Sunny walk (Coombe Wood)

Yesterday the sun was shining and the sky was blue. It felt a lot more like spring than late December.

The pond rippled gently in the breeze.

 Tiny orange flowers on magenta stems peeped out between miniature holly-like leaves.

 Brown seed pods

The scent from the pink flowers is a bit like lilac and is much stronger now they're more open.

Leaves are becoming skeletons quite fast under the magnolia tree. 

A robin was singing its little heart out.  

Clusters of bright berries - surely they can't hang on for much longer.  

Soft white grasses like a cloud billowing in the breeze. 

More seeds.

Sunshine through the trees. 

Shadow photo. Strangely, I found out later that my cousin was taking similar photos at Kew yesterday a little later in the day.

Looking closer at the witch hazel flowers, I noticed for the first time that each calyx (I think that's the right word for the outer casing) curls back to reveal a glossy purple interior.

Buds.

Towards the top of the bare tree which not long ago had enormous leaves on it, groups of buds are silhouetted against the sky. There are no buds on the lower branches so unfortunately I couldn't get a better look at them.

Exploded puff ball mushroom with rain drops inside.

I can see where the idea for mushrooms and toadstools being homes for tiny beings (fairies, pixies etc.) came about. Here's the beginning of a neat little window.

These open seed husks look as if they held golden glowing lights inside them.

Blue sky. 

More empty husks.

Colour.

Back to the pond to meet my family . . .  

. . . my two daughters, their spouses, three grandchildren, one nephew and his wife and their son. Eleven of us had arrange to meet for a walk together. 

Three of the children played with sticks. The two youngest tried to reach the highest point of the roof of the little shelter. 

Tree climbing - four pairs of legs dangling over a branch.

 OK - that's probably high enough.

We walked and chatted then went to the Coach House cafe for cake, ice cream and drinks. Who would have thought that we'd be comfortable sitting out in the courtyard at the end of December? A thoroughly enjoyable morning. 

Thank you very much for joining me.