Tags
amelanchier, blackbird, blackthorn, bluebell, countryside, cowslip, daffodils, English Elm, English Oak, garden, Goat Willow, green woodpecker, greengage, horse chestnut, Lords and Ladies, Marxh-marigold, pheasant, photography, rainbow, Red Deer, shrubs, Snowy Mespil, Suffolk, trees, white dead-nettle, wild cherry, wild flowers
I have taken a number of photographs over the last few weeks but haven’t had the time to write any posts. Here are a few of the better pictures from April and earlier.
Back in January I was driving home from shopping when I saw this small group of five Red Deer making their way across a field towards the road. I had to slow down and then stop because I could see that they were not only made nervous by my car but their usual path was blocked by a fire someone had lit to get rid of brushwood. They eventually managed to cross the lane a little further along and then carried on their way. I took a photo of them through the car window and this is the result – heavily cropped. I had thought that I had missed them and it was only when I eventually looked carefully at the shot on my computer a few weeks ago I realised that they were there!
This is such an untidy photo with the recycling bin out by the roadside and my former car in the way too. This is another photo taken through glass (the kitchen window this time – you can see a reflection in the bottom left corner of the picture). We haven’t seen the pheasants for a while now so I presume the females are busy on their nests.
We had a storm with heavy rain and then the sun came out. It all looked so bright and fresh, so I stood at the front door and took three photos, to the left, straight ahead and to the right.
I was quite pleased with this photo as it showed all the different colours of its feathers, even the black and white spotted feathers under the wings. This is a female adult as the moustachial feathers are all black. The male has a crimson centre to the stripe.
There is nothing quite like the scent of Bluebells. They are wild hyacinths but don’t have the cloying scent of the garden variety. There is a sweet freshness that lifts the spirits and is irrevocably linked, to my mind, with birdsong, sunshine after rain and hope.
All these photos were taken in April and in my garden, except the first one.
I find I haven’t made a music selection for a while so this post’s choice is ‘Let’s Work Together’ by Canned Heat. Excellent lyrics, great tune and the best tempo ever!
Thanks for visiting!
womanseyeview said:
What a great series of spring photos…I kept thinking, oh that’s lovely and I must comment and then another interesting one would come along. You really are surrounded by beautiful English countryside and all that entails in the springtime – lucky you!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you! We are very lucky to live here. It has been quite nice for me to look at the sunshiny April pictures as for the past ten days it has been very cold and cloudy – not a bit like early summer!
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womanseyeview said:
What a shame about your spring this year but then we seem to be making quite a mess of the weather everywhere 😦
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clarepooley33 said:
Yes – it has been strange the world over!
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susanpoozan said:
My special favourites were the pictures after the storm and the beautifully coloured cowslips.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Susan – I’m glad you liked them.
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tootlepedal said:
I like your views round the house as they give some background to your other pictures. The green woodpecker shot was excellent and I liked the dead nettle in particular.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much. I often have trouble with White Dead-nettle as it over-exposes very easily. I was fortunate in the day being very cloudy!
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tootlepedal said:
I rarely manage to get the nettle shot that I hope for.
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Cynthia Reyes said:
Oh, Clare. What a lovely, lovely post. I feel as if you and I have gone for a good but not hectic walk, stopping when something catches our eye, admiring the daffodils, bluebells and pheasants — and the deer, of course.
And I love this part: “There is nothing quite like the scent of Bluebells. They are wild hyacinths but don’t have the cloying scent of the garden variety. There is a sweet freshness that lifts the spirits and is irrevocably linked, to my mind, with birdsong, sunshine after rain and hope.”
(Happy) sigh!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much Cynthia – I am so pleased you enjoyed it.
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New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
I feel like I’ve been transported back in time to the first days of spring, with the willows, daffodils and amelanchier all in bloom. If only it could be so, I’d happily do spring over again.
The new oak leaves and catkins is a nice shot. I’ve tried the same shot on our oaks and had no luck at all.
I think your second shot of the marsh marigolds is close to perfect, but the “secret” to photographing yellow flowers is slightly underexposing by lowering the exposure value (EV.) At least, that’s what works for me. I’m sure there are a hundred other ways.
You have a nice yard. I especially like the brick wall. I’ve always wanted them in a garden to enclose it.
I haven’t heard that song in a very long time. When it came out it played on the radio regularly.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Allen. I hadn’t heard the song in ages until a couple of weeks ago and actually listened to the words properly!
