beside the sea

 

Pembrokeshire in late spring is such a beautiful place to be. We have just come back from a much needed break, staying in the south of the county which is an area I haven't really explored before.

What prompted us to down tools at home and escape to the coast was that Karl was participating in Pendine Speed Week with his modified vintage BSA bike to see if he could take the British Land Speed Record for a vintage bike (he was successful!).

  

While he was busy doing his speed thing, the boys and I had our own mini adventure exploring the beaches and coastline of Manorbier and Skrinkle Bay. Walking along the cliff top path with children is an adventure in itself but well worth the worry as the cliff tops were beautiful smothered in wildflowers such as sea thrift, bluebells and red campion, and sea birds nesting. The boys were fascinated by it all (and were instinctively careful!).

Manorbier Castle and beach

 

Skrinkle Bay and 'Church Doors'

Huge jellyfish had been washed up on the beaches which was quite a sad yet incredible sight.

 

After the biking, Karl joined us exploring St. Govan's Chapel and Barafundle Bay. I've wanted to see St. Govan's Chapel for years, intrigued by this little building perched on the cliff face. Luckily the tide was in, enhancing the charm and vulnerability of the place.

 

 It was lovely to end the break by spending the afternoon at Barafundle Bay, having some seaside fun on the golden sand and paddling in the {freezing} sea!

Barafundle Bay

photographing garden flowers

 

It is fast approaching one of my favourite times in the garden when it looks so fresh and green and poised for great things to come. Every new flower that opens is such a welcome sight. At the moment it is the turn of the geraniums and aquilegias.

Getting the camera out and spending a blissful half an hour in the garden photographing these was so uplifting. Spending a little time looking closely and appreciating the garden (while trying hard to ignore all the weeds!) even on a misty damp morning was inspiring.

I shall be creating photograph greetings cards from some of these images.
I have recently set up an online shop selling greetings cards of other garden flower (and stained glass!) images over on our Christ Church Welshpool website here if you'd like to take a look.

the copper beech in may

The leaf buds have opened and the new leaves are vibrant in the spring sunshine. Even on a dull day when these photographs were taken, the colour is glorious. The effect is perhaps enhanced by the slight concertina texture of the recently unfurled leaves.

Looking up through the branches, the new leaves reminded me of a cloud of butterflies.

  

The fresh green of the springtime oak is a beautiful contrast to the copper beech.

Joining in with Loose and Leafy's 'Tree Following' project.

bluebells

 

 

 A morning stroll through Heaven... the sea of blue contrasting with the green of the beech leaves and unfurling bracken.

(All iPhone photo's as I hadn't taken my dslr camera with me!)

May Day Posy

 

I was inspired to create a May Day Posy by Lou at Littlegreenshed. She is helping to revive an old custom of  making a posy of handpicked flowers to leave on the door of a friend as a celebration of Spring and Friendship.

 

The garden is a little sparse of colour at the moment with most things poised to flower, so I had to scrump some forget-me-nots which were spilling out of a garden on the roadside and some wild garlic growing in a shady spot in the churchyard. Mint and wych elm flowers provided a fresh green filler. 

The Posy was carefully carried across town to be left on a friend's doorstep. It was such fun to do and I wish I could have made more. I have already begun to note potential flower scrumping sites for next year.

...and breathe

 

After dropping the boys off at school for the first day of term, I escaped to the quiet lanes and hills of Montgomeryshire to explore my new wildflower survey area. It is a lovely kilometre square consisting mainly of agricultural pastures currently given over to expectant sheep, interspersed by broad-leafed woodland, twisted knobbly hedgerow trees, roadside verges along old lanes bursting with springtime flowers, springs and streams.

 

Blackthorn blossom is in its prime and early spring flowers are just starting to flower. It was a delight to see the first of the blue bells, stitchwort and cow parsley.

I spotted this eggshell discarded near a hedgerow. Nesting is obviously in full swing. Birdsong has been enhanced by the addition of summer visitors and it was delightful to hear the first willow warbler and my favourites, redstarts.

 

Calm restored...

the copper beech in april

 

 

 

The leaf buds silhouetted against the blue sky are poised to burst. The moss on the tree trunk and branches is radiant. Nestled in amongst the knobbly roots of the copper beech are celandines, in their prime at the moment.

Joining in with Loose and Leafy's 'Tree Following'