Two walks - two days

First Walk - Yesterday on my own

Weird and wonderful miniature moss world (with raindrops)

Red leaves and thorns

Why haven't I ever noticed this tree before? The "Catkins" caught my eye. I'm so glad I went for a closer look. 

Tiny creamy cup-like flowers hung down like strings of pearls - a bit of a challenge to photograph because of the breeze

 Closer . . .

 . . . and closer 

 . . . and closer

. . .  for a really good look. Barely a leaf bud in sight - all flowers.

I wonder why I've never noticed this exquisite tree before? 

Then on to tree I have photographed before with delicate bell-like flowers which hang from leafy branches

Evidence of planting

A group of volunteers had come to scatter wild flower seeds in the newly rotavated flower bed. The gardener told me it was volunteer day - some volunteers were working on the wild flower bed while others were renewing a bench at the top of the hill in the woods.

Dripping wet

More different buds I've never noticed before

Second Walk - Today with my cousin

We had expected to get quite wet but the rain held off and we enjoyed walking and talking and taking photos. 

I had a much closer look at these plants with their strange alien shapes

There are still a few seeds left on the Korean pine cones - but not many now

We noticed a plant with dark red leaves just beginning to open and had a closer look at the interesting shapes

Dead tree

Bracket fungus on a dead tree trunk. I like the way the bark curls back in layers on the right hand side of the photo.

Tiny blossom

Diagonal stripes - the new green leaves opening at the bottom of the photo, papery old flower heads in the middle and purple helebores in top right hand corner. A "life, death, life" photo for today - Good Friday.

Crazy buds opening a bit more

Helebore middle - so flamboyant

Little rhubarb-like red stalks with green leaves and red barely visible tiny flowers

Almost luminous bloom

 Another kind of tiny bell-like flowers - hanging in clusters this time

At the edge of the pond

Thank you very much for joining me