Two very different walks - Coombe Wood,

WALK 1: I had a very enjoyable walk with a friend on Saturday afternoon. I planned not take photos on this walk - that's a first! - however my camera did come out a few times.

Although it had been raining many of the tulips were still standing tall.

We both loved the peach and raspberry swirls as these tulips were closed against the cold, wet weather.

A thoroughly enjoyable walk - the two of us delighting in all the colours, the buds waiting to open and the way the raindrops hung everywhere like scattered glittering gems. So nice to share a walk with someone who really appreciates all the beauty too.

WALK 2: Monday morning - very cold, windy and raining heavily. I had already decided when I heard the weather forecast (a bit crazy!) that I needed to have a walk in the rain so I wrapped up well and set off with a large umbrella for a bit of extreme weather photography.

The tulips were looking more higgledy-piggledy this morning - they had been buffeted by wind and rain overnight - and were still being buffeted by both.

I really should have worn my wellies - there were quite a few places where I had to walk through quite deep puddles - and my boots leak.

White bleeding hearts dripping with rain. 

Futher up the path next to the little stream - and there's an extra little stream running down the path.

Bluebells in the pouring rain. 

Tulips bowed down, almost leaning on the bluebells.

Acer with deep red dripping wet flowers hanging on red stems.

A small pond full width of the path. 

Alliums glittering with raindrops. 

Judas tree buds soaking wet. 

Blossom

Yellow acers - these were tight buds on Saturday - opening now.

Lily of the valley. 

Candyfloss pink. 

Massive rhododendron buds. 

Trumpet like flowers falling on the path under the very tall rhododendron.

Tightly closed magnolia.

I was glad of the tree slices - in spite of my poor balance I managed to step on them to get past this river of water.

Tree peony buds just visible among the leaves

Tiny buds festooned with shining droplets. 

Tulips bowed down by the rain. 

Clusters of tulips leaning towards each other. 

Droplets catching the light on the shaggy edged tulips. 

Another patch of leaning tulips. 

Looking closer. 

Taking in the wonderful colours before heading back to the car.

I was soaked and very cold but it was well worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed a big mug of hot chocolate when I got home.

Thank you very much for joining me. 

Thursday morning - well timed walk (Coombe Wood)

Yesterday morning I popped to Coombe Wood for a quick walk - ha ha! As if that was possible! Such a riot of colour and life bursting forth!

Lingering again among the tulips. 

Bee on short mossy plant. 

and back to the tulips. 

A splash of vibrant lime green euphorbias - the clumps in the foreground are miniature ones.

and more tulips. 

Up the path by the little stream - these flowers are tiny.

Bluebells. 

 Little shrub a the top of the steps - so many clusters of buds.

A few are opening. 

 The little acer on the other side of the path is covered in tiny red flowers.

Coming around the corner - the blossom is still looking fabulous

and the alliums are emerging. 

Judas tree dripping with blossom. 

I love the hawthorn blossom. (I forgot to look closer for the lichen on the branches though - must do it next time.)

 The huge tree of pink blossom. 

One sunlit bunch of blossom. 

The gardener was cutting a single mower width around the edge of the grass.

Korean pine "flowers".

Cones forming. (I love the fabulous geometric shapes)

There are masses of them. 

Little low growing yellow flowers. 

White flowers 

 Lily of the valley.

More acer flowers - and gorgeous colour leaves. 

Camellias dropping in pools of colour. 

Sweet scented yellow azaleas - buds like upturned claws - opening out now.

Orange bodied bumble bee on lilac rhododendrons.

Beech "flowers". 

Tall rhododendron with big trumpet shaped flowers (left) and yellow scented azaleas opening on the right.

Little white clusters of flowers - not much taller than bluebells.

Bluebells among the onion/garlic smelling plants. 

The gardener has been busy adding bark to some of the muddy pathways. This area is fast becoming a little archway again as the leaves and flowers grow and bend the branches over the path.

Tiny white flowers look as if they are floating over the leaves like a cloud.

Bleeding hearts - with their perfect little puffy flowers.

Crab apple blossom. 

 The gardener again - he gets around! 

Honesty flowers. 

These are extremely small - fabulous raspberry and lemon colour.

The raspberry and lemon colour of the flowers above is like an echo of the stronger red and yellow of the tulips nearby.

Yes more tulips - well the same tulips on my way to the gate. The gardener said they are at their best at the moment because the weather that's on its way is likely to batter them about.

Curly ferns. 

On the way back to the car I felt raindrops and then the heavens opened. Today has been a day of drizzle and downpours - I'm pleased that I walked yesterday and not today! 

Thank you very much for joining me.