Sunny walk (Coombe Wood)

As I had been for a walk in Coombe Wood yesterday I decided to take a different route today beginning at the overflow car park over the road.

Bright yellow gorse flowers

Reflections on the pond.

Blue sky.

Sunlit mahonia leaves and flowers. 

 Grasses

 ...like fireworks

Snowdrops

A cascade of buds shimmered in the sunlight.

I made my way up the hill to the top 

and came down a gentler route - not the steps. 

Once again delicious scents filled the air. 

The gardener was busy cutting things down in the herbaceous border.

Fluffy magnolia buds. 

Sunlit beech nut shells - crunchy underfoot.

Gardener progressing along the border.

Strange new shoots showing. 

 Euphorbia

Water droplets like diamonds.

Back to the car and I noticed catkins. 

Thank you very much for joining me. 

Fragrance at Coombe Wood

This morning I read this . . . "God has a great sense of smell. The fragrance of your worship pleases Him. He inhales your gratitude and calls it a sacrifice. The strong aroma of your strong praises causes His heart to swell. You are His and when your thanksgiving tells Him so, it brings Him glory, Your joy becomes the ecstasy of eternity...." What a thought! During my walk I was reminded of what I'd read over and over again as I was bombarded with delightful fragrances. Many times I stood still and breathed deeply and enjoyed an extended meditation on what I had read earlier on.

As I parked the car I saw several quite large winged insects swirling and darting in the air, their wings illuminated by the sunlight.

I noticed unusual crisscrossing ripples on the pond and looked for the cause. I was surprised to see the gardener in the middle of the pond clearing the pump.

I could smell the pine trees as I walked along the narrow path and above the Courtyard of the Coach House Cafe, I was hit by a sweet aroma. Turning the corner I discovered where it was coming from - these tiny white flowers. How do such small flowers fill the air with such a delicious scent? 

Crocuses - lovely purple veins on the tightly closed buds at the base.

More scent here - the mahonias are opening up. 

The daffodils are growing rapidly.

Drifts of snowdrops. 

I walked into another heavily scented area - and searching around for the source I found these pink flowers.

Passing the banana trees in their winter protection. 

More snowdrops. 

Heavily scented witch hazel - garlands of little explosions.

More of those little scented white flowers and a bee at work.

A sea of tufty seed pods. 

Another pocket of scent beyond the herbaceous borders. These are like the little white ones but are a little bit bigger and have pink bases.

Busy bee. 

I heard the splash as a fish jumped but didn't see it - then saw another one rise up out of the water probably snapping a low flying insect.

Last look at the pond before leaving.  

Thank you very much for joining me. 

A little bit of sunshine (Coombe Wood walk)

How lovely to walk without being cold. I even had to undo my jacket!

The fish were basking near the surface of the pond.

Tiny sweet scented flowers and a shiny berry.

Furry magnolia buds.

Snowdrops.

Buds and pods. 

More sweet scents fill the air - witch hazel. 

A beautifully patterned cyclamen leaf has pushed through the contrasting red carpet of fallen leaves.

 Stems - seeds or buds? 

I heard branches cracking and caught sight of the gardeners pruning saw.

The gardener was cutting off the lower branches to allow more light through to the hellebores and other plants below.

The gardener said lichen's can be indicators of good air quality.

Hydrangea skeleton. 

Dwarf irises are pushing through. 

Another clump of snowdrops. 

I couldn't believe the delicate chirruping song that came from this big black bird with a huge beak.

Many cyclamen leaves by the fence in the car park - lovely patterns spreading.....

....and spilling through the wire mesh fence.

Thank you very much for joining me.