Spring flowers

As it was a sunny day yesterday, the first sunny day we have had for a while, I went out into the garden to take photos of what is flowering right now. It is wonderful to see flowers in the sunshine after the long winter (at this time of the year it seems long) we have had.

This is Plum blossom, I love the delicate flowers.

Hellibore, this was in my garden when I moved here, I had a pink hellibore in my previous garden, they are one of the first flowers often flowering in February.

Pulmonaria - one of my favourite spring flowers

Grape Hyacinth

Photohunt - High

This week the theme for Photohunt is HIGH, here are some photos from walks in HIGH places.

HIGH on the Breacon Beacons

View from HIGH on the Malvern Hills

HIGH on the Mendip Hills

Saturday Photohunt is hosted by TNChick, visit here to find more participants and join in the fun.

Happy hunting!

ABC Wednesday

This week we have reached the letter J .....

JAPANESE GARDEN at Kingston Lacey, Dorset. This garden was built in Edwardian times, for more photos of Kingston Lacey go here.

JIGSAW – when my children were growing up we often had a family jigsaw being completed. This particular jigsaw is of the star constellations in the sky, it was very difficult to do and took quite a long time to finish.

JUG - I found this jug in a charity shop last year and just had to buy it.

To find out how to join ABC Wednesdays and see links to other participants' sites go to mrs nesbitts place

Snow

This morning it snowed for a couple of hours so I went into the garden to record the rare event. By lunchtime it had turned to rain, then the sun came out in the afternoon.

Happy Easter

A Happy Easter to all that celebrate the Christian festival.

Photograph taken at Glastonbury Abbey.

Photohunter - metal

The theme for this week's Photohunt is metal. Easy for me - of course a trumpet!Saturday Photohunt is hosted by TNChick, visit here to find more participants and join in the fun.

Happy hunting!

ABC Wednesday

The letter this week for ABC Wednesday is I, to join in the fun visit MrsNesbittsPlace

I is for IRIS



..........IVY


And ........ ICE

Waiting

Waiting patiently

ABC Wednesday - H

This week for ABC Wednesday the letter is H

My first for the letter H is ………

HEDGEHOG

The hedgehog is common in parks, gardens and farmland throughout mainland Britain and Ireland. This photograph was taken in my Aunt’s garden a couple of years ago.

They eat beetles, worms, caterpillars, slugs and almost anything they can catch, but little plant material. People encourage hedgehogs into their gardens and often feed them.

Hedgehogs travel about 1-2km each night, males more than females. They return to the same daytime nest for a few days then use another, perhaps returning to an old nest at a later date. Hedgehogs live for up to 10 years, but this is exceptional; over half die before their first birthday and average life expectancy is about 2-3 years.

Next is ……..HEDGE

Hedges define boundaries; give privacy in a garden and shelter. In the countryside they keep animals in or out In Great Britain there are many fields surrounded by hedges. In the Middle Ages landlords enclosed their land with walls or hedges to create boundaries. Enclosure Acts in the 18th and 19th centuries allowed farmers to put more hedges round their fields and most of Britain’s 300 000 miles or so of hedges date from this time.

My next H is …………HERB GARDEN

This Herb Garden is in Glastonbury Abbey, the first two views are the summer garden.

This is the Herb garden in the Autumn And this is what the Herb Garden looks like now, it has been cleared

ready for the new growth in the spring.

Lastly H is for ...... Heather

Growing along the top of the wall in this photograph is Heather

Heather is a beautiful plant which grows mainly on moorland and heaths; it is also cultivated for growing in gardens. If you would like to learn more about Heathers visit the Heather Society here.

ABC Wednesday was started by Mrs Nesbitt; visit her site here for more information and to join.

Post of the Day

I have been selected on Post of the Day by David on his blog Authorblog, for my Photohunt on ‘Different’. I am thrilled and honoured to be selected.

Thank you very much David!!

Also thank you to everyone who has been leaving comments on my blog; it means a lot to me to know you are enjoying my photographs.

Photohunt - Different

The theme for Photohunter this week is DIFFERENT. I expect there will be many interpretations of different. I decided to show photographs of reflections - looking at the world in a DIFFERENT way. I hope you like them.

I love the way the mannequin in the shop window looks as if it is stood next to the telephone box.

To join Photohunt visit tnchick here

ABC Wednesday

G is for Glastonbury

Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England situated 31 miles south of Bristol, with a population of approx 10,000. Glastonbury is a rather different and lively small town and one that is steeped in history, myths and legends, which makes it popular as a ‘new age’ destination. Myths include Glastonbury as the final resting place for King Arthur and the Holy Grail, and although it is a small town there is a great deal for visitors to see including the 7th century Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury Tor and the Chalice Well. However, Glastonbury is probably best known for its legendary annual Glastonbury Festival, which can be best described as Britain's original rock festival.

One view from the top of Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury Abbey is set in 36 acres of beautifully peaceful parkland in the centre of the ancient market town of Glastonbury. It is traditionally the first Christian Sanctuary in Great Britain, visited so legend has it, by Joseph of Arimathea and Saints David and Patrick.

Joseph of Arimathea was the Biblical figure who took Jesus' body after the crucifixion. After fleeing Palestine he arrived in Britain bringing with him the Holy Grail, the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper. It is said he established the first church in England at Glastonbury, with archaeological records confirming that there may have been an early Christian church there. The Holy Grail has never been found but legend says it was buried by Joseph at the foot of Glastonbury Tor. Others say the Holy Grail was buried with Joseph when he died, in a secret grave. The search for the mysterious Grail emerges again and again in the tales of Glastonbury.

This is a model of how Glastonbury once looked.

The Abbot's Kitchen in the Abbey grounds has a high octagonal tower over a square base bedecked with gargoyles. Inside is noted for the very large ovens and the high dome supported on reed-thin vaulting ribs.

Two views of Glastonbury Abbey

The Market Cross

Bookshops in the Market PlaceIf you would like to join in with ABC Wednesday visit Mrs Nesbitt's Place

Snow!

It snowed and this is all that was left in my garden when I got home. Dragonstar had much more - go and take a look!