Alliums are really fabulous plants with the flower heads more like colonies of tiny flowers.
Walking past a bed of alliums you tend to see rows of colourful balls perched on top of their slender stems. But it really is worth taking a closer look and then you will see the gorgeous detail that you can see in today's first picture.
I hope you like today's post if so and if you would like to be in with a chance to win a free limited edition print (of any picture from posts past and present) simply visit my facebook page where you can like and share. The draw will take place at the end of this week when total blog visitors reaches 50,000 (likely to be Friday if current trends continue)
Although mallards are probably the most common ducks we will see in our parks and along our river banks but because we see them so often they are easily overlooked which is a shame because they are truly beautiful. I am really pleased with the first of today's pictures, the clear image and the lovely reflection show this young female at her best.
I love the flash of colour in the cheeks of the drake in the final two pictures and the water droplets beading on its head is a nice detail.
As with all of my posts from the past few days it is the striking colours which are the stand out feature. The flowers themselves are beautiful but close up when you see the intricate elements that they are made up of you can really appreciate the different shapes and textures. The smooth petals, with their crinkled ends, the fleshy stamen and the granular pollen.
Just wonderful.
Today I went to Bodnant Gardens in North Wales. It is always a treat and today there were plenty of great flowers in bloom. Conditions weren't the best for photographing flowers however due to strong winds meaning it took extra time getting shots that weren't blurred. All the same I took over 150 pictures and would have taken more but ran out of time. I guess I will have to go back another day.
The shots above are of a Bearded Iris each one showing a different perspective and close up detail of the individual parts which make a beautiful flower. I hope that you will agree the colours and detail are stunning.
I hope you like today's selection, I am looking forward to sharing some more from the visit to Bodnant in coming days...
