I love snowdrops….in every way.
The name comes from the Greek “gala” meaning milk and “anthos” meaning flower and their flower meaning is consolation, hope and purity.
As always we have been out and about and taken pictures of single snowdrops, bunches of snowdrops and paths of snowdrops….. so here are a few all from the Severn Valley.
We are experiencing some cold weather here in Shropshire but, although it is still technically winter, there are signs of change. I went on a course the other day to identify trees in winter and it was amazing that, despite the frosts and snow, some of the trees are already bud bursting. Even in the garden, there are those little signs. Throughout the winter, we have had two Robins residing on either side of our garden. One on the right and one on the left 😉
Yesterday, I spotted them both together on a branch. Meanwhile, we have also had a single Dunnock throughout the winter months. Yesterday, I saw the one had been joined by another and he was sitting up in the tree singing the most beautiful song. For such a plain bird, they have a wonderful tune.
Our gregarious Long Tailed Tits are still paying a visit to the garden especially on the colder, frosty days.
As I was walking through the snow yesterday, I also heard two birds flying through the Hawthorne, calling to each other sounding almost like a plaintive mobile phone. It was a sound that was unfamiliar to me, I think I could also do with a course on birdsong.
Despite the snow, the first signs of Spring are hidden in sheltered corners.
In our garden, the first flowers are the Iris with that gorgeous splash of colour to soothe tired winter eyes.
Along the hedgerows and in the woodland we also have the most beautiful of our early flowers in the UK. The Snowdrop. The first signs of Spring are held in the soft petals of in this tiny delicate flower.
TO A SNOWDROP
LONE Flower, hemmed in with snows and white as they
But hardier far, once more I see thee bend
Thy forehead, as if fearful to offend,
Like an unbidden guest. Though day by day,
Storms, sallying from the mountain-tops, waylay
The rising sun, and on the plains descend;
Yet art thou welcome, welcome as a friend
Whose zeal outruns his promise! Blue-eyed May
Shall soon behold this border thickly set
With bright jonquils, their odours lavishing
On the soft west-wind and his frolic peers;
Nor will I then thy modest grace forget,
Chaste Snowdrop, venturous harbinger of Spring,
And pensive monitor of fleeting years!
William Wordsworth
It has been a while since I posted. I confess that winter doesn’t really inspire me overly….well normally that is. When I came to update I realised that perhaps I have taken more photos than usual for winter time. This year, we have had almost every kind of weather possible. In December we experienced some very frosty cold mornings. This one was taken along the Mercian Way in the Severn Valley.
Shortly afterwards we experienced some very foggy, mysterious days.
With dew and frosty cobwebs shining in the corners.
January brought the snow!
Followed by an increase of birds into the garden.
Together with some beautiful sunrises as it began to disappear.
Then, never far away from us in the UK this year, the inevitable floods…..and on a sunny day, even they can look beautiful!
However, looking around in the garden and I can see the first new signs of renewal….but, all of that will be for another post!
I think Autumn is becoming much more of a favourite time of year since I caught the photography bug. I always loved it but, often took it as the prelude to winter which I am not so keen on! But, taking photographs has a habit of making you look, really look around and appreciate the little things just that little bit more.
It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.
Henry David Thoreau
So, on each fine day experienced of late, I have wandered off somewhere along the valley. On a very cold day, I went a secured myself a little place and watched this scene for a couple of hours.
Despite the cold, I was so busy watching the antics of two Dippers that I didn’t notice it very much. Sadly, my photo’s leave a lot to be desired, this is a spot I need to return to earlier in the day.
Together, with a Grey Wagtail they all kept me entertained for some time!
I have also spent some time walking around Dudmaston. Not the Hall because it is closed at this time of year but on the opposite side of the road, there are a number of public footpaths.
Carpets of yellow around every corner but I also love the mix of coniferous and deciduous trees.
Some just look beautiful all on their own
Colour is everywhere even down the tiny fungi which is so easy to miss.
For a photographer there are inevitably frustrations. Down in the Severn Valley Country Park, we saw this little fellow on one of the pools last month.
