Winter Sun

 Cornus - maroon stems rising from the decaying claret sedum

Geisha Girl

Chaenomeles- speciosa, flowering quince, is one of our first winter flowers in the garden this year.  Long lasting clusters of apple-blossom flowers develop early, opening  slowly along a woody stem.  Then later in the year, at harvest, yellow, apple-like fruits adorn the stems. 

Also known as Japonica, these graceful shrubs reach decoratively through evergreens, adding flashes of colour to their form.   

With glorious names like; 'Scarlet Storm' and 'Madame Butterfly', the Japanese quince adds a touch of drama to the house and garden. 

 

The Ash Cycle

 Seasoned ash crackles in the burner; the amber logs aromatic and warming.   Our basket of pine cones, gathered on our summer walks, make perfect fire-starters.  Sadly, this year many local trees have fallen victim to 'ash dieback'; in the woodyard piles of aged trunks, wait to be logged and stacked for their next incarnation.  Since January the predator has advanced steadily, striking majestic  trees in their prime.  Within years, the woodland may well revert to the heathland of the 1950s; a time when wild rabbits feasted daily on ash saplings.  A time before they too were wiped out by another fatal virus - Myxomatosis.  So a new cycle begins...

 

Jack Frost

The rising sun lights Jack Frost's overnight masterpiece, he truly is the Banksy of the natural world.  Crystals droplets hang from railings above the frozen pond. The palette of white invokes stillness; foliage, stems, bee hives and a birdtable, all edged with ice.

Samskara, our labrador puppy, is mesmerised by his first encounter with early morning frost.  Unsure, he skids down the steps to velcro grass, where he lifts a paw, just for a moment unsure, frozen in motion.    

Morning Mist

 Looking down the valley, mist swirls over the fields with the rise and fall of the morning's breath.  Ash silhouettes frame the view, occasionally interrupted by the aerial displays of birds, chasing, ducking and diving from woodland perches...

Black Knight Draped in Old Man's Beard

 An air of excitement blows through the woods today as the inhabitants anticipate the arrival of the festive season.  Tobacco-speared buddlea punctuate the skyline, swathed in a downey shawl of Old Man Beard. Trees sport ivy breeches, rocks and branches capped in velveteen moss.  As the sun lowers in the sky, robins squabble over crimson berries and fermenting fruits.  Pheasants scoot in and out of the skeleton bracken, reminding me to pause, breathe, reflect on the precious gifts of nature...

Blackbirds Feasting in the Crabapple Tree

 Dancing blackbirds feasting on golden crabapples, this morning's gift in the early morning sunshine.  Simply leaving the tree laden with fruit, like festive baubles, provides a nutritious breakfast for our feathered friends.  Their glossy patent wings, reflecting the light remind us of the gifts of mother nature.