Three little walks and Daily drawings update

First walk - Coombe Wood

I met my sister at Coombe Wood this morning and we had a walk together.

The tulips are very looking good. 

This plant is quite small - the stamens reminded me of pearl headed pins sticking out of a pin cushion.

This plant was covered with tiny yellow buds - most of them are barely open but the few that are open look like miniature daffodils.

 White and rose pink buds opening into delicate white flowers.

 Tender young acer leaves sprouting from red protective casing

 Scented yellow azalea bursting out

Azalea

I've been checking various websites - they say that all azaleas are actually rhododrendrons but not all rhododendrons are azaleas because "Rhododendon" is a genus (group of plants with shared characteristics) but Azaleas are a group within that genus, rather than forming a genus of their own. Most azaleas have only 5 or 6 stamens whereas most rhododendrons have 10 stamens. There are other distinguishing characteristics - leaf differences etc.

Rhododendron

Rhododendron

Azalea (I think)

Rhododendron

Looking closer at the stamens

I'm doing a 30 day photo challenge on Facebook starting today. This is the photo I used for today's topic which is "May Day". Hawthorn is also called the May-tree.

Hawthorn

Second Walk - Heathfield. I went to lunch with friends who used to go to my church. After lunch they took me for a walk in Heathfield which is very near to Coombe Wood. There's woodland and a rhododendron walk, ornamental gardens and ponds, and a house (not open to the public).

Wisteria

Aubretia

Rhododendrons

Underneath the new bright green leaves on this tree were long strands that puffed pollen everywhere if you brushed against them.

Third walk - Coombe Wood again. On the way home from my friends' house I was almost passing Coombe Wood so I popped back to try and get a couple more photos as the camera battery had run out in the morning - but I'd been able to charge it between the first Coombe Wood trip and the visit to my friends. 

I love the gentle pink of these tulips next to the forget-me-not blues. 

 Another look at the Hawthorn blossom. 

Daily drawings update - these are the drawings for April.

Thank you very much for joining me.