Raindrops

 Here are the last two shots from a rainy visit to Hestercombe in Somerset.

I just love the way raindrops collect in the folds of leaves and cling tenaciously to the tip before finally falling to the ground. There is something really satisfying about the glossy droplets reflecting the world around them.

Drip Drip Drop!

I tried so hard to capture a shot as one of the droplets on the end of these fern fronds let go and completed its journey to the ground but getting the timing right was impossible, at least in the time I had available. I would have been helped by having a flash but that was safely at home.

Nevertheless I am very happy with these shots. I find it fascinating how the surface tension of the raindrops means they hold their shape for so long as they slowly make their way along the leaves and dangle clinging to the tip as if by a thread. I also like the way they shine.

Siberian Bugloss

Very often the common names for plants are much more interesting than the formal names and this is certainly a case in point... The scientific name is Brunnera macrophyla, it is a type of forget-me-not or heartleaf and I believe this variety is the Siberian bugloss which is as I say a more interesting name than its scientific name would suggest.

The flowers are quite delicate and you can see from the first image one tiny flower that has been knocked of its stem by the rain. The flower itself is intact but is held in place by the drops of rain.

Death Come Quickly

 

I haven't really been able to indulge my passion for photography for a long time and on the odd occasions when I have been able to get out with my camera I have had limited time and only managed to get a few shots and so I have not regularly posted anything to my blog, it has been in fits and starts. So this past week has been a much needed treat for me. I was able to spend a few days down in Somerset and Devon and along the way I managed to capture a few decent images that I am looking forward to sharing and perhaps sharing the story behind some of them.

On Monday I went to Hestercombe Gardens just outside of Taunton. There are some lovely formal gardens designed by Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens in 1908, but there are also some wonderful landscaped gardens which date back to the 1750's with lots of little surprises and hidden gems, such as gothic temples, cascades and alcoves where you can sit and enjoy spectacular views across the garden. 

It was wet and grey when I visited but that didn't spoil the visit in any way. In fact the rain added some extra interest as you can see from the images above. 

I have a few more pictures with a watery theme to come but for today I have a shot of this Geranium robertianum; a species of cranesbill. It is commonly known as herb-Robert, fox geranium, red robin, stinking Bob, crow's foot, squinter-pip and as in the title of this post death come quickly. Apparently it can be used in folk medicine with a variety of benefits; one that particularly interests me is that the smell from the leaves if rubbed on the body will repel mosquitoes. As someone who seems to attract mosquitoes and all manner of bitey bugs that sounds quite tempting although perhaps the smell which is said to be similar to burning tyres may actually drive away more than just mosquitoes.

This is a very unassuming little plant and could have been overlooked very easily but I think it was worth the time and attention to get this shot (and the cropped image too) with the raindrops for added interest. The pink flower stands out nicely against the green backdrop of bracken, I think it is really beautiful.

Raindrops On Tulips

Canon 100mm f /1:2.8

ISO 100  f/11  1/30 sec

ISO 100  f/3.5  1/800 sec

ISO 100  f/3.5   1/800 sec

I know the line from the song is "Raindrops on Roses..." but there were no roses to see but these beautiful tulips will more than make up for that.

These flowers certainly make it onto my list of favourite things.

Raindrops On Roses

Well ok, not roses...

But a couple of macro shots of raindrops nonetheless.

I like the magnifying effect of the raindrops on the oak leaf in the first image and in the second shot the droplets seem to emphasise the fragility of the flower. 

Brighten Your Day

Sometimes you just need something simple to lift your spirits. I love yellow so this close-up of Autumn Hawkbit with a covering of raindrops really works for me...

Dewdrops

Walking along a path alongside a meadow the grass, shrubs and flowers were all laden down with raindrops from an earlier downpour. The petals of this yellow flower were particularly heavy with droplets giving the petals the appearance and texture of tissue paper.

I was glad that the rain had stopped because it meant I was able to get some great pictures.

Fairy Lights

Well not really fairy lights but it's natures equivalent...

Walking yesterday morning  the bushes, which are just beginning to show early signs of spring, shimmered and glowed with raindrops as they caught the early morning sun, adding a magical quality to my woodland walk. This is just one of the reasons I had such a lovely time in the woods.

Ripples and Reflections

It was a cold and wet morning in the lakes and I was really lucky to get the first shot of Tarn Hows so still with a fairly sharp reflection, you can just make out the raindrops breaking the surface and just moments after taking this shot it poured down and the reflection disappeared.

In the second shot of the log extending into the lake you can see a white area in the distance which is not ripples it is actually ice. In the final image you can also see that the surface of the lake is frozen for quite a distance and although it looks thin and would not have held my weight it was thick enough that a stone thrown onto it skimmed along the surface.

My favourite images today are the first and fourth, leave a comment and let me know yours...

After The Rain...

The other day I popped into my garden after the rain and took a few shots of the raindrops on some of the plants. The first three are on the leaves of crocosmia, I particularly like the first shot.

In the third picture it is possible to see a reflection of the house and sky.

The final picture is of a droplet on a rose petal.  The rose was really fragrant.  I like the unusual shape of the bubble, it is almost as if it has feet at one end like a little mite.