Winter walk in Coombe Wood (felt like summer!)

Another beautiful morning and I just had to squeeze in a walk. 

Cheerful daffodils leaning eagerly towards the sun. 

Tiny buds getting ready to burst into life.

Light streaming through tender leaves.

Deliciously scented Daphne.

The thickest patch of crocuses was in shadow from the back of a bench.

Pulling back to admire the daffodils and crocuses. 

The snowdrops are coming to an end. The gardener is going to lift some of them, split them and replant in order to spread them further along the edge of the path.

Goldfinches. I hadn't noticed them - the gardener pointed these out to me - four of them in the Liquid Amber Tree. I only managed to photograph two before they darted away.

I was very pleased to hear that the Council has now provided the gardener with replacement tools. He told me that he was planning to cut down the old grasses ready for the new shoots to come up either today or tomorrow. 

Beyond the little hut, over towards the Chateau restaurant there was a plate on the grass. Peculiar.

A lovely sweep of snowdrops and crocuses. 

There used to be an orange witch hazel here but I think it has expired! 

Hellebores everywhere! The gardener has removed the leaves so the shy flowers are more easily seen. (There's a small patch of hellebores in our new garden - I must do the same to them.)

The yellow witch hazel is coming to an end. 

The crazy explosions of yellow strands are turning brown and brittle.

Tiny mimosa-like leaves uncurling. 

The gardener has spent his time while waiting for the new tools, shifting huge amounts of compost and manure. The herbaceous borders look bare but looking closer tiny shoots are popping up everywhere.

A little forest of different coloured hellebores towards the end of the herbaceous border (shades of white, cream, yellow, pink and burgundy).

Beech branches against the sky. I love the patterns they make!

Sunlight through hellebore. Crazy middle! 

Pampas grass. 

Bee on crocuses. Look at all that pollen on the back of its neck. (Do bees have necks?)

Tiny shoots. New life on the way. 

Colourful corner.

Quince? 

More daffodils, all facing the sun. 

I'm including this because of the patterns (you know what I'm like with patterns!) So many verticals and horizontals criss crossing each other.

And another pattern to end with - tree shadow on topiary and hedge.

Thank you very much for joining me.