Dead Wood

 In the forest in winter it would be easy to think that everything is either dead or dormant but actually as you look around you will find an abundance of life. Everything in the forest works in harmony and even the old dead wood is home to so much new life; from the insects and grubs that feed on it and help to break it down, to the fungi and mosses that draw on its rich supply of nutrients.

Then in the rain or after a heavy rainfall the sound of water dripping from the tress and the sheen on the leaf litter adds even more to the experience.

I enjoyed my woodland walk here (this is in the Black Forest) and I will be certain to get out to a forest near me over the coming weeks so that I can draw on the energy that it gives.

Springing to life

I have been somewhat preoccupied over the past week and now I find myself in France in a small town between Versailles and Paris.
I have spent the afternoon walking in a park. I spotted a few interesting things and some pretty flowers and I thought this curled vine looks really good.

New Shoots

Canon 100mm 1:2.8     ISO 200     f/3.5    1/200sec

By now these buds will be fully open and the sapling will no doubt be awash with leaves. I am not 100% certain but I think these are Sycamore buds. (If you know for sure please let me know in the comments).

I love the shape of these buds and the way the green and red scales open out as the leaf emerges in a blush of colour. There is so much detail in the newly forming leaf, it is quite amazing when you look closely at it. Looking at the second image it looks a bit like marine life, a shrimp or a barnacle perhaps. Or is that just my imagination?

Ruffles and Curls

I have always been fascinated by the way ferns unravel and spring into life. I love the soft green and delicate curls and I think they make excellent photographic subjects.

While taking the pictures of the ferns above my attention was drawn to the other leaves in the third and fourth images. I do not know what plant it is I did look at the plant label but I've been asleep since then and I have forgotten what it is. However I really do like the way the leaves are ruffled and how they are slowly opening up. I also like the way the water droplet is held aloft by the layer of tiny hairs along the leave's edge.