Narcissus cantabricus ssp cantabricus & Narcissus ‘Tête-à-Tête’
Cleethorpes Beach, Meridian Line, Windsurfers and First World War Forts
The Humber Estuary drains something like 20% of England’s land mass so the water that is presently flooding Northern Yorkshire flows here.
Birds flock in their many thousands to over-winter on the rich marshland. The egret tested my zoom lens.
Wind surfers and one of the two estuary forts constructed in 1914 to defend the coast. The forts are lonely features of the seascape now. In the far distance behind the close-up of the windsurfer is the second fort.
And here in the thin winter sun, the sea defences and vast sands have a beauty.
Helleborus × hybridus ‘Harvington Double White"
Bodysgallen Hall Gardens, North Wales, 11th August 2011
Bodysgallen Hall is an excellent hotel in the North of Wales, a region to which we return year after year. This is no advert for the hotel as such but I do recommend a visit to the 17th century gardens. The parterre of immaculately trimmed box hedging with fragrant herbs and other perennials is a feature of the gardens. There is an orchard, rose gardens, walled garden and the garden terraces, all in a superb state. Situated only one mile from Llandudno off a busy road the gardens are one of the hidden gems of the region.
Forde Abbey and its Mighty Fountain, 26th July 2014
Narcissus "Lemon Flare", Christmas Day
Taking photographs with my little compact was fun in the gales. The blessed things just would not keep still and in focus. Which reminds me that we have six grandchildren here this Christmas.
.
Kew Gardens Davies Alpine House & Waterlily House, 4th May 2014
Completed in 1852, Richard Turner’s iron work is a feature of the Waterlily House and, for a time, both the images below adorned my computer as a background. Were it not for the heat and humidity inside I would suggest the water, flat lilies and reflected ironwork are very cool.
La Coruna, Wild Flowers, Atlantic, Galicia: 26th May 2014
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, 22nd July 2014
The position of Abbotsbury is beyond compare with splendid views down the East coast to the nearby Chesil Beach, the Fleet and Portland, and toward Hive Beach in the West. Follow the path called “Magnolia Walk” for very good reason.