Photographing an Easter Egg Display

My wonderfully creative wife made a beautiful little Easter Egg display and I just had to photograph it... before I eat and demolish it! ;-) Love you Älskling! ♥

...and a quick pull back shot to show how simple the lighting is:

Sunrise…

…A beautiful Easter to you…

and yours.

Early Morning at Lake Esrum

Taken in the tiny harbour on Lake Esrum in Fredensborg, Denmark.

Oil Painting Sticks On Canvas

Beautiful work of art by the young South Korean artist Jaeyeol Han.

Quote of the day

Ta - Da!

My Easter gnome in the shape of himself has picked a winner at random with his eyes closed tight, so winging its way soon to Janet at 'Plantaliscious' will be a copy of Val Bourne's ''The Natural Gardener'. As it's Easter I would like to send two little consolation prizes, to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' and to Annie over at 'Annie's Little Plot'  - not choccies I'm afraid but something suitably seasonal.

Please email me at thegreentapestry@googlemail.com so that I can do the doings. Many thanks to everybody else who entered. In the meantime wishing anybody who calls by a most happy and joyous Easter.

The above illustration is by Margaret Tarrant, 1888 -1959.

The Park is a Lonely Place in Winter

A Wednesday Worisit

Spotted dotted throughout the grass in the Winter Garden at Dunham Massey earlier this month. I know that I am being lazy and should consult the books but I hope that somebody can enlighten me as to the identity of this attractive specimen.

The Stark Colourless Beauty of Winter

-5° + falling snow = great conditions to test how tough the D300s actually is! Despite being soaking wet and freezing cold by the time I got home the D300s and Nikkor 35mm f1.8G DX combo never missed a beat and came through unscathed. A successful result I think!

The Winter Garden at Dunham Massey

On what must surely now be the warmest day this March we headed for the nearby National Trust property of Dunham Massey. I was stir crazy for some fresh air and a clear head, after being cooped in the house for nearly a fortnight looking after a poorly mum, so I leapt at the suggestion of a day out. It seemed that the world and his wife had the same idea, as the place was absolutely heaving but I think I've managed to edit them both out of my photos.

On arrival we noted that a major building project is taking place, what will be a state of the art visitor's centre. I felt some apprehension about a new construction, as I'm not sure how it will fit in with the character of the estate but only time will tell. Strolling on we passed the welcome board which illustrates some of the pleasures in store for visitors ~

On past the lake which is usually teeming with a variety of birds including mallards, moorhens, coots, Canada geese, swans and Aylesbury ducks which delight both little and not so little people. Last time we visited the lake was frozen so the birds were dancing on ice. Not so this time - in fact it looked as if spring had arrived and that love was very much in the air ~ 

Onwards to the side of this glorious old building ~ 

Then through the arch to the current reception point before heading for our final destination of the gardens and especially the Winter Garden. I blogged here about our very first visit back in March 2010, so it was interesting to reflect on what I had written then and to see how the garden has developed since. The plans were for the garden to eventually contain 700 different plant species and a further 1,600 shrubs chosen specifically for winter interest. The plant list that I obtained on our initial visit explains the logic behind plant choice ie "The plants have at least two of the following characteristics of interest ; form, colour, texture, scent, berry, bark and sound". The design of the garden and its planting schemes were planned with guidance from eminent plantsman Roy Lancaster working together with Dunham's own staff. Some 200,000 bulbs alone were planted - a task made possible with the involvement of local school children as well as National Trust volunteers, members and visitors.

The seven acre Winter Garden has been a work in progress since 2007, opening to the public late in 2009. Unfortunately the garden was hit by a bitterly cold winter in its infancy which resulted in some initial plant losses and subsequent replanting. Now some four winters on the garden seems to be slowly weaving together - there are some heart stopping shrubs and trees. This grove of silver birches is spectacular ~

I can't wait to see it when the snowdrops eventually meet in the middle. Elsewhere there were various other winter flowers including aconites, irises, cyclamen, snowflakes and hellebores in every shade and hue. The first of the daffies were just out. It was one of those winter days when it was so bright that taking photos was a challenge, so sadly I have not got many to share with you. Along the paths there were several stop you in your track moments, as our noses were pleasantly assaulted by some glorious scents from shrubs.

On the negative side I was disappointed to see bare patches as below ~

I'm not sure whether this is because there are perennials waiting to come through, or whether there is not enough in the planting budget to fill in some of the gaps, or perhaps not enough staff or volunteers to carry out more planting. Another gripe was the plant sales area which as often with National Trust gardens can be disappointing in terms of variety and also expensive. I know that they can't afford to sell plants at giveaway prices but the pricing for snowdrops seemed rather over the odds to me ~

Before leaving we drifted out of the Winter Garden into the grounds where we noticed another new construction is underway ~

This is

Roses seem a distant dream at the moment but we have made a note to return to Dunham Massey come summer if we can. A final photo of some of the staff who were involved in the groundwork and who have an idyllic des res on the estate ~

You can watch a short video clip featuring the garden recorded in early winter here. If you ever find yourself in the area do call in whatever the season.