I will try under-exposing next time I try to photograph any yellow flowers – there are plenty about at the moment. I wasn’t quite happy with the oak leaves – I think I should have zoomed in a little closer as the picture is a bit too busy.
We haven’t got much wall, mainly hedge, and I like the idea of a wall all round too.
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New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
I thought your hedge across the front was all brick wall. That’s what color blindness does for you!
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clarepooley33 said:
I’m glad I don’t have colour-blindness – how confusing things must get at times!
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New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
Sometimes!
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Jill Weatherholt said:
What a lovely post, Clare. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photographs. I’ve never seen Marsh-marigold, they’re wonderful.
I’m in complete agreement with your music choice. 🙂 Have a great weekend, my friend. xo
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much Jill! I love Marsh-marigold because they are so bright and shiny and just glow even on a dull wet day. Hope you are having a fantastic weekend xx
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quercuscommunity said:
Great photos, particularly the Green Woodpecker.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you!
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Lisa G. said:
I had no idea Canned Heat recorded that song! Your green woodpecker is so pretty; ours here are black and white with some red.
Is there absolutely nothing that can be done for the elm trees? Is this disease to last forever?
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Lisa G. said:
Now I remember where I have heard that song – on a cd in the children’s dept. at the library! LOL
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clarepooley33 said:
😀 It’s a good song for children to learn.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Lisa. We have a couple of woodpeckers like yours with black, white and red and they are typical woodpeckers. The Green Woodpecker prefers hopping about on the ground and they just love ants!
Scientists are still working on a cure for Dutch Elm Disease. I have included a wiki link for your information.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_elm_disease
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KerryCan said:
I love this sort of post, where I get to walk around someone’s home turf and see what they see every day! It’s especially fun to see the flora and fauna that we simply do not see here, in upstate New York! It looks like you’ve had some very dramatic weather.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much Kerry! Yes we’ve had some pretty awful weather this spring but today was our first warm and sunny day – a real summer’s day and I feel good!
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margaret21 said:
Lovely photos, and while the plants and animal life you show are part of my usual experiences too, it’s nice to see that they seem exotic to your readers across the pond!
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clarepooley33 said:
When I first moved to Suffolk from SE London in 1988 I was so excited to see Scarlet Pimpernel in the garden and Mallow growing between the paving stones in the town. Everything was exotic to me then!
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margaret21 said:
My son and family live in SE London now and I’m amazed at how much wildlife they have. Kingfisher sighting only the other day
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clarepooley33 said:
How exciting!
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Lavinia Ross said:
It is a beautiful area you live in, Clare! Still cool and looking like early spring. I remember marsh marigolds from the east coast. I enjoy seeing all these plants and signs of new growth!
Summer is already underway here. Mid 80s yesterday, and a high 90s, possibly 100 degrees forecast for today.
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clarepooley33 said:
We have had our first summer’s day today! So good to feel warm at last. 21 degrees C is nothing to your possible 100 degrees though!
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Lavinia Ross said:
I’m listening to the song. Not familiar with this one, but the lyrics are great! A song for current times as well.
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clarepooley33 said:
It is!
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Orts and Gribbles said:
Gosh I’ve never seen red cowslips before! The photo of the deer is a real action shot with all their legs in different positions. A lovely collection of photographs in general 🙂
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much! We have a selection of red and orange cowslips which I assume are the result of hybridization with garden primulas at some time in the past.
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Julie said:
Hi Clare, I really enjoyed your gentle tour of spring. Great shot of the Green Woodpecker, brilliant to see so much detail. I hear Summer is coming next week then a return to chilly weather the following….Loved your song choice too, I listened with my husband and we sang along!
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clarepooley33 said:
I am pleased you enjoyed the post Julie – thank-you! We’ve had two days of warmth and sun – glorious!
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Ste J said:
Spring, the finest season and already one I miss, this is a timely tribute though. You have a good eye for a compelling photo.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much Ste. This spring was very strange – so mild to start with and then really cold. We have had a couple of warm days at last.
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quietsolopursuits said:
So many beautiful flowers that I can’t pick any one as a favorite, and you did a great job of capturing some magic light after the storm passed! It looks like you’ve had a great spring there, I hope that the fine weather continues for you.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Jerry. We had another lovely day today – so nice to feel warm again!
