Beside the sea

Black and white seemed the appropriate choice for this scene  –  it utilises the backlighting effectively.

June Grasses (1)

The range of grasses flowering at this time is enormous.  Although they do not usually attract as much comment as petalled flowers they are, nevertheless, quite distinctly different from each other and deserve closer attention.  They also provide good subject material for the photographer!

Abstract 119 ‘Lava’

The source for this abstract was the lava landscape of Lanzarote, one of the Canary Isles.

Night at the Ballet

The slightly later flowering poppies  –  such as ‘Mrs Perry’ (pink) and ‘Perry’s White’  –  avoided the worst of the rains and are surviving a little longer.  The title for this posting was clearly suggested by the photo below.

Sunlit grasses

Although the buttercup has suffered from the persistent rains, the cow parsley and grasses have positively thrived.  The verge beside the bridle way is waist high.

The picture below was taken in morning sunlight, looking across the field adjacent to my garden.

Click to enlarge

Buttercup time

It was my hope to be posting photos of the meadow in its buttercup season  –  the meadow in which the dandelions bloomed gustily a few weeks ago.  Sadly, the weather has been against the buttercup.  Its early promise was cut short by the rain, wind and cold temperatures.  Instead, I am posting photos of the same meadow taken in late May two years ago.  I was hoping for a repetition!

Poppy abstract 3

The third in the damaged poppy sequence.

 

Abstract 114 ‘Unchained’

Macavity ‘The Mystery Cat’

No further comment needed  –  except ‘thanks for the title, T S Eliot’!

Poppy abstract 2

The second in the damaged poppy sequence.

Tranquility

When the weather is being obnoxious  –  as during the past two weeks  –  I sometimes take comfort from pictures taken last summer, such as this simple scene from Carbis Bay.  It exudes peace and quiet as the blue sky reflects in the wet sand.

Poppy abstract 1

The rain and high winds of the past week have played havoc in the garden.  The red poppies have been particularly badly hit and their flowering season has been shortened.  On a more positive note, the fading petals have produced patterns akin to abstract paintings.  I shall be posting one or two of these images over the coming days.

Garden in the rain ….. again!

Yes, it’s raining again  –  so here are two more ‘watercolours’ taken from indoors, looking out.

Windy Day

Not a good day for putting the washing out!

Portraits of two friends

 

These are two good friends of mine whose company I have enjoyed in the garden over the past two weeks or so.

Iris sibirica

Aquilegia

‘Amid the alien corn’

Scenes such as this have been commonplace across the length and breadth of the UK in recent weeks.  Field upon field has been taken over by the acid yellow of rape seed plants.  The area under rape seed cultivation, and hence the amount of yellow, has expanded greatly in recent years.  Clearly it is commercially profitable.  But among the general public it is not unanimously welcome.  Many see the yellow as brash and jarring compared with the relatively subdued palette of the native vegetation.

Garden in the rain

What contrary weather we have in the UK!   March was the warmest March since records began.  April was the wettest April for 100 years.  This followed, at the beginning of April, the introduction of hosepipe bans and water restrictions (which are still in force).  We are now in ‘flaming’ June and the lunchtime news included a ‘severe weather warning’.

But, as the rain streams down the window pane, the garden takes on a new beauty. 

Click to enlarge

Cotinus abstract

The evening sun, backlighting the leaves on the Cotinus shrub, created this abstract pattern.

Poppy time

This view of our garden was taken through a rear window of the house  –  hence the interference of reflections in places and a consequent softening of the focus.  But, in particular, I wanted to capture the impact of the few vibrant splashes of red.  The poppies add a ‘zing’ to the scene.

But stay a little longer with an individual flower.  Marvel at the pattern at the heart of the flower.

Notice the nuances of colour as the petals reflect the sunlight.

Beside the bridleway again!

Older friends move on  and new ones replace them.  The dandelion seedheads form an interesting pattern.

There are patches of blue beside the path.   As we get closer we are able to identify the tiny speedwell flowers, each a mere 5-7mm in diameter.