Before the rain (at Coombe Wood)

Another mild morning, blue sky and glimpses of sun (unlike the afternoon when we had heavy rain).

The old cattle trough which gardener had replanted a while ago is flowering.

The thick gunnera leaves beside the pond are decomposing fast and becoming leaf skeletons.

As I approached the pond a breeze ruffled the surface into shimmering splinters of light.

Near to the cafe some dismantled chairs and tables made an interesting "sculpture" against the wall.

A sea of blue behind the ferns.

Back to the pond where ripples caused by the little waterfall were colliding with other ripples from the far side of the pond, created by a big fish surfacing energetically.

Plump berries, many now deflating and becoming shiny with moisture oozing from inside.

A little clambering for a better view of the irises. 

Tiny flower.

Some little pink flowers are emerging. Their light scent is hard to detect because of the overpowering scent of the mahonias nearby. Some of them were cupped upwards and full of water.

 

A patch of blue sky behind just about the only tree with any leaves left on it.

 Dying stems in the prairie beds make interesting abstract patterns. 

Grasses - almost white now. 

The callicarpa berries are shrinking and wrinkling up but their colour is still striking.

The gardener has put protection around several small trees to stop the deer from damaging them.

The witch hazel flowers were dripping with rain earlier on. Strange how some plants shed rainwater quickly while it stays on others for much longer.

Big leaves, which were green not long ago - brown now and flattening against the earth.

A leaf is still stuck to the big mushroom

it's sides lifting higher reveal the ribbed gills. 

Hydrangeas already have new green leafy growth showing. 

Close up hydrangea flowers - inky blue spots appearing on pale brown leaves which have completely lost all their pink now.

A skeleton hydrangea flower.

How incredibly rectangular it's lacy shape is. 

Tiny scented white flowers. 

First signs of the snowdrops. 

One of the black cats chased a few leaves as they fell from the tree and then followed me for most of the rest of my walk.

 More leaf skeletons.

It was lovely to hear laughter and young children's happy voices coming from behind the trees at the end of the lawn.

 Allium seed heads on the ground. 

An agapanthus stem still standing. 

All three spindle berry trees are heavily laden with flowers and berries which dangle like little feet on skinny legs from their flower petal skirts.

 Euphorbia

Another one opening. 

The pond was still as I came to the gate and the fish were basking near the surface.

I picked up a couple of colourful leaves to bring home

and enjoyed looking closer at their colours, 

comparing one side 

with the other

looking at their texture, vein patterns etc. 

Thank you very much for joining me.