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Richard said:
Robert Browning – Home Thoughts, from Abroad
O, To be in England
Now that April ‘s there,
And whoever wakes in England
Sees, some morning, unaware,
That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England—
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clarepooley33 said:
How lovely! Thank-you ❤
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thehappymeerkat said:
Lovely photos. :). Do you see pheasants a lot where you live? Oddly although I live in the suburbs a pheasant landed in a neighbour’s front garden last year. It stared straight at me as I walked on the pavement. I did take a picture, it was weird though.
You shouldn’t point out the flaws in your photos, they are all beautiful, I don’t notice or care as I’m sure most other people agree.
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clarepooley33 said:
You are very kind – thank-you. How strange to see a pheasant in the suburbs! Yes we have a lot of pheasants here mainly because many are bred for shooting and released in our lane in the autumn 😦 Fortunately for the pheasants not all of them are killed and many escape to live a free life in the countryside.
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Liz said:
I am grooving away while typing this – great choice of track! Thank you so much for all those glorious photos – such a lovely collection. Hard to pick any favourites, but I particularly like the post-storm views – you have captured the light and the sense of the atmosphere so wonderfully 🙂
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much Liz. I’m glad you liked the track.
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sustainablemum said:
A truly lovely collection of photos reflecting a slightly different part of our lovely island. Some of those flowers have only just finished here and only because we have pinched all the sunshine which we have had for weeks now! The west (and North) seems to have had better weather than the east of late.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much for taking the time to comment. We have been hearing from my husband’s brother how wonderful it’s been in Manchester while we have been shivering in the gloom here. The past three days have been glorious – sunshine and 21 degrees C!
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colorpencil2014 said:
Lovely, lovely: I feel I had my walk in England again and saw the animals I miss so much here, like the green woodpecker and the pheasants! Great pics, great post xo Johanna
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much Johanna!
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lundygirl said:
This was a lovely wander around your garden in Spring. I am always impressed by how you know the names of everything.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Rachel! I don’t know all the names so being a bit nerdy I have to look things up. 😉
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Sheryl @ Flowery Prose said:
I so enjoyed your photos – fantastic snapshots of beautiful spring moments!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much Sheryl! hope you are having a good week.
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LutheranLadies said:
Being from Oregon, we never know what the Spring will bring usually cold and rainy. Enjoyed the photos. We walked across England last year on Wainright’s Coast to Coast and we find ourselves missing the villages and the people. Thanks for a bit of a look at what we’re missing.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much for visiting my blog and taking the time to comment. Wainwright’s walks are wonderfully detailed – we have all his books and would love to be able to do the walks but are unable to at present.
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Charlotte Hoather said:
It’s so nice to have nice sunny days to take your lovely photos. Have a great weekend Clare.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Charlotte – you too!
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M.Barrett said:
There’s some really great photos there. Good stuff!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you!
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Wendy L. Macdonald said:
Clare, these nature photographs are a treat to see. You certainly live in a lovely and charming part of the world.
Blessings ~ Wendy
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much Wendy.
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Kate R said:
Hello Clare! Lovely photos of your beautiful area of England. How amazing to see those Red Deer – do they ever come in and eat anything in your garden? Everything looks so green and lush and I loved seeing the spring blossom of the Snowy Mespil against the red of the new growth. What a pretty tree and not one that I recognize. The orange and red cowslip was very interesting too – I rather like it. Of course I love that summerhouse – have you been able to sit out there yet and admire the view?
– Kate
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much Kate. We don’t get the Red Deer in our garden I’m pleased to say but we do get Roe Deer and Muntjacs too which are destructive enough! You probably know the Snowy Mespil by its other names of Shad Bush or Amelanchier as it is a native plant of The US and Canada. I haven’t yet sat in the summerhouse – it really is Richard’s place but I never seem to sit in the garden much anyway. I love being out there but I can’t sit still; I have to garden!
Best wishes, Clare
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Kate R said:
Oh yes Shad Bush – I have seen it on native plant lists here. I shall have to look into it as I am trying hard to introduce more natives into my garden. I had to laugh about you not sitting in the garden…I create all these sitting areas and only seem to sit in them for 5 mins! xx
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Kate. I think my Shad Bush is Amelanchier canadensis (though it might be A. Lamarkii ?). Pretty flowers, dark purple berries that the birds love and good autumn colour. xx
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Vevdronningen said:
Great post! Love the birds. Looks like you live at a wonderful spot with lots to see all year round. 🙂 hugs
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you! Yes, lots to see. 🙂 hugs
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