Bonus little walk (Coombe Wood)

Yesterday afternoon I was meeting a friend at Coombe Wood so I went along earlier for a short walk - which had to be quite slow and careful because I was feeling somewhat dizzy. Taking photos helped to take my mind off the dizziness for a while

The green film on the surface of the pond was more streaky than the day before

Looking closer the surface looked marbled

A single great big lollipop-like allium stands out against the carpet of tiny bright green leaves that flow over the rocky walls of the raised beds

Raspberry ripple of pink and white

A close up middle (haven't had one for a while) - what an amazing structure!

Tiny bright pink petals on tall stems

These white flowers look as if they have twinkling sparklers going off in their centres

I photographed these buds the other day wondering what was going to come out of them - here's the answer - yellow daisy-like flowers

Trying to have a closer look at the tiny white flowers with delicate pink stripes

These lemony coloured flowers have purple veins which fade as they open

Eryngium beginning to open

No idea what these tiny flowers are - what hairy leaves and stems - tiny white buds - just two to the left

The other day I said these flowers look as if someone has dotted them on with a yellow highlighter pen. They've opened a bit more and look more like the light green highlighter pen has been at work

Tall grasses dancing in front of foxgloves

A few hydrangea buds have opened - so many more poised and ready

These are the white flowers that I said looked as if they had been pleated (on my last walk). I can see why - they open like little upside down umbrellas - with very strong folds. The red and yellow buds are so twisty before they unfold and become very white 

Aquilegias - pods forming 

Another flower with delicate pin stripes 

Profusion of Korean pine cones in the sunlight

I caught sight of a butterfly which kindly settled and posed for me . . .

. . . then fluttered about a bit and settled for another photo

Assorted leaf colours

Looking closer at the tiny hairy bell flowers

and a closer look at the buddleja globosa which is supposed to be sweet scented. I managed to get close enough to have a sniff and there was barely any scent at all on these

I can't resist standing under the large acer and looking up - specially when the sun is shining through the leaves and seeds

On my previous walk I photographed a similar flower - but it had silvery anthers - this one has purple anthers

I had heard the mower in the distance and as I headed back to the entrance to meet my friend I caught sight of the gardener mowing the grass

Two children were throwing bread into the pond for the fish. The movement of the fish created a clear patch in the green film on the surface of the pond for a short while

I met my friend and after a cuppa in the cafe courtyard we headed off for a walk but it started raining so we headed for the little shelter where we sat and nattered while the raindrops pattered on the roof

We left while it was still raining - the temperature had dropped considerably and I was keen to get back to the car to warm up so didn't take any more photos

Thank you very much for joining me