Simply Snowdrops

 After my experimental film yesterday (which I was super happy with and hope you will take a look at if you haven't already) here are some more conventional shots of snowdrops as promised.

There is something special about these little flowers that come up so early in the season. It is still winter and yet they herald the start of spring. They can form impressive carpets of flowers which is why yesterday's images were so effective. But, they can also look stunning as individual plants or in small clusters as you can see in the pictures above.

Other woodland flowers that are coming through right now are cyclamen and aconites which are also really beautiful but they do not have quite the impact that snowdrops do. Soon we will see crocus, daffodils and then bluebells and then we will know that Spring has really arrived.

A Little Ball of Fluff

 The Robin is an iconic bird with its bright red breast and cheerful song it is easily recognisable and much loved.

This little beauty had been singing loudly in some low branches, presumably marking his territory and then he flew down and landed on a branch barely a metre away from me. He was so close but he was constantly watchful so I had to make sure I didn't make any sudden moves.

Despite the bright sunlight it was bitterly cold and so it is no wonder that he is all fluffed up to stay warm. I think it was the need to warm up that gave me the opportunity to be so close and get these stunning images.

Sugar Coated

Canon 100mm 1:2.8   ISO 250   f/8.0   1/320 sec

Canon 100mm 1:2.8  ISO 250   f/5.6   1/250sec

So OK, these are not really sugar coated but I do think they look like they have been dipped in lemon or orange sherbet.

Can you tell what they are?

They're Crocuses, the last of the season I think at Ness Botanic Gardens.  

I had gone along hoping for lots of spring colour but I was a bit too early in the year as most of the beds were being prepared for fresh planting. I thought at first that I would be disappointed however as I walked around the gardens I found pockets of colour and new growth as well as some interesting bark patterns to photograph.

I have included the camera settings under each picture and these images are cropped from the larger images because I really wanted to highlight the beautiful detail at the heart of these flowers.

Winter Berries

Today's post is anyone who like me finds the lack of colour in our winter woodlands a bit depressing. 

Don't get me wrong a good woodland walk is always rewarding and there is always something to see but I miss the colours and signs of life which are largely absent during the cold and damp winter months. So a flash of colour from like the bright yellow of the occasional gorse bush or the vibrant red of these berries help lift our woods and heath lands and help keep me going til spring

Winter Blue

This lovely blue flower added a splash of winter colour to a rockery garden at Chirk Castle. The unopened buds look quite succulent but when they open they reveal delicate bell shaped flowers. It's a real beauty.

But what is it?  If you can identify it please leave a comment here or on my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/chipster63photography/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

New Growth and Old

I was quite clearly right to go with the new blossoms for yesterday's post as can be seen from the number of times it has been viewed here and via my facebook page Chipster63photography  (together yesterdays blog plus Spring is Springing have been viewed 426 times so far) so hopefully continuing the theme with today's pictures of a beautiful Camelia will be just as popular.

There were two large bushes in the courtyard at Chirk Castle planted next to each other, one had a mass of brightly coloured flowers while the other had many buds but no flowers at all. The first three pictures above show different stages of growth as the flowers emerge and bloom.

The final picture by contrast in colour and texture is of what appeared to be sage or another herb gone to seed (although I am far from certain what it is). This wispy structure looks delicate and covered with frost when in fact it stood quite confident and tall and rather than frost it has a fine covering of tiny hairs.