It was on a cloudy day and I was so hoping to get back with better light. Unfortunately, I got back this week and they have drained the pool to cut back the reeds. Furthermore, as I sat in the hide, the works party showed up so no chance of spotting anything! In fact, I went walking and for the first time in ages I spotted my elusive Green Woodpecker. Steadied myself, took aim and guess what? ……That work party showed up again *deep sigh*.
Thankfully, the scenes were beautiful and are getting more so by the day.
I still spotted a Common Darter dragonfly which was quite hard to see on Autumn foliage and seems quite late for this region. Of course, there are always some birds that are a little more tolerant of human presence too.
Our garden feeders are getting a lot busier as it cools down and with migration in place, no doubt there will be some changes in our bird sightings now. I shall leave you with a final image of the sun going down over the River Severn
As we are now into November, I guess my next post will be winter!
Actually it has been a very wet rainy day here in Shropshire and so to brighten the day, I am choosing some of my most recent “Yellow” photographs. Besides, this one should be bright and cheery, it is my 100th blog post! I always think that colours seem to change throughout the year and often become predominantly one whether this is due to nature or man-made. The daffodils have all but finished now but, these Narcissus have been brightening up my days this week from a neighbour’s garden.
Whilst in our own garden, the birds have been the most active on out feeder that I have seen for ages. They all look very smart in Spring I think. No doubt they will look a little more ruffled at the end of the breeding season.
Meanwhile, a little further afield and the first primroses are blooming in the woods and on the grass verges.
For miles around we can see bright yellow fields of rapeseed for oil.
The first Yellow Wagtails are arriving and looking around the hedgerows and you can spot the Yellow Hammers dive to the ground as you drive past.
Finally, for the house I bought some Yellow Chrysanthemums, it cheers it up whilst it is raining!
Have a great weekend!
We went for a vist to Benthall Hall yesterday. This one does not normally open out of season but they have deided to do so now to show the wonderful array of Spring crocus. I honestly thought that after last week, we had reached the end of potential for snowdrop images but I was proved wrong. The floor was a carpet of flowers!
We went for a walk this weekend and happened on the most wonderful place for a profusion of snowdrops. So here are a few images of those harbingers of Spring:
Well continuing the Autumn theme, on a very still day down in Severn Valley…….
I enjoyed the first Autumnal reflections.
To walk through a bluebell wood is a real herald of Spring. The fragrance is astounding! Sadly, I am unable to share the scent but I can share some of my walk……I hope you get the same sense of peacefulness that I experienced.
By chance, on the day of this walk, I heard my first Cuckoo of the year so thought that this poem was a fitting accompaniment.
To the Cuckoo
Hail, beauteous stranger of the grove!
Thou messenger of Spring!
Now Heaven repairs thy rural seat,
And woods thy welcome ring.
What time the daisy decks the green,
Thy certain voice we hear:
Hast thou a star to guide thy path,
Or mark the rolling year?
Delightful visitant! with thee
I hail the time of flowers,
And hear the sound of music sweet
From birds among the bowers.
What time the pea puts on the bloom,
Thou fli’st thy vocal vale,
An annual guest in other lands,
Another Spring to hail.
Sweet bird! thy bower is ever green,
Thy sky is ever clear;
Thou hast no sorrow in thy song,
No Winter in thy year!
O could I fly, I’d fly with thee!
We’d make, with joyful wing,
Our annual visit o’er the globe,
Companions of the Spring.
John Logan
I am going to confess something here. These beautiful Spring flowers caught my eye across the road with the sun highlighting them in the evening light. But, it is a bit embarrassing taking photographs of other people’s flowers so I waited until they had gone out. Then I ran across the road with my camera!
The next one’s are from my own garden….safely hidden in the back, which is probably all to the good. The neighbours think I am a little crazy and as you can see the pale Iris were taken in the rain 😉
These little flowers survived an awful road accident last year shortly after I purchased them. They were broken and bent (a little bit like us) and so, their survival and beauty is a poignant reminder of regrowth and rebirth ~ the Spring 🙂
Purely Photography 