Another Spring morning walk (Coombe Wood).

I took a stroll down the garden before heading off for my walk, to have a look at the poplar trees beyond the end of our garden. In a previous blog post I mentioned that the leaves were coming through a reddish colour . . .

. . . I discovered this morning that there aren't any leaves yet - the red colour is from catkins. I didn't even know poplar trees had catkins.

At Coombe Wood the tulips have grown another inch or two since my last visit

and colour is spreading. 

Tiny orange flowers on red stems are all over one of the plants in the hedge at the back of the pond.

Sunlight through daffodils. 

Euphorbia fully open.

Peeping through other plants to the lovely irises which are very easy to pass by without noticing them.

Primroses. 

These look as if they are probably baby Eryngiums. 

Coming round the corner, once again I had to stop and enjoy the gorgeous scents.

The big magnolia buds are just starting to open. There's a ladybird on the bud that has opened the furthest. 

Sunlight was shining through the creamy waxy strings of bells

and bees were buzzing around 

The remaining Korean pine cones are disintegrating.

I think the design is fabulous. 

New leaf shoots and flower buds on a little plant. 

Tiny flowers cover little branches on a plant nearby.

Those waxy bells from the other side - random red berry peeping through from somewhere.

Pink tinged camellias.

Tiny magnolia buds (I think) 

The slender white flowers are appearing on the garlicky smelling plants.

 Forsythia. 

 It fascinates me how different all the buds are. These are on a small tree.

This green is really zingy. 

A smaller magnolia opening. 

Looking through the damaged hedge (damaged by the big beech branch falling down) -  the gardener passed by with the mower and the air was filled with the smell of freshly mown grass.

 Carpets of bright blue flowers. 

Oh my goodness - the scent of these tiny little flowers is wonderful.

Buds against the lovely blue sky. 

 Neat stripes on the lawn. 

Bright colours in the sunshine. 

Looking closer at the euphorbia. 

Crazy middle. 

Figs

 Nearing the gate - primulas.  

Tulip leaves in the sun - with little pink flowers dotted around.

Looking at the funny bulbous explosions of bulrush seeds again.

Thank you very much for joining me. 

Walking in spring sunshine (Coombe Wood)

A beautiful spring morning - blue sky and sunshine. Before heading to Coombe Wood I noticed that the poplar trees just beyond the end of our garden are covered in leaf buds.

Looking closer the buds are red.  

For various reasons it's a week since my last walk at Coombe Wood and the differences were very noticeable.

Flower beds in the sun. 

Tulip leaves have grown rapidly since my last visit

 Lime green Euphorbia buds have opened

 Masses of little blue flowers. 

 Spiders web threads glistened in the sun. 

Sunlight illuminated young leaves. 

A glimpse of some irises - frustratingly I couldn't get a clearer view of them.

 Primroses. 

New young leaves and old seed pods. 

 I stood for a while and enjoyed the strong scent of the mahonias.

More scented flowers - these may be past their best and the leaves have been nibbled but the scent is wonderful. 

 The big magnolia has masses of smooth buds.

Daffodils and crocuses. 

Burgundy leaves emerging. 

 Showers of creamy bells.

New shoots in the sublight

 Red variegated arrow-like leaves springing up. 

Two small shrubs covered in pastel lemon flowers. 

New leaf buds and old seed pods. 

Camellia.

These white bells are much more higgledy-piggledy than the other bell-like flowers.

Lovely blue sky through the trees. 

 Buds or pods at the ends of bare branches. 

Hellebores in the sun.

 Clumps of cheerful daffodils. 

Furry magnolia buds catching the light.  

More strongly scented flowers (with nibbled leaves). 

Light green curly leaves. 

Buds on thorny red stems. 

More tender new leaves.

Red leaves and tiny flowers on thorny stems. 

Mixed colours - new leaves. 

Herbaceous borders - well mulched. 

New shoots coming through. 

Teasels.

 Purple heather in the background. 

 Heading back to the gates - flower beds on the way.

Bright flowers against the curved wall.

The big rose hips are dry and wrinkled. 

 Blue flowers in sunshine. 

Daffodils. 

Primulas and pansies. 

Bulbous explosions of bulrush seeds. 

Little daffodils by the gate. 

Reflections. 

Thank you very much for joining me.