as the speckled grey body and its spiky hairs. 

It also reveals details in the centre of the flower, for example who knew that the yellow segments at the heart of a daisy actually have black tips?

Having shown the beast I had to balance that with the beauty of the daisy which seems to shine in the sunlight. Often thought of as weed, like Dandelions, Daisies are really beautiful and deserve some recognition.

Remember there is a chance to win a limited edition print by visiting my facebook page just like and share the page to be in with a chance to win. The draw will be at the end of this week.

Pin Mill Two

Two more shots of the Pin Mill at Bodnant Gardens today. This time from the inside using the arches and windows to frame the garden.

I like the warm colour of the wall is the first shot but I particularly like the second shot taken from a low vantage point looking out into the garden.

Remember there is a chance to win a free print of your choice (from my blog of course) simply visit my facebook page Like and Share for a chance to win. The draw will be taken when the number of visitors to my blog reaches 50,000. It won't be long so have a go.

Pin Mill

So yesterday I said I had planned on sharing some of the agricultural features from Bodnant and here today are three different views of the pin mill. The third shot is perhaps a more traditional view but the others are views that would often be missed or overlooked.

I like the way the trellis frames the building in the second shot and in the first I like the way it draws the eye towards the mill.

I have really enjoyed posting my blog and I am very pleased that I will soon reach a total of 50,000 views (not counting the page views on my facebook page. So I have decided that I will giveaway a high quality print on the day that I hit the 50,000 total. To be in with a chance to win all you have to do is visit my facebook page and like and share. The more times you share the page the more chances you have to win. Give it a go, you have nothing to lose

Pompon de Paris

I had intended to take a break from flowers tonight and I was going to move onto some of the architectural features of Bodnant Gardens but in the end I plumped for these three different varieties of rose. The first is Pompon de Paris and the last one is Rosa "zigeunerknabe".

Recently I was asked what my favourite flower was and my answer almost without hesitation was the rose and so I was obviously going to share some rose pictures from my day at Bodnant. Of course Rose covers a huge range of flowers, colours, shapes, sizes and of course fragrances. There is so much to love about a rose and hopefully you will love the ones I have chosen for you today.

If you look closely at the tight rosebud in the second image you will see the texture of the new petals and a fine covering of delicate hairs which perhaps you wouldn't expect to see. It just goes to show that it is always worth taking a closer look at things as there is very often much more going on than you would normally see.

Cool Clematis

I love the bold colours of these large and striking Clematis flowers. I have got it wrong in the past when I have described the colours in some of my pictures so before I started to write anything I checked out with my youngest son so now I can say with confidence how much I love the different shades of pink and yellow.



Only kidding, purple and cream :)

These are such beautiful flowers and so that is why I have posted several shots .

Unsprung

These images are great examples of why this season is aptly named Spring as these leaves uncoil like springs.

I love the rich greens in the first image not just in the plant itself but also the different shades in the background and the effects of the light.

I chose to post the second image in black and white because I like the contrast and it also makes the detail of the hairs stand out more. The background in this picture is also interesting as it is like a mirror image (albeit out of focus) of the plant which is the main focus of the shot. I know that not everyone likes to see plants in black and white but here I think the shot works really well.

Campanula

This lovely purple flower is a wall bellflower.

It is difficult to get a sense of scale from these photos, especially as I don't know what size these pictures will appear on your screen. The bud in the second shot was just a couple of milimetres across and the open bloom was no more than a centimetre. They would have been easily overlooked but with the help of my macro lens we get to enjoy a nice close up view of a real gem.

Californication

More of my favourite colour for today's selection but instead of Laburnum today's flowers are California Poppies.

The first picture isn't a crop it is the full image. I wanted to get right in to capture the detail of its fertile centre.

I like the meadow feeling from the second image with the trees, azaleas and ferns as a backdrop and then I love the strong yet delicate sentinel in the final image.

I know I can get a bit carried away when I am talking about flowers but they are so beautiful and they give me such a lift. I don't have the patience to do gardening but I have a lovely selection of photos that I have taken over the years that I can go to at any time.

I think some of you will be on the same page with me and I am sure that some of you will also share my love of the colour yellow.

Return of the Native

Native English Bluebells that is (in case you were thinking I was referring to Thomas Hardy's classic novel).

You may remember that I recently went to Boilton Woods in Lancashire to find some bluebells and I posted a few pictures here on my blog. Well last week at Bodnant Gardens I found a few more late blossoms hidden away among the shrubs. While there were lots of brightly coloured azaleas and other plants I was really pleased to find these gorgeous bluebells and knew that they would find their way into my blog. 

I hope you think they are worth sharing...

New Blossom

I don't know what this particular flower is but I don't think my ignorance would be a reason not to share it with you.

From the tight little bud in the first picture emerges these beautiful tender white flowers with gloriously bright centres. Set against their soft green foliage they make a splendid sight.

I love getting in close with my macro lens to pick out the detail in the centre with those fine tendrils designed to lure in the bees and pollinating insects so that we can enjoy more of these wonderful plants.

I am so glad that spring has arrived and we can enjoy warmer days and more colour in the world around us.

Morning Fresh

Sometimes plants in the early stage of their development have something of an alien quality about them. Have a look at my post from Monday for a good example of what I mean. 

Today's first shot of an Bearded Iris springing into bloom is another good example. Springing is probably the wrong adjective because it is really a slow unfurling as the flower matures into a beautiful floatey flower.

This one has a soft green background which is the fern from the second of today's pictures. Ferns are really interesting plants with the lovely shades of green and the different textures of the fronds. This one has a really fresh colour as it it young and still has some of the early morning dew on it.

Lovely...

Coming to Life

Can you tell what this is?


It looks a bit like a dead spider all coiled up or perhaps some other multi-limbed insect.

But of course it's not. It is in fact a type of fern which is gradually unfurling and taking shape. 
It was taken in the gardens at Bodnant on Saturday where I spent a happy few hours with my youngest son, both of us taking pictures of the many beautiful flowers bringing some spring colour. Keep coming back for more shots from my day out. I promise there will be some really great pictures.