Messy - Thematic Photograpny

Sometimes nature is so messy like this fallen tree with its roots out of the ground.

But at least it can disguise the mess it made.

Other bits of trees are used by farmers to stop a mess getting worse.

At least the barrier they create makes the fly tippers look somewhere else.

Natures strong winds cause a problem and create a messy outlook for me to sort out.

The messy mass against the fence tethered by a green line is a honeysuckle bush. Its metal support has fractured and lies at an angle rather than standing upright.

I guess it's human nature that creates scenes like this - the nearest I could find to something messy like Carmi's at Thematic-Photographic-397.

A-Z Challenge 2016 - Wildflowers 'W'

My theme this year is wild flowers. Most of us will be aware of the flowers that grow in our gardens but what surprises me is how few of the wild flowers that I know.

I pass them every day but rarely look at them. Well this year will be different - even if many of them may fall under the letter 'X' for unknown.

'W' - Woodbine, White Deadnettle

For me the word woodbine has always been synonymous with the wartime cigarettes. I never expected it to give me a flower for the letter 'W'.

Woodbine in the early spring

It's a climbing plant that may be seen in hedgerows and in woods. The stems turn woody and silvery-grey as they mature.

The flowers soon become more pronounced with a promise of things to come.

Woodbine flower shaping up

Eventually flowers up to 5 inches long hang in clusters; creamy, white flowers turn cream and may be flushed with purple. At dusk their strong flowers attract moths; during the day they are pollinated by bees.

Woodbine

Of course you may know it by another name - also associated with bees - it's Honeysuckle to me.

It should be no surprise therefore to find that, if you pluck one of the flowers, you can suck nectar from the narrow end.

The honeysuckle (woodbine) has glossy scarlet berries in the autumn.

Honeysuckle outside our bedroom window

Another flower from which it is possible to suck nectar is one that I tasted regularly as a child.

White deadnettle

You would need to be careful here as it is growing among the stinging variety. Better to find one that is growing on its own.

White deadnettle

Its white flowers make it easy to find and identify at roadsides, in hedges, in woodlands and on waste ground.

Fences and a Gate with a messagel

Just occasionally a fence adds to the beauty of a flower shot.

Buddleia overhang

Honeysuckle - but where's the bee?

On a recent visit to Cornwall we had to pass through a gate with a message for users.

Gate (and fence) guarding the entrance to a woodland path

The message

Message for the dogs

Unfortunately we did not have one to exercise and had to settle for a stroll instead.

Sunlit path

A bewitched setting to be linked to Good-Fences-83.

A-Z Challenge 2013 - 'H' = Honeysuckle

My A-Z posts this year are based on my garden – flowers, animals, the birds and the bees, butterflies - with a bit of poetry thrown in. For some letters I am expecting to cheat somewhat – a sort of wish they were here.

H – Honeysuckle, Horse Chestnut, Hyacinth, Hydrangea, Heron

Good Lord, how sweetly smells the honeysuckle

In the hush’d night, as if the world were one

Of utter peace, and love, and gentleness.

Honeysuckle

  Now it’s time to cheat a bit and leave the village to visit a nearby wood

Horse Chestnuts (early stage of development)

  Under a spreading chestnut tree

The village smithy stands

Our hyacinths began, not in a wood but in a garden centre pot; they always turn out to be a different colour than we thought. Nevertheless -

Hyacinths blooming in the wood
Fragrantly they are bringing
A primal essence of spring

Hyacinths

And when we were given this plant its flowers were blue, they are different now as you can see

Hydrangeas

Several houses in the neighbourhood have ponds in their grounds which are visited by herons for a take-away. We often see them flying overhead – but not these from Portrack Nature Reserve,

Herons

 Mourn, sooty coots, and speckled teals,

Ye fisher herons, watching eels;

Poems:

• Honeysuckle – From Gareth and Lynette – Alfred Lord Tennyson
• The Village Blacksmith – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• Spring Flowers –Hyacinths – Mary Havran
• Herons – Elegy on Captain Matthew Henderson – Robert Burns

Favourites - Thematic Photography

I've a whole host of archive pictures taken during the year, Here are some that were favourites when first taken or else there is a not to be forgotten reason behind the shot.

One frosty morning  I came across this group when the sun was just beginning to win the battle for the day.

Spring Lambs

The next photo was sent to me by my daughter. You have seen this chap before (Seeing red ) but you might not recognise him here.

Cody's had his haircut

There isn't a cheese to match my next favourite from the summer time.

Cornish Blue

And if you were a bee, you would fall in love with this:

Honeysuckle

When you've drunk you fill you can buzz off here to see others' favourites via Carmi's blog