Camera Sketch (27)

 

Convolvolus or  Silver Bush or Bindweed

 

Blakeney, High Street

As mentioned in an earlier post,  (https://lagill6.wordpress.com/2019/10/20/past-times/), there are strong echoes of past times in Blakeney.  High Street is narrow and there are no pavements.  It is bordered by sturdy but elegant, cobbled houses and properties, and (mostly) painted white.  Shops and businesses are assimilated within the overall character of the street.

The pictures below were taken at lunchtime on the first Saturday in October.  Blakeney is not a noisy place!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snowdrop time

During the past two weeks snowdrops have appeared in growing numbers beneath hedgerows, in woodlands and on the verges beside the bridle way.  They will be with us for the next few weeks.

What joy these small flowers  brings at this time of the year!  With remarkable resilience the snowdrop forces its way through frozen earth, through matted ivies, nettles,  decaying leaves and fallen branches to produce a carpet of pure white.

From the pond

Japanese anemone ‘Jobert’

Snowdrops

 

There can be few more uplifting sights than the banks of snowdrops that appear in abundance at this time of the year.  The resilience of these small flowers never ceases to amaze, however severe the weather might be.  In fact, this particular winter has been remarkably mild   –  so far!

Snowdrop time

It is snowdrop time.  Each and every year I marvel at the resilience and determination of these deceptively ‘delicate’ and ‘dainty’ flowers as they blossom beside the bridleway having forced their way, often, through frozen ground or, as this year, through dead grass, broken twigs and other decaying detritus from 2015.

Anemone blanda

There is about the anemone blanda a delightful sense of innocence and purity that contrasts with some of its noisier neighbours in the early Spring garden.

From the garden

White Agapanthus

Blue Agapanthus

Water Lily

The snow is here!

The snow has arrived  –  quite late this winter.  It fell during the night on Saturday and we awoke yesterday morning to a covering of  12cm-15cm  –   deeper in places.  Here, in rural Northamptonshire, the scene was transformed into a Winter Wonderland  –  very picturesque.

Fence in February

See also As seen through the window, The Thaw, Arctic in a pond,

More snow scenes

 

Snowladen tree

Winter Walk

 

 

Feeding time

See also As seen through the window, The Thaw, Arctic in a pond,

Snowdrops

Nature’s calendar is punctuated by significant happenings  –  the first lambs of the year, buds on trees and shrubs, pussy willows, bluebells, the return of swallows, the sound of the first cuckoo in Spring, and so on.  But for me, the most eagerly awaited sight is the flowering of the first snowdrops.  This small, seemingly frail plant never ceases to amaze.  Even during severe winters it will somehow find its way through rock hard soil to lift our spirits and, with its coy, pristine flowers,  remind us that Spring will soon be here  –  well, eventually!

Snowdrops

See also The Gracious Lady of Spring, Blue Iris, Poppy Days, Clematis, Golden Marguerite

 

Cold and frosty morning

Here, in the heart of the UK, it has been a mild winter to date with only the odd flurry of snowflakes and very little frost. The frost pictures shown today and in the next few days were taken in 2010/2011.

Cold and frosty morning

 See also Frost on Bamboo leaves, Hoar frost on berries, Frosty morning 3