NB - If you did not see my last post and would like the chance of winning a copy of Val Bourne's book 'The Natural Gardener' please leave a comment here by the end of Friday 29th March. Sorry but open to UK residents only.

PS - I am indulging in some gentle spring cleaning and slight changes here but unfortunately got carried away mislaying the usual text font. I'm launching a search party for it so hopefully normal service will be resumed shortly. Apologies if you need to use a magnifying glass or zoom out.

I love finding a great hotel…

At a good price…

This one in Tallahassee Florida fits the bill.

Try it on.

Hotel Duval

Located right downtown.

Fantastic shower!

Interesting art

wonderful food

The daughter had whole wheat french toast with berries and maple syrup

Lunch consists of farm to table fare….LOVE that

New Mexican Red Chili Enchiladas topped with Sweet Grass Dairy "Heat" cheese and a free range organic poached egg. Served with a Southwestern side salad tossed in a house made Honey-Lime Cumin Vinaigrette.

Close to Florida State University

 

Which is a beautiful place, too..

Their dining hall is beyond words….Harry Potter anyone?

The baby of the bunch will be heading here this fall…

GO ‘Noles!

~~~

Just Because ....

Just because it's officially spring (despite the heavy snow falling outside) and I'm back home after spending most of the last month away, I am celebrating with a give away - a paperback copy of Val Bourne's book 'The Natural Gardener'. Val writes regularly for various gardening magazines and is a regular contributor to a national newspaper gardening supplement. She is also the author of several books all of which I have greatly enjoyed.

Part of the introduction on this book's dust jacket reads as follows: "The key to natural gardening is to build creatively on the natural environment. The natural gardener does nothing to harm the animals or plants in the world around us. but instead, gardens to attract an abundance of wildlife. Val Bourne's flower filled Cotswold garden is a natural garden. It is full of healthy plants that provide interest throughout the year, from the snowdrops and hellebores that start the flowering year in February, to the autumn border that lights up the garden in October. Following a year in her garden Val Bourne explains the strategies that she uses to attract the bumblebees, beetles and other creatures that interact with plants in a complex web of life to become her 'living jigsaw' of helpers. She shows how it is possible, to wherever you garden,to work within natural principles and overcome difficulties creatively to make a garden that is not only wildlife friendly but also beautiful."

The book is illustrated throughout with photos taken by Val and by the award winning photographer Clive Nichols. Taking the reader through the seasons it the book focuses on plant choices and their impact on the creatures that may live in or pass through your garden. You can read a thoughtful review of the book over at Veg Plotting. If you would like to have a chance of winning this book all you have to do is comment on this post by the end of next Friday (29th March). Unfortunately I will have to restrict entries to UK gardeners only because of the cost of postage.

In the meantime I have to confess to taking a perverse pleasure in the colder than normal temperatures, as it means that I have not missed the boat with any sowing activities. The sweet peppers that I sowed sometime in the middle of February seem to have gone into suspended animation but are sturdy seedlings. Some of the tomato seedlings that himself has been caring for are on the leggy side. No worries though I have time to sow more. He has more than adequately coped with the arrival in the post of one or two special snowdrops and some strawberry plants, which have been potted up and neatly labelled. I was most impressed. This weekend I will be sowing sweet peas and peas trusting that the weather must warm up soon.

Thanks to all of you who have sent your good wishes for my mother's recovery -  your thoughts were much appreciated. I am glad to report that she is is much improved although still not a hundred per cent.  Hopefully some warmer weather will see her further down the road to good health.

I will announce the winner of the book in a post over the Easter weekend. Have a good weekend.

Very Neat and Tidy Graffiti in Sweden

Wordless Wednesday ~ 20th March 2013

Chalk It Up

Creative sidewalk chalk photos
Photos from here & here

Quote of the day

"Phone-o-graphy" 2

Another from my smart phone, and because I applied a filter that makes it arty! Haha! :-)

When i think of Ireland…

We went there, before we were married.

I remember thinking I had ‘come home’.

The people….the countryside all felt familiar and comfortable, beautiful…and home.

We just rented a car. And drove and drove around the country…on the opposite side of the road.

Stopped in at this pub  which was my name at the time…not the Jimmy, but the Burke

I was in love with the thatched roofs…

we talked about moving there.

and the GREEN…everywhere

 

Beautiful sheep and horses in winter coats

We wandered into an artists studio in the green countryside

she invited us in with tea….and said in her Irish brogue ….

that we would have many children,because of the color she saw around us. Whaaat?

We bought a big pastel of hers…It is in our bedroom.

Next to pictures of our  children.

Yep. She was so right.

Seeps into ones soul, that beautiful country.

 

May the Irish hills caress you.May her lakes and rivers bless you.May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
~Irish Blessing