Blue Glory

Canon 100 1:2.8  ISO125   f/3.5  1/160sec

When I spotted these beautiful blue flowers I thought they were Turkish Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa) a flower I have photographed before however I am not so sure.

The central element of Glory of the Snow is white with yellow stamen but here you can see the centre is grey with a blue tip. 

I have tried to identify them but I just can't be certain. Whatever they are they're really lovely and a nice splash of colour to show that spring is definitely here. I had to get dirty getting right down to snap these shots but I think it was worth it.

Willow Wands

I had gone to Brockholes to shoot photos of the bird life there and I wasn't planning on photographing anything else but while waiting near a reed bed for some action I spotted these fluffy willow buds emerging as an early sign of spring. I always go out prepared with a selection of lenses just in case opportunities like this turn up so I changed from my big zoom to my macro lens and snapped a few shots. 

I think these are really nice images, I love the texture of the buds and I like the way the buds seem to climb, curling upwards around the stem. I also like them because they are a promise that spring with warmer weather is not far away.

Coming to Life

There is something elegant about the sleek tulip bud as it develops and bursts into a colourful flower. The external shell gives the slightest hint of the colour to come.

I like the natural lighting in this shot, it is almost like there is a halo around the flower.

Forget Me Not

I didn't post anything yesterday as I was feeling out of sorts and couldn't really get motivated to choose a picture to share. I'm still not feeling great but I didn't want to let another day go by in case I fall into a bad habit.

I wanted to share something bright and colourful and something that tells us spring is here, and something that will lift my spirits and hopefully yours too. 

These beautiful Forget Me Nots were captured on my recent visit to the walled garden at Royden Park. I hadn't noticed until I posted the image that the central nodes around the centre of the middle flower are white whereas those on the other flowers in this shot are all yellow.

A Great Tit

On Saturday I had planned on going to Bodnant Gardens in North Wales, desperate for some spring colour but I woke to the sound of pounding rain on the roof and my mood became as grey as the clouds as I realised that my planned photo shoot was not going to happen.

Later in the day the skies cleared and the sun came out. It was too late to travel to Bodnant but I wanted so much to get out so decided to go somewhere closer to home and hit upon the idea of the Walled Garden at Royden Park. This is a local gem and although the park is a favourite with families and dog walkers the walled garden is a secluded and often over looked spot and whenever I have visited in the past I have found myself alone or just joined by one or two other visitors, Saturday was no exception and in the afternoon sun it was a perfect spot.

It is stil very early in the season and there weren't too many floral specimens on display (there were a few which I will be sharing in due course) but I spent some time watching the birds visiting a corner of the garden where there are a number of feeders set up to encourage the wildlife. 

Today's picture is of a beautiful Great Tit that was taking almost as much interest in me as I was in him. He perched for a few moments, just long enough for this shot, before flying to feed his pretty little face.

Spring Blossoms

It is cold, wet and windy outside and even though it is officially spring there is still not much colour around so here is a nice colourful reminder that spring is really on its way.

There's Something About Spring

There really is something about spring and these pictures show it. I love the delicate buds and the way new life springs from once barren looking branches. I also like the way plants can resemble other things from nature.

I don't know what the first plant is but it is soft and fresh and I like the way the tips of the leaves come together in a way reminiscent of finger tips.

The next shot is of a hazel bud which was part of a living arch. The soft furry buds look more mammal than tree.

The final two pictures are of pussy willow and again there is a soft downy quality as well as a gentle spikiness to these buds a bit like a caterpillar

Emerging Blossom

I had intended to follow on from yesterday's post with some shots from the dairy at Erddig but as you can see I have taken things in a different direction. The reason being that my recent post Spring is Springing has been so popular it has stormed into top ten most viewed posts (currently it is at number 8) and so it seems that in these cold and frosty winter days there is a real taste for these signs that better weather and a change in the seasons is coming.

Today I headed off to Chirk Castle in North Wales, where there is always a spectacular display of Snowdrops at this time of year.  I only took a couple of pictures of Snowdrops however as there was plenty of colour and new growth to catch the eye albeit much of it very small and only noticeable if you were looking for it (which of course I was).

Given how small everything was I relied on my 100mm Macro Lens today, it is a beautiful lens and has never let me down as I try to get great close up shots. I hope you will agree that today it has served me well.

The first two pictures are of apple blossom emerging, each little bud was no bigger than a small pea and I love the pattern of the veins in the new petals. I am reminded by the first picture a little of the plant "Audrey II" from Little Shop of Horrors.

The flowers in the third picture were so tiny and delicate, they were growing in the shelter of a wall in the castle's kitchen garden.



It has been pointed out to me that the budding leaves in the final picture look a little bit like a paintbrush, which I guess it does.

Spring Is Springing

Last Saturday was particularly cold but at least it was dry so I took the opportunity to visit Erddig near Wrexham in North Wales. It is a fine stately home with a reputation that the servants of the household were highly valued and well treated by the home owners.

There are lovely formal and informal gardens at Erddig but because of the intense cold I didn't spend too much time outside.  I did however see these hopeful signs of spring in these lovely catkins  and crocus.and couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a few shots to share